Sand Perch
The namorado sandperch is a demersal marine fish native to the southeastern Brazilian coast, running from around Rio de Janeiro south through Santa Catarina.
It's a bottom-dwelling species of commercial and recreational importance, targeted by boat anglers fishing deeper offshore grounds.
Its size — common around 40 cm but capable of reaching well over a meter — makes it a worthwhile target for anyone working rocky or sandy bottom in the 15–300 m range.
Scientific Name: Pseudopercis numida
Also known as Namorado, namorado-sandperch
- Fusiform (torpedo-shaped) body built for life on the bottom; males are darker — blackish on the head, dorsal surface, and fins — while females run brown-yellow.
- Seven dorsal spines followed by 26–28 soft rays; anal fin with 1–2 spines and 24–27 soft rays — a useful count when separating it from similar sandperches.
- Common fish run around 40 cm; the species can reach 120 cm and over 20 kg, making large specimens genuinely substantial catches.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the southwestern Atlantic; in Brazil its range runs from roughly Rio de Janeiro south to the coast of Santa Catarina, around 19°S to 34°40′S.
- Strictly a marine, bottom-hugging species — found on sandy and rocky seafloor from about 15 m down to 300 m, with most fish sitting between 100 and 300 m.
- Not found in freshwater or estuaries; this is an offshore, open-coast fish.
Key Locations
- Rio de Janeiro coast — the northern limit of the species' Brazilian range and a known area of occurrence on offshore bottom grounds.
- Santa Catarina coast — the southern extent of the Brazilian range, where the species has been recorded on the outer shelf.
- The southeastern Brazilian shelf between roughly 19°S and 34°40′S represents the core of the species' Brazilian distribution, with offshore bottom fishing grounds throughout this stretch.
Specific Spots
- Rocky and mixed sand-rock bottom in the 100–300 m range is the core zone — the fish rest and feed right on the substrate, so getting your bait or jig to the bottom is non-negotiable.
- Shallower fish (15–50 m) can be found over hard bottom closer to the coast, particularly along the rocky stretches of the Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina shorelines.
- Bottom relief — ledges, reef edges, and transitions from sand to rock — concentrates fish and is worth marking on a sounder before dropping down.
Sand Perch FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Sand Perch?
Cut bait, squid, sardines, and small whole fish, fished on a bottom rig with enough lead to hold the seafloor is the most reliable approach, especially at depth.
When is the best time to fish for Sand Perch?
Spring and summer (September–February) bring the breeding peak and generally more active fish on the bottom grounds. Offshore bottom fishing is possible year-round along the southeastern Brazilian coast, with weather and sea conditions being the main limiting factor rather than fish availability.
How do you catch Sand Perch?
Namorado are almost exclusively targeted by boat, fishing deep offshore bottom grounds with heavy conventional gear. The standard approach is anchoring or drifting over rocky or mixed-bottom structure and presenting bait or heavy jigs directly on the seafloor.
What do Sand Perch eat?
As a benthic predator, namorado feed on smaller fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates living on or near the seafloor, which is why cut bait, squid, and whole small fish fished hard on the bottom consistently produce.
Where do Sand Perch live?
Native to the southwestern Atlantic; in Brazil its range runs from roughly Rio de Janeiro south to the coast of Santa Catarina, around 19°S to 34°40′S. Strictly a marine, bottom-hugging species, found on sandy and rocky seafloor from about 15 m down to 300 m, with most fish sitting between 100 and 300 m.
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