rubberlip seaperch
Rhacochilus toxotes · Embiotocidae · predator
Rocky-shore surfperch of the Mexican Pacific, which forms schools near rocks, algae and piers. It is of interest to rocky-shore sport fishing.
Also called: perca-de-lábio-de-borracha, mojarra labios de hule, rubberlip seaperch
- maximum
- 47 cm
- depth
- 1–50 m
the right time
to be on the water
Choose the place and the species. The index, from 0 to 100, combines weather, sun, moon and tide with each fish's habits. Up to 28 days, with each day's confidence.
Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…
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hour by hour
tap or drag on the chart to read each hour · on a keyboard, arrow keyssee hour-by-hour table
why this index at —?
choose the day
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
the fishing month at a glance
what's the best window for the crew?
Choose how many fishing days. We compare each stretch by its average index, discount days with a warning or closed season, and show the 3 best.
trend for the coming weeks
Line: the middle value of 31 simulations of the American GEFS model. Band: where 8 out of 10 fall. Narrow, firm trend; wide, high uncertainty.
everything about the rubberlip seaperch
who is the rubberlip seaperch
Surfperch of the family Embiotocidae, which lives in rocky areas, in kelp forests and near breakwaters and pilings, from the surf zone down to 50 m deep. It reaches 47 cm and is viviparous: the female carries the young until birth. It often forms schools. It occurs from California, in the United States, to central Baja California, in Mexico, including Guadalupe Island. It is commercially fished and used in 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 rubberlip seaperch; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Rocky-shore surfperch with a compact body, which forms schools near rocks, algae and piers. The common name refers to its thick lips, like rubber. Like the other surfperches of the family, it is viviparous. On the same coast, the calico surfperch (Amphistichus koelzi) lives on sandy beaches in the surf zone, not on rocky shores, which separates the two by habitat. The pile perch (Phanerodon vacca) also lives on rocky shores, but it is silvery, with dark spots.
where found
From California, in the United States, to central Baja California, including Guadalupe Island; in Latin America, only in Mexico, on rocky shores and among algae.
Habitat: Rocky shores and kelp beds, from the surf zone down to 50 m deep.
rules for the rubberlip seaperch
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
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.
It has no venomous spine and is safe to handle. Fish carefully among the rocks and waves, where it lives.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.0195, b = 2.97; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). 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.
- scientific FishBase: Rhacochilus toxotes (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Rhacochilus toxotesNames by country and language.
similar species
where each number comes from
The weather comes from three independent global models, cross-checked hour by hour: when they agree, confidence goes up; when they diverge, the band between them shows on the chart. Beyond 16 days, we use the GEFS ensemble of 31 simulations: if 20 of the 31 predict rain, the chance of rain is 65%. Sun and moon are calculated astronomically, with no uncertainty.
The index adds up, weighted for each species: time of day (species curve anchored to real sunrise and sunset), moon (transits, rise and set, phase), pressure (3 h trend and 24 h swing), water temperature (in rivers, estimated from air temperature; at sea, estimated by an ocean model), wind, rain, clouds, tide and the month in the species' cycle.
sources for this lookup
how accurate the forecast is
Accuracy measured in the reference project (4 regions, 93 days, forecast vs. observed): maximum temperature is off by 0.6 °C on average the next day and 1.7 °C at 7 days; rain of 5 mm or more is detected 76% of the time the next day and 57% at 7 days. Detection isn't everything: the false alarm rate isn't published here yet, and 93 days in 4 regions is still a small sample. We now also measure every day, at the app's destinations: