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fishing forecast

darwin's slimehead

Gephyroberyx darwinii · Trachichthyidae · predator

Bottom fish of the continental slope, between 200 and 500 m, considered a deep-water sport fish.

Also called: peixe-de-darwin, carajuelo de fondo, reloj de darwin, darwin's slimehead

Scientific illustration of Darwin's slimehead
maximum
60 cm
depth
200–500 m
location

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period

Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…

the species

everything about the darwin's slimehead

overview

who is the darwin's slimehead

Fish of the family Trachichthyidae, with a tall body and a large, oblique mouth, reaching 60 cm. It lives close to the bottom of the continental slope, usually between 200 and 500 m, and prefers hard surfaces. It also occurs in other oceans. In Latin America it lives in Brazil, the Bahamas, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama and Puerto Rico. Juveniles feed on small shrimp and fish and are usually found near the coast. It can be taken in deep-water sport fishing.

Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the darwin's slimehead.

how to recognize it

identification

Tall, compressed body, pink to reddish-brown on the back with silvery flanks. The head has a concave forehead and a large, oblique mouth. The operculum and preoperculum (the gill covers) each have one strong spine. The belly keel has strong scutes, and the tail fin is forked with rounded tips. The fins are red, and the tongue and gill cavity are dark.

distribution

where found

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In Latin America it occurs in Brazil, the Bahamas, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama and Puerto Rico, on slope bottoms.

Habitat: Continental slope, usually 200 to 500 m, over hard surfaces.

coast

North CoastNortheast CoastSoutheast CoastSouth Coastoceanic
what the law says

rules for the darwin's slimehead

Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).

We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.

catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.

No danger to anglers. Because it lives in deep water, it can suffer barotrauma when brought up quickly to the surface, so it is best released carefully.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01514, b = 3.07; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

estimated weight

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sources and references

Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.

  1. scientific FishBase: Gephyroberyx darwinii (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Gephyroberyx darwiniiNames by country and language.
  3. official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.