Golden Tilefish
Golden Tilefish
Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
Quick Facts
About the Species
Golden tilefish are found along the outer continental shelf and slope from Nova Scotia, Canada to Suriname. The golden tilefish fishery in the U.S. is managed from Maine through Virginia, with the majority of the fishery concentrated between Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, south to Cape May, New Jersey; more specifically between Hudson and Veatch Canyons. The commercial fishery predominantly uses longline gear, although handline, rod and reel, and trawl gear are also authorized. Only rod and reel gear is allowed in the recreational golden tilefish fishery. The market for golden tilefish is for human consumption and is often used in sushi. U.S. wild-caught golden tilefish is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart N.
Population
The stocks are not overfished.
Fishing Rate
The South Atlantic and Gulf of America* (formerly Gulf of Mexico) stocks are not subject to overfishing. The Mid-Atlantic stock is reduced to end overfishing.
Habitat Impact
Fishing gear used to catch tilefish rarely contacts the ocean floor and has minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Population Status
- There are three stocks of tilefish: Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Gulf of America stocks. According to the most recent stock assessments:
- The Mid-Atlantic stock is not overfished, but is subject to overfishing (2024 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
- The South Atlantic stock is not overfished and not subject to overfishing (2024 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
- The Gulf of America stock is not overfished and not subject to overfishing (2011 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
Appearance
- Tilefish, sometimes known as “the clown of the sea,” are colorful.
- They are iridescent blue-green on the back, with numerous spots of bright yellow and gold. Their bellies are white, and their heads are rosy with blue under the eyes.
- Their pectoral fins are sepia-colored, and the edge of their anal fins is purplish-blue.
- Golden tilefish are easily distinguishable from other members of the tilefish family by the large crest on their head.
Biology
- Tilefish grow slowly, up to 43 inches, although the average size harvested is 24 inches.
- They have a long life span, up to 46 years (females) and 39 years (males). These are the oldest tilefish on record, but radiometric dating techniques indicate tilefish may live as long as 50 years.
- Tilefish are able to reproduce when they reach 13 inches long and 3 pounds (approximately 2 to 4 years old).
- Tilefish spawn from March through November in the Atlantic and from January through June in the Gulf of America.
- Spawning peaks in June (Mid-Atlantic) and from April to June (South Atlantic and Gulf of America).
- Females release 2 to 8 million eggs when they spawn.
- Tilefish feed during the day on the bottom, eating shrimp, crabs, clams, snails, worms, anemones, and sea cucumbers.
- Monkfish, spiny dogfish, conger eels, large bottom-dwelling sharks (such as dusky and sandbar sharks), and other tilefish prey on juvenile tilefish.
Where They Live
Range
- Tilefish are found along the outer continental shelf and upper continental slope of the entire U.S. East Coast and in the Gulf of America.
- They are most abundant from Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, south to Cape May, New Jersey.
Habitat
- Tilefish live in water from 250 to 1,500 feet deep where bottom temperatures range from 49 to 58 ° F.
- Individual tilefish are found in and around submarine canyons, where they burrow in mud or sand sediment.
- Tilefish sometimes concentrate in small groups.
- Habitats can be classified as rocks and boulders, pueblo habitats, or vertical burrows. Vertical burrows are the most common type of habitat. Pueblo habitats are found in the side of submarine canyon walls and are named because of their resemblance to the pueblo communities of Native Americans in the southwestern United States.
- Managers have closed four deep water canyons from Georges Bank to the Mid-Atlantic to bottom-tending mobile gear (such as otter trawls) to protect tilefish habitat.
- Many fish and crustacean species are found in and around tilefish habitat because it provides food and shelter.
Fishery Management
- The Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Gulf Councils develop management measures for the tilefish fisheries in their respective jurisdictions. NOAA Fisheries is responsible for implementing and enforcing these measures.
- The Mid-Atlantic/Southern New England Tilefish Fishery Management Plan includes:
- Annual catch limits.
- Permit requirements.
- Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program.
- An overall annual limit on incidental landings of tilefish and a per-trip possession limit.
- Private recreational vessels are required to have a vessel permit and report each trip they target or retain golden tilefish.
- Closure of the incidental fishery if the annual limit is reached, prohibiting any additional landings.
- Prohibition of bottom-tending mobile gear (such as trawls) in certain areas in federal waters to reduce impacts on key tilefish habitats.
- The South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan includes:
- Permit requirements, including a limited access endorsement program to harvest golden tilefish with longline.
- Annual catch limits by commercial gear type (longline and hook-and-line).
- Commercial trip limits.
- Prohibition of longline gear in certain areas to protect snapper-grouper species spawning sites and live-bottom habitat.
- The Gulf of America Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan includes:
- Annual catch limits for recreational and commercial anglers.
- A commercial IFQ program.
- To protect reef fish, sea turtles, and bottom habitat, restrictions on the areas/depths where longlines can be used.
- The South Atlantic stock is subject to overfishing according to the 2016 stock assessment. When overfishing occurs, managers take measures to reduce the fishing rate to end overfishing.
- The commercial tilefish fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic and the Gulf of America are managed through IFQ programs.
- Specific details vary by region but, in general, managers allocate a percentage of the annual catch to participating fishermen.
- Fishermen choose when to fish for their allocation throughout the year, ideally when market and weather conditions are best. This also results in a more consistent supply of fish to the consumer and increased safety at sea.
- Catch share programs, such as these IFQ programs, offer fishermen a direct incentive to use sustainable fishing practices—the quota may be increased as fish populations grow, leading to an increase in each fisherman's individual allocation and subsequent profits.
