Rudderfish
📖 Overview
An oceanic, epipelagic or mesopelagic species . Juveniles occurring in surface waters and associated with pelagic medusas and salps , adults found deeper . May form small schools. Appears to feed on whatever is available, small fish, squid, large pelagic crustaceans, and other plankton .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 37 - 41; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 20 - 24. Dark brown to black, occasionally almost bluish; median and pelvic fins darker than body; young with 2-4 vertical bars . Snout is slightly longer than the eye diameter .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Rudderfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 40 - 1050 m , usually 300 - 700 m . Deep-water; 68°N - 55°S, 180°W - 180°E North Atlantic: Nova Scotia and Grand Banks (Canada) to Massachusetts, USA (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
whatever is available, small fish, squid, large pelagic crustaceans, and other plankton (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acentrolophus maculosus | Nardo | 1827 | Synonym |
| Centrolophodes irvini | Gilchrist & von Bonde | 1923 | Synonym |
| Centrolophodes irwini | Gilchrist & von Bonde | 1923 | Synonym |
| Centrolophus liparis | Risso | 1827 | Synonym |
| Centrolophus maoricus | Ogilby | 1893 | Synonym |
| Centrolophus morio | Cuvier | 1833 | Synonym |
| Centrolophus pompilus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Heterotypic |
| Centrolophus valenciennesi | Moreau | 1881 | Synonym |
| Coryphaena pompilus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Heterotypic |
| Gymnocephalus messanensis | Cocco | 1829 | Synonym |
| Gymnocephalus messinensis | Cocco | 1829 | Synonym |
| Mupus bifasciatus | Smith | 1961 | Synonym |
| Perca nigra | Gmelin | 1789 | Synonym |
| Schedophilus elongatus | Johnson | 1862 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 28 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Rudderfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.