The Golden Tilefish
April 29, 2013
By Florida Sportsman Editor
The Golden Tilefish, Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
Color is gray or bluish, with numerous yellow dots. Head is blunt. A fleshy protuberance forward of the dorsal fin, and entirely separate from it, is a sure identifier. A similar species, the Goldface Tilefish, Caulolatilus Chrysops, has no fleshy protuberance but has a gold band on its head from eye to mouth.
OTHER NAMES
Great Northern Tilefish, Common Tilefish
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SIZE
Common at 5-10 pounds; sometimes exceeds 20.
FOOD VALUE
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Good. During periods of abundance, the Tilefish is popular commercially, but rated as less desirable for the table than deepwater Snappers and Groupers.
GAME QUALITIES
Largely irrelevant because Tilefish are nearly always caught on very heavy tackle or commercial electric rigs.
TACKLE AND BAITS
Charterboat anglers sometimes fish for Tilefish with wire lines and powered reels. It’s exhausting work to crank them up with heavy manual tackle. Chunks of cut fish make good bait.
FISHING SYSTEMS
Drifting.
RANGE
All Florida coasts, but this fish varies greatly in abundance, evidently because of cycles that may be tied to vagaries of ocean currents. Tilefish also occur off the Bahamas, but are seldom caught there, due to lack of fishing effort.
HABITAT
Likes soft bottom with scattered rocks or growth. Most Florida fish are taken from depths of 400 feet or more.
Haulover Tile Forum member farinco shows off a big golden tile fish caught while deep dropping out of Haulover.
Down South Tile Forum member First Born with a nice tilefish.
Tilefish This tilefish was taken in 900 feet of water in the Dry Tortugas.
Tilefish A tilefish caught offshore using live bait on a wreck.
Tortugas Tilefish Captain Yuri and crew caught this large Tilefish in 900 feet of water in the Dry Tortugas
Tilefish Bob Mark and crew caught these out of of Stuart, Florida
Tilefish Bob Mark and crew caught these out of of Stuart, Florida
Tilefish A tilefish to add to the floor while fishing with buckhead jigs offshore.
Tilefish off Jupiter I caught this golden tile fish last summer off Jupiter FL. Thanks! Joe Lopez
Red Grouper and Tilefish Florida Sportsman member copout@castaways posted this shot of grouper and tilefish caught in 450' off Hillsboro Inlet
Tilefishing Seth's golden tilefish was landed after bottom fishing deep offshore the Panhandle.