- For more information, see the Mid-Atlantic Tilefish Fishery Management Plan, the Gulf of America Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan, and the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan.
Harvest
- Commercial fishery:
- In 2023, commercial landings of tilefish totaled 2 million pounds and were valued at $9 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database. The majority of the commercial harvest was landed in New York, Florida, and New Jersey.
- Most of the commercial harvest of tilefish comes from the Mid-Atlantic/Southern New England stock, the largest of the three U.S. tilefish stocks.
- Gear types:
- Bottom longline gear catches the majority of the commercial harvest.
- A small amount of tilefish are caught with otter trawls in the Mid-Atlantic and with handlines in the South Atlantic and Gulf of America.
- Recreational fishery:
- U.S. recreational fisheries for tilefish are smaller than the commercial fisheries, but have been increasing in recent years.
- In 2023, recreational anglers landed 400,000 pounds of tilefish, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database. The majority of the recreational harvest was landed in Florida.
- Regional recreational management measures include:
- Recreational fishermen can keep a limited number of tilefish per fishing trip in the Mid-Atlantic/Southern New England area.
- There is a limit on how many tilefish recreational fishermen can keep and a limit on the total amount that can be harvested during the year in the South Atlantic.
- The South Atlantic recreational fishery is closed when the annual catch limit is projected to be met.
- In the Gulf of America, tilefish are included in the reef fish aggregate bag limit, along with several other reef fish species, and the fishery is closed when the annual catch limit is projected to be met.
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.
Scientific Classification
- Tilefish are found along the outer continental shelf and upper continental slope of the entire U.S. East Coast and in the Gulf of America.
- They are most abundant from Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, south to Cape May, New Jersey.
- Tilefish live in water from 250 to 1,500 feet deep where bottom temperatures range from 49 to 58 ° F.
- Individual tilefish are found in and around submarine canyons, where they burrow in mud or sand sediment.
- Tilefish sometimes concentrate in small groups.
- Habitats can be classified as rocks and boulders, pueblo habitats, or vertical burrows. Vertical burrows are the most common type of habitat. Pueblo habitats are found in the side of submarine canyon walls and are named because of their resemblance to the pueblo communities of Native Americans in the southwestern United States.
- Managers have closed four deep water canyons from Georges Bank to the Mid-Atlantic to bottom-tending mobile gear (such as otter trawls) to protect tilefish habitat.
- Many fish and crustacean species are found in and around tilefish habitat because it provides food and shelter.
Fishery Management
- The Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Gulf Councils develop management measures for the tilefish fisheries in their respective jurisdictions. NOAA Fisheries is responsible for implementing and enforcing these measures.
- The Mid-Atlantic/Southern New England Tilefish Fishery Management Plan includes:
- Annual catch limits.
- Permit requirements.
- Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program.
- An overall annual limit on incidental landings of tilefish and a per-trip possession limit.
- Private recreational vessels are required to have a vessel permit and report each trip they target or retain golden tilefish.
- Closure of the incidental fishery if the annual limit is reached, prohibiting any additional landings.
- Prohibition of bottom-tending mobile gear (such as trawls) in certain areas in federal waters to reduce impacts on key tilefish habitats.
- The South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan includes:
- Permit requirements, including a limited access endorsement program to harvest golden tilefish with longline.
- Annual catch limits by commercial gear type (longline and hook-and-line).
- Commercial trip limits.
- Prohibition of longline gear in certain areas to protect snapper-grouper species spawning sites and live-bottom habitat.
- The Gulf of America Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan includes:
- Annual catch limits for recreational and commercial anglers.
- A commercial IFQ program.
- To protect reef fish, sea turtles, and bottom habitat, restrictions on the areas/depths where longlines can be used.
- The South Atlantic stock is subject to overfishing according to the 2016 stock assessment. When overfishing occurs, managers take measures to reduce the fishing rate to end overfishing.
- The commercial tilefish fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic and the Gulf of America are managed through IFQ programs.
- Specific details vary by region but, in general, managers allocate a percentage of the annual catch to participating fishermen.
- Fishermen choose when to fish for their allocation throughout the year, ideally when market and weather conditions are best. This also results in a more consistent supply of fish to the consumer and increased safety at sea.
- Catch share programs, such as these IFQ programs, offer fishermen a direct incentive to use sustainable fishing practices—the quota may be increased as fish populations grow, leading to an increase in each fisherman's individual allocation and subsequent profits.
- For more information, see the Mid-Atlantic Tilefish Fishery Management Plan, the Gulf of America Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan, and the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan.
Harvest
- Commercial fishery:
- In 2023, commercial landings of tilefish totaled 2 million pounds and were valued at $9 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database. The majority of the commercial harvest was landed in New York, Florida, and New Jersey.
- Most of the commercial harvest of tilefish comes from the Mid-Atlantic/Southern New England stock, the largest of the three U.S. tilefish stocks.
- Gear types:
- Bottom longline gear catches the majority of the commercial harvest.
- A small amount of tilefish are caught with otter trawls in the Mid-Atlantic and with handlines in the South Atlantic and Gulf of America.
- Recreational fishery:
- U.S. recreational fisheries for tilefish are smaller than the commercial fisheries, but have been increasing in recent years.
- In 2023, recreational anglers landed 400,000 pounds of tilefish, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database. The majority of the recreational harvest was landed in Florida.
- Regional recreational management measures include:
- Recreