Species guide
How to catch Pacific scabbardfish
Lepidopus fitchi
The Pacific scabbardfish is a slender, elongated fish found along the continental shelf and slope in the Pacific Ocean. It forms schools and feeds on small fishes, cephalopods, and euphausiids. This species moves closer to the surface at night during cold seasons and full moons.
Where they live
Found in the North Pacific Ocean from shallow depths of about 100 m down to 500 m, often over sandy bottoms and near the continental shelf and slope. Schools sometimes appear near the surface at night in colder months.
Typical size
Up to about 210 cm
What they eat
- small fishes such as anchovies and juvenile hake
- cephalopods
- krill-like euphausiids
Best baits
- small fish strips
- squid pieces
- shrimp
Best lures
- slender deep-diving lures
- jigs resembling small fish or squid
How to fish for them
- bottom fishing
- deep jigging
- night fishing during cold months
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