Narrownose Smooth-hound
The narrownose smooth-hound (Mustelus schmitti) is the most commercially exploited shark in Argentine waters, caught in large volumes by both industrial bottom-trawl fleets and artisanal fishermen along the Buenos Aires coast and the Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone.
Argentina leads global landings of this species by a wide margin. Its status has shifted from abundant to critically endangered, making it a conservation flashpoint as much as a fishery target.
Scientific Name: Mustelus schmitti
Also known as Gatuzo, smooth-hound
- Slender, elongated body with a short head, large eyes, and a bluntly angular snout — classic houndshark shape, easy to confuse with other Mustelus species.
- Gray on top with numerous small white spots; solid pale white underneath. The spots are the quickest field mark separating it from similar smooth-hounds.
- Both dorsal fins show exposed ceratotrichia — thin, dark-edged filaments along the trailing edge — a reliable ID feature unique to this species.
- Argentine individuals run larger than those near Brazil: females reach up to 108 cm, males up to 90 cm. Most fish encountered are well under a meter.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the southwestern Atlantic; in Argentina found from the Buenos Aires province coast south to roughly 44° S latitude on the continental shelf.
- Concentrated in the Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone (AUCFZ), historically one of the highest-density areas for this species in its entire range.
- A bottom-oriented shark that works the seafloor in coastal and shelf waters, typically between 60 and 195 m depth, though it moves into shallower inshore zones — including nursery areas — seasonally.
- Undertakes large seasonal migrations along the coast, moving between southern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina in predictable patterns tied to water temperature.
Key Locations
- Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone (AUCFZ) — historically the core of the species' abundance and still the main commercial fishing ground.
- Buenos Aires province coast — inshore waters here function as nursery habitat and support artisanal fisheries targeting juveniles and adults seasonally.
- Continental shelf between 30° S and 44° S — the full Argentine range of the species, worked by industrial bottom-trawl fleets.
Specific Spots
- Soft-bottom areas of the inner continental shelf where crabs, shrimp, and polychaete worms concentrate — this is where the fish feed and where trawls and gillnets intercept them.
- Shallow inshore zones along the Buenos Aires coast serve as nursery habitat; juvenile fish are regularly encountered here by artisanal fishermen working from small boats.
- The AUCFZ, the shared fishing zone between Argentina and Uruguay, historically held the densest concentrations and remains the primary commercial fishing ground.
Narrownose Smooth-hound FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Narrownose Smooth-hound?
Cut or whole crab and shrimp are the most direct match to the shark's natural diet and the go-to baits for artisanal fishermen working inshore areas. Small whole fish or fish chunks (sardines, anchovies) also work well on a bottom rig, especially when drifted slowly over soft-bottom areas.
When is the best time to fish for Narrownose Smooth-hound?
Warmer months (spring and summer, roughly October through March) bring fish into shallower Argentine inshore waters as the seasonal migration moves southward.
How do you catch Narrownose Smooth-hound?
Most gatuzo in Argentina are taken by commercial bottom-trawl and gillnet operations on the continental shelf. Artisanal and recreational fishermen work inshore areas from small boats using bottom rigs baited with crab, shrimp, or cut fish, targeting the shark when it moves into shallower coastal zones during its...
What do Narrownose Smooth-hound eat?
Feeds primarily on bottom-dwelling crustaceans, crabs and shrimp make up a large share of the diet, along with small fish and polychaete worms. Diet shifts somewhat with age and location.
Where do Narrownose Smooth-hound live?
Native to the southwestern Atlantic; in Argentina found from the Buenos Aires province coast south to roughly 44° S latitude on the continental shelf. Concentrated in the Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone (AUCFZ), historically one of the highest-density areas for this species in its entire range.
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