Species guide
How to catch Largehead hairtail
Trichiurus lepturus
The largehead hairtail is an eel-like predatory fish known for its slender, elongated body and impressive size. It inhabits shallow coastal waters and estuaries, often moving vertically between depths during day and night. This species forms schools and feeds actively on small fish and squid, making it a dynamic game fish.
Where they live
Found in brackish and saltwater, mainly over muddy bottoms of shallow coastal areas and estuaries in the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. It ranges from the surface down to about 590 meters and exhibits daily vertical migration.
Typical size
Up to about 234 cm
What they eat
- small pelagic fish
- squid species
- pelagic planktonic crustaceans
- euphausiids
Best baits
- small fish strips
- fresh squid
- shrimp
Best lures
- metal jigs
- streamers
- soft plastic lures
How to fish for them
- jigging near bottom
- float fishing near surface at night
- casting lures in estuaries
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