Species guide
How to catch Great northern tilefish
Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
The Great northern tilefish is a sturdy saltwater fish known for building burrows in clay substrates. It prefers stable, moderately warm bottom waters and uses shelter for protection. This species can grow quite large, making it a prized catch for anglers.
Where they live
Found in the western Atlantic including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, this fish inhabits depths from 80 to 540 meters, favoring stable, warm clay substrates often near submarine canyon walls where it builds burrows or shelters under rocks.
Typical size
Up to about 125 cm
What they eat
- small fish
- crustaceans
- mollusks
- other benthic invertebrates
Best baits
- bottomfish bait
- cut squid
- crabs
- shrimp
Best lures
- jigs
- soft plastic baits
- bucktail jigs
- deep water spoons
How to fish for them
- bottom fishing
- deep water jigging
- drift fishing near clam beds
- using chumming to attract
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