Finespotted Jawfish
Bocón Punteado
(Opistognathus punctatus)

Finespotted Jawfish, Opistognathus punctatus: The Finespotted Jawfish has a light grey to brown coloration with numerous small dark spots covering its head and body along with large back spots and blotches on the sides and fins. Its bulbous head with enormous orange mouth with a straight rear jaw that extends well beyond the eyes is truly noteworthy.

The Finespotted Jawfish has a short blunt tail with large orange tipped pectoral fins.

This fish species can be confused with the Giant Jawfish (Bigmouth Bastard), Opistognathus rhomaleus (body without spots and blotches), and the Mexican Jawfish, Opistognathus mexicanus (body covered with brown spots, white lines on anal, caudal and dorsal fins, maximum length 5 inches).

The Finespotted Jawfish is reported to reach up to 16 inches in length and is found between 40 and 60 feet deep in the water column. It feeds primarily at night and can be found in water with temperatures as high as 95 degrees.

Distribution in Mexico fishing areas

In Mexican fishing waters , the Finespotted Jawfish can be found on the Pacific side of Baja California peninsula, south from Magdalena Bay, throughout the Sea of Cortez, and along the coast of the mainland north of Guatemala. It appears to be absent from around the oceanic islands.

The Finespotted Jawfish is a member of the Opistognathidae Family of Jawfishes which are curious-looking, small to medium-sized burrowing fish with large bulbous heads, large mouths, big eyes on top and elongated, compressed, tapering bodies. They construct an elaborate burrow network in sandy substrate, that they line with pebbles and shells which undergoes constant renovation. They are normally found between 20 and 60 feet deep in the water column and avoid areas of surge.

They have long anal and dorsal fin bases, a continuous dorsal fin, and pelvic fins that originate before the pectoral fins. The lateral line is high on the body and stops at midbody. They are voracious predators feeding on small fish and benthic and planktonic invertebrates. Globally there are 95 known members of the family from three genera, of which about one-third have not been described in the literature. Within the Opistognathus genus there are 36 global members of which five are known in Mexican waters.

Finespotted Jawfish picture 1

Finespotted Jawfish, Opistognathus punctatus: Donated to MexFish.com during fishing by the commercial fishermen to Todos Santos, April 2009.  Length 11.5 inches. Photo courtesy of John Snow.

Finespotted picture 2

Finespotted Jawfish, Opistognathus punctatus: Caught during a fishing trip at Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Photo courtesy Gary Graham, Baja On The Fly.

Finespotted picture 3

Finespotted Jawfish, Opistognathus punctatus: Caught during a fishing trip in the Sea of Cortez Midriff Islands, near Bahia de los Angeles (L.A. Bay), Baja California, Mexico. Showing unusual yellow pigmentation inside mouth, normally light tan. Photo courtesy Gene Kira.

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