Species profile
Golden Tilefish
Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
At a glance
Golden Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) is an IUCN Endangered bony-fish species regulated in 4 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Florida); the most generous is 8 (Federal Waters (NOAA)).
Confirmed by 4 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, New Jersey, and New York the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Lives along the continental shelf edge at depths of roughly 250–1,500 feet.
- Excavates elaborate burrow systems in soft mud and clay on the seafloor.
- Can reach 44 inches and weigh over 60 pounds.
- Long-lived for a food fish — individuals older than 35 years have been recorded.
- Prized for sweet, firm, white flesh often compared in flavor to lobster or crab.
Where Golden Tilefish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Golden Tilefish
Background
The great northern tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps), or golden tile, is the largest species in the family Malacanthidae (tilefishes), which grows to an average length between 38 to 44 inches (970 to 1,120 mm). The great northern tilefish is a slow-growing and long-lived species, which has four stages of life. After hatching from eggs, the larvae are found in plankton. As they grow into…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Golden Tilefish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.