Agujon Needlefish

Agujon Needlefish (Tylosurus acus) Description

The Agujon Needlefish, like other Needlefish species, has an elongated body and a stout beak that is long, slender, and upcurved. They have many sharp, pointed teeth as well. They are known not to have gill rakers.

The tail fin on this fish species is deeply forked, and their dorsal fins have a long base. The coloring on their bodies is dark blue on the back and silvery below. A blue stripe runs over along their flanks.

Size & Diet

The Agujon Needlefish mature at about 18 to 20 inches in length, but commonly found at 35 inches. The heaviest one on record weighs about 8 pounds and measures at about 5 feet. The Agujon Needlefish is a carnivore and planktivore, known to feed on small bony fishes and zooplankton.

Interesting Facts

• The Agujon Needlefish are oviparous in their spawning habits. They have their eggs attached by tendrils on objects in the water.
• The flesh of the Agujon Needlefish is available on the market and sold as fresh and salted. However, they are not so popular because of their green color, that's why most anglers that catch them usually catch and release.
• Anglers are advised to handle this fish with care as its long and pointy jaw can cut and pierce through the skin.

Fishing Technique: How to Catch Agujon Needlefish

When fishing for Agujon Needlefish or other Needlefish for that matter, look for them in shallow waters or in the surface of the open sea. When they are feeding, the males are known to defend their schools.

Needlefish are not picky eaters. They are, in fact, hated by some anglers because of how they just eat bait. It might be better to use lures on the needlefish. If you are using lures, you might want to use tail hooks. Anglers will also have success using shiny spoons. Jerkbaits like the Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow will work as well.

If you are using a hook to bait this fish, make sure your hook is sharp enough for its jaws. Give your line a jerk to make sure you’ve hooked the fish, as this species is known to mouth bait without getting hooked. However, give it time as it is smart and when it feels a strain on the line, it can let go of the bait.

Habitat and Distribution

This pelagic fish species is known to inhabit shallow waters, near reefs and on the edges of the water column, and is known to swim to the surface to hunt for its food.

The Agujon Needlefish is distributed all over the waters of the Western Atlantic, from Massachusetts to Brazil.

It is also reported to occur in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, particularly off Morocco and the waters of the Mediterranean. Some of its subspecies also occur in the Indo-West Pacific and oceanic islands in the eastern tropical Pacific Revillagigedo Islands, Clipperton Island, and Cocos Island, and in the Gulf of Guinea and Cape Verde Islands.