Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish, Caulolatilus affinis
Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish, Caulolatilus affinis, Juvenile. Fish caught from coastal waters off Point Palmilla, Baja California Sur, January 2014. Length: 16.5 cm (6.5 inches).
Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish, Caulolatilus affinis. Fish caught from coastal waters off Point Palmilla, Baja California Sur, January 2014. Length: 35 cm (14 inches).
Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish, Caulolatilus affinis. Fish caught from coastal waters off Loreto, Baja California Sur, June 2022. Length: 38 cm (15 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Chris Wheaton, Fullerton, California.
Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish, Caulolatilus affinis. Fish caught from coastal waters out of 300-foot water off El Tule, Baja California Sur, January 2024. Length: not determined (unfortunately). Weight: 2.95 kg (6.5 pounds). Catch courtesy of Dee Herranen, Miami, Florida. Photograph and identification courtesy of Chip Shapley, Los Barriles, Baja California Sur. This fish has been submitted as being a potential IFGA World Record.
The Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish, Caulolatilus affinis, is a member of the Tilefish or Malacanthidae Family, that is also known as the Bighead Tilefish and is known in Mexico as conejo but has many local names including molahino and pierna. Globally, there are ten species in the genus Caulolatilus, of which seven are found in Mexican waters, five in the Atlantic and two in the Pacific Ocean.
The Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish has a robust rectangular shaped body with a uniform body depth throughout their length with a depth that is 25% to 30% of standard length. They are olive green to a bluish gray in overall color with silvery sides. The key to identification, and for which they are named, is a broad yellow stripe in front of the eye. They have a dark spot above the pectoral fin axis. The juveniles are lighter in color, the yellow stripe extends through the eye and to the gill cover and the dark spot above the pectoral fin axis is more pronounced in juveniles. The yellow stripe quickly fades to a dull blue upon death. Their heads are relatively deep with a relatively steep profile. They have serrated gill covers with one short blunt spine.
The Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish is a demersal species that is found in relatively deep water in both marine and brackish environments over rocky and sandy substrate at depths between 30 m (100 feet) and 198 m (650 feet). They are a slow-growing medium lived species. They are reported to reach a maximum of 60 cm (2 feet 0 inches) in length and 2.7 kg (5.9 lbs) in weight. I caught one in March 2023 57.5 cm (1 feet 11 inches) in length indicative that a new world record is available in the greater Los Cabos area. As of January 1, 2023, the International Game Fish Association world record stood at 2.27 kg (5 lbs 0 oz) with the fish caught in coastal waters off Costa Rica in December 2013. Their anal fin has 1 or 2 spines and 21 to 24 rays; their caudal fin is straight; and, their dorsal fin has 7 to 10 spines and 22 to 25 rays. Both the anal and dorsal fins have very long bases. The body is covered with rough scales. The males and the females are similar in appearance, however the males are much larger and heavier than the females and dominant the population in older fishes. They consume benthic worms, crustaceans, gastropods and bivalves, octopus, small fishes and squid. Reproduction involves external fertilization with pelagic eggs and larvae. They have lifespans of up to twenty-one years. The Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish The Acapulco Damselfish is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.
The Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish is a resident of all Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean.
The Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish can be confused with the Ocean Whitefish, Caulolatilus princeps (smaller head; blue-grey with a more concave yellow caudal fin and the pectoral fins have strong yellow and blue components).
From a conservation perspective, the Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish, is currently considered to be of Least Concern, with an abundant stable population found over a wide range. The Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish is a heavily targeted and caught by commercial pangueros with hand lines utilizing either cut squid or cut fish as bait. They are the most frequently caught bottom fish from waters that are deeper than 60 meters (200 feet) in the greater Los Cabos area. They are also caught by deepwater shrimp trawls. The Pacific Golden-eyed Tilefish is an important food fish for the people of Mexico. They are also an export product of Mexico and are common in the Asian Markets of San Diego being viewed as excellent food value.