Wreckfish
Wreckfish live deep along Brazil's Atlantic coast, haunting rocky outcrops, seamounts, and underwater ledges well below the reach of most recreational boats.
Listed as critically endangered in Brazil by iNaturalist/IUCN assessments, they are rarely targeted by sport anglers here — this is primarily a species of commercial and scientific interest in Brazilian waters, not a mainstream recreational fishery.
Scientific Name: Polyprion americanus
Also known as cherne, cherne-verdadeiro
- Dark brown to bluish-gray on the back and flanks, fading to yellowish or silvery on the belly; fins are blackish-brown; juveniles show dark blotches on head and body.
- Massive, deep-bodied build with a large head, protruding lower jaw, and a distinctive thick bony ridge running horizontally across the gill cover — the clearest field mark separating it from groupers.
- Common fish run around 80 cm; adults typically reach 40–60 lbs, but the species can exceed 200 lbs and 6.5 feet — one of the largest deep-water fish in the Atlantic.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the western Atlantic; present along Brazil's offshore Atlantic coast, with the species' range extending from the equatorial northeast down toward the southern latitudes.
- A deep-water, bottom-dwelling fish — found from roughly 100 to 600 meters down, typically over rocky structure far offshore.
- Gravitates to hard-bottom terrain: seamounts, rocky outcrops, submarine cliffs, and ledges where shelter and prey concentrate together.
- Listed as critically endangered in Brazil, reflecting very low population density in Brazilian waters.
Key Locations
- Brazil's offshore Atlantic seamounts and deep rocky banks.
Specific Spots
- Rocky ledges and overhangs at depth — wreckfish use caves and undercuts as resting cover, moving out to feed along adjacent structure.
- Seamounts and underwater pinnacles concentrate both the fish and their prey; these are the primary targets for deep-drop fishing offshore Brazil.
- Shipwrecks at depth provide the same shelter as natural rocky structure and can hold fish year-round.
Wreckfish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Wreckfish?
Whole squid and large cut fish baits on bottom rigs are the most reliable approach, natural scent and profile matter at these depths where visibility is low. Heavy deep-drop jigs (knife jigs, slow-pitch jigs) in the 200–500g range that flutter on the drop and can be worked just off the bottom over rocky structure.
How do you catch Wreckfish?
In Brazil, wreckfish are taken almost exclusively by commercial deep-drop operations using electric reels and bottom rigs over offshore seamounts and rocky structure.
What do Wreckfish eat?
Feeds primarily on fish and squid that migrate through the water column near deep structure, heavy jigs and large natural baits (whole squid, large cut fish) are the standard imitations at these depths.
Where do Wreckfish live?
Native to the western Atlantic; present along Brazil's offshore Atlantic coast, with the species' range extending from the equatorial northeast down toward the southern latitudes. A deep-water, bottom-dwelling fish, found from roughly 100 to 600 meters down, typically over rocky structure far offshore.
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