Red Cusk-eel
The red cusk-eel is one of Chile's most culturally significant marine fish — a bottom-dwelling species that runs the full length of the Chilean coast and anchors the country's artisanal fishing economy.
Not a true eel, it's a deep-shelf demersal fish targeted mainly by commercial and artisanal fishers. Recreational anglers fishing deep rocky ground along the Chilean coast encounter it as a serious target.
Scientific Name: Genypterus chilensis
Also known as Congrio colorado, Congrio rosado
- Long, slender body with a reddish-pink belly — the coloring that gives it the "colorado" name; elongated shape resembles an eel but it's an entirely different fish family.
- Typical fish run around 3 feet; large individuals reach up to 5 feet (1.6 m), making them one of the bigger demersal species on the Chilean shelf.
- Soft dorsal fin runs nearly the full length of the back (136 rays), merging with the tail — a key visual difference from true eels, which lack this continuous fin structure.
- Rocky-bottom fish with a robust jaw built for crushing prey on hard substrate; not easily confused with the golden cusk-eel (Genypterus blacodes), which is paler and found in deeper water.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the Southeast Pacific — found from southern Peru down through the full length of Chile's coast, within the Humboldt Current system.
- Lives on or near the bottom, typically over rocky substrate on the continental shelf and upper slope, from relatively shallow coastal depths down to around 350 meters (1,100 ft).
- A strictly marine species — never enters fresh water or estuaries.
- Recently documented using deep methane seep habitats roughly 11 miles off central Chile's coast, suggesting a wider habitat range than previously understood.
Key Locations
- Central Chile coast — documented aggregations at deep methane seeps roughly 11 miles offshore; a known commercial fishing zone for artisanal fleets.
- The full Chilean continental shelf from the northern border with Peru south to the channels of southern Chile — this is the core of the species' range within the Humboldt Current system.
- Quintay area (central Chile) — home to CIMARQ marine research center, which has been active in red cusk-eel aquaculture and biology research, indicating productive local populations.
Specific Spots
- Rocky bottom structure on the shelf and upper slope is the core habitat — fish hold tight to hard substrate where they can find shelter and prey.
- Deep drop-offs and rocky ledges in the 50–350 meter range concentrate fish; artisanal fishers target these depth transitions along the central and southern Chilean coast.
- Methane seep areas off central Chile have been documented holding large aggregations — fish were observed sheltering inside tubeworm formations, possibly for parasite cleaning by resident spider crabs.
Red Cusk-eel FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Red Cusk-eel?
Cut fish bait and whole squid are the go-to, presented on weighted bottom rigs that keep the offering on or just above rocky structure where the fish hold.
When is the best time to fish for Red Cusk-eel?
Available year-round along the Chilean coast, with no strongly defined closed season for recreational fishing. Commercial catches and artisanal effort peak during the austral autumn and winter months (April–August) when fish are more concentrated on shelf structure.
How do you catch Red Cusk-eel?
Artisanal and recreational fishers target red cusk-eel by anchoring or drifting over known rocky bottom structure and fishing cut bait or squid hard on the seafloor with heavy bottom rigs.
What do Red Cusk-eel eat?
Feeds on bottom-dwelling invertebrates and smaller fish over rocky substrate, crustaceans, mollusks, and benthic prey are the primary forage. For anglers fishing deep, cut bait and whole small fish presented on the bottom are the standard approach.
Where do Red Cusk-eel live?
Native to the Southeast Pacific, found from southern Peru down through the full length of Chile's coast, within the Humboldt Current system. Lives on or near the bottom, typically over rocky substrate on the continental shelf and upper slope, from relatively shallow coastal depths down to around 350 meters (1,100 ft).
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