Fish Identification Photos: Shortfinned Butterfish, Salema Butterfish, Peprilus snyderi: This fish is one of the pompanos that is characterized by its oval, semicircular shape, with short dorsal and anal fins. This fish can be confused with the similar Longfinned Butterfish, Peprilus medius, which is more circular in shape and has longer dorsal and anal fins with pointed tips, and the Palometa Pompano, Trachinotus paitensis, whose dorsal and anal fins are farther aft than those of the Butterfishes.

The Shortfinned Butterfish is one of the pompanos and a member of Carangidae or Jack Family. The Shortfinned Butterfish is widely distributed in Mexico, on the Pacific coast of Baja from Magdelena Bay southwards, all the way up the Sea of Cortez coast, and on mainland Mexico south to Guatemala.

The Shortfinned Butterfish has been reported to reach 15 inches in length, and to be found up to 300 feet deep.

The similar Longfinned Butterfish, or Pacific Harvestfish, is found in Mexican waters on the Cortez coast of Baja California Sur, from La Paz to San Felipe, and on mainland Mexico from Mazatlan south to Guatemala.

Comments: There is not much in the literature on this guy. Very rare! This is the first one I have seen, but I might not have been looking the way I am looking now and/or the bait guys normally take these types home for dinner so I would never get access to them! Wish I understood more about why the tail fins are so ragged. Perhaps it is a juvenile. —John Snow.