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fishing forecast

channel scabbardfish

Evoxymetopon taeniatum · Trichiuridae · predator

Silvery, very elongated slope fish, between 100 and 200 m, caught for subsistence and considered a sport fish.

Also called: tirante, tajalí de canal, triante, channel scabbardfish

Scientific illustration of Channel scabbardfish
maximum
200 cm
record/max.
1.7 kg
depth
100–200 m
location

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period

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the species

everything about the channel scabbardfish

overview

who is the channel scabbardfish

Fish of the family Trichiuridae, very elongated and compressed, reaching 200 cm and weighing up to 1.7 kg. It lives on the continental slope and sometimes on the shelf, at depths of 100 to 200 m. In the western Atlantic, it also occurs in the Bahamas and the Caribbean. In Latin America it appears in Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Uruguay and Venezuela. It can be found in southern Brazilian waters, at slope depths. It is considered a sport fish and is also caught for subsistence.

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 channel scabbardfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.

how to recognize it

identification

Very elongated, compressed body, silvery with a slight reddish-brown tone on the back and several pale yellow longitudinal stripes. The lateral line is nearly straight, in the middle of the body. The pelvic fins are very reduced. Lepidopus caudatus looks similar, but has a uniform silvery body without the yellow stripes, and that is the main difference.

distribution

where found

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In Latin America, it occurs in Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Uruguay and Venezuela, in slope waters.

Habitat: Continental slope and sometimes shelf, usually between 100 and 200 m.

coast

Southeast CoastSouth Coastshelfoceanic
what the law says

rules for the channel scabbardfish

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 the angler. It is an open-sea fish and rarely caught on a rod.

in the kitchen

It is caught for subsistence, that is, for the consumption of whoever catches it.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00214, b = 2.99; 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: Evoxymetopon taeniatum (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 Evoxymetopon taeniatumNames 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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