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fishing forecast

jenny mojarra

Eucinostomus gula · Gerreidae · omnivore

EstuarySeaessential profile

Small fish of lagoons and mangroves, relative of the carapicus, which lives in groups and is used as bait. It has little commercial importance and is almost never caught on a rod.

Also called: primituma, carapicu, mojarra, silver jenny

Scientific illustration of Jenny mojarra
maximum
26 cm
depth
0–55 m
location

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period

Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…

the species

everything about the jenny mojarra

overview

who is the jenny mojarra

Fish of the family Gerreidae, the mojarras (carapicus and carapebas). It reaches 25.5 cm and lives in shallow waters, 0 to 55 m, mainly on mud bottoms in lagoons and mangrove-lined channels. It may form groups and probably eats small bottom invertebrates. It occurs from the North American Atlantic and Bermuda to Argentina, including Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. In fishing it is used as bait and has little commercial importance.

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 jenny mojarra; in the meantime, see the similar species.

fun facts

  • Enters fresh water in regions of limestone rock.
how to recognize it

identification

Spindle-shaped, silvery body, with the dorsal fin in two parts, one of spines and one of soft rays, a family trait. It looks like the carapicu (Eucinostomus argenteus), the carapeba (Diapterus rhombeus) and the carapicu-bandeira (Eucinostomus melanopterus), which live in the same region. The primituma is more abundant in mud lagoons lined with mangroves, and that habitat helps identify it.

distribution

where found

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In Latin America it occurs from Mexico and the Caribbean to Argentina, including Brazil.

Habitat: Shallow waters of lagoons, mangroves and mud bottoms, 0 to 55 m; sometimes on sand with marine vegetation.

coast

North CoastNortheast CoastSoutheast CoastSouth Coastcoastal
what the law says

rules for the jenny mojarra

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.

Not dangerous to people. If used as bait, it must be kept alive in clean water.

in the kitchen

Sold fresh, but not very prized.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01122, 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: Eucinostomus gula (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 Eucinostomus gulaNames 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.
don't confuse

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