Fish / SPECIES GUIDE
Whitespotted filefish
Lija de lanares blancos (vernacular)
Cantherhines macrocerus
Source-reviewed guide. Evidence gaps are stated explicitly; regulations remain local.
Identification
Two pairs of strong spines on each side of the tail base distinguish adults in the FAO key. Juvenile spines can be difficult to see.
Where to find it
The documented Caribbean areas and their occurrence sources are listed below. Historic records do not establish present abundance.
Habitat
Clear-water coral reefs.
Depth
3–20 m. Occurrence depth is not recommended tackle depth.
Best season
Information unavailable in the species sources reviewed; no species-specific recommendation is inferred.
Best time
Information unavailable in the species sources reviewed; no species-specific recommendation is inferred.
Best tides
Information unavailable in the species sources reviewed; no species-specific recommendation is inferred.
Best weather / conditions
Information unavailable in the species sources reviewed; no species-specific recommendation is inferred.
Best bait
Information unavailable in the species sources reviewed; no species-specific recommendation is inferred.
Best artificial lures
Information unavailable in the species sources reviewed; no species-specific recommendation is inferred.
Tackle setup
Information unavailable in the species sources reviewed; no species-specific recommendation is inferred.
Hook size
Information unavailable in the species sources reviewed; no species-specific recommendation is inferred.
Line
Information unavailable in the species sources reviewed; no species-specific recommendation is inferred.
Leader
Information unavailable in the species sources reviewed; no species-specific recommendation is inferred.
Fishing techniques
Information unavailable in the species sources reviewed; no species-specific recommendation is inferred.
Step-by-step: how to catch it
- Confirm identification and local rules.
- Use only a method permitted locally; the methods section distinguishes documented practice from unavailable advice.
- Release any protected, uncertain or unwanted catch promptly using appropriate handling.
Typical size
FAO common size: to 35 cm length; measurement basis not specified in this account. Not an island-specific catch average.
Maximum size
FAO account maximum: 40 cm length; measurement basis not specified in this account. Historical reference value, not a current angling record.
Edibility
Edibility is not established in the catalog; see the table-quality section.
Cleaning
No food recommendation is provided: the catalog has not verified human food use for this species.
Cooking suggestions
No food recommendation is provided: the catalog has not verified human food use for this species.
Safety warnings
Keep hands clear of hooks, spines and the mouth. Consult the release guidance and any species-specific warnings before handling.
Regulations
Verify the rules for the actual fishing area before targeting or retaining this species. Unknown means pending verification, not unrestricted harvest. Area-specific classifications and sources appear below.
Conservation
The catalog documents protected status in Cayman waters for this fishing group. There it is an encounter, not a fishing target. Other local statuses remain separate below.
Physical appearance
The FAO key records usually fourteen pectoral rays; this is a counting character, not a color-based identification.
Diet
Mostly sponges, with hydroids, corals and algae also eaten.
Behavior
Often observed in pairs.
Fishing depth
Information unavailable in the species sources reviewed; no species-specific recommendation is inferred.
Fishing environments
Clear-water coral reefs. This is species-level habitat context, not proof for every linked area.
Table quality
No food recommendation is provided: the catalog has not verified human food use for this species.
Catch and release
For an ordinary small fish, minimize handling and air exposure, support its body and use a dehooker. Species-specific hazards take precedence.
Documented Caribbean areas and local rules
- Puerto Rico — Unknown — pending verification
- U.S. Virgin Islands — Unknown — pending verification
- British Virgin Islands — Unknown — pending verification
- Sint Maarten — Unknown — pending verification
- Saint Barthélemy — Unknown — pending verification
- Saba — Unknown — pending verification
- Sint Eustatius — Unknown — pending verification
- Saint Kitts and Nevis — Unknown — pending verification
- Antigua and Barbuda — Unknown — pending verification
- Guadeloupe — Unknown — pending verification
- Dominica — Unknown — pending verification
- Martinique — Unknown — pending verification
- Saint Lucia — Unknown — pending verification
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines — Unknown — pending verification
- Barbados — Unknown — pending verification
- Grenada — Unknown — pending verification
- Trinidad and Tobago — Unknown — pending verification
- Aruba — Unknown — pending verification
- Curaçao — Unknown — pending verification
- Bonaire — Unknown — pending verification
- Bahamas — Unknown — pending verification
- Turks and Caicos Islands — Unknown — pending verification
- Cayman Islands — Protected
- Jamaica — Unknown — pending verification
- Cuba — Unknown — pending verification
- Dominican Republic — Unknown — pending verification
Sources and field evidence
- Big Joe Caribbean catalog — individual occurrence and local rule sources retained
- FAO Western Central Atlantic, volume 3, PDF pages 612
- FAO volume 3, filefish identification key, PDF p. 606
- FWC — Fish handling and gear
Other names: No synonyms recorded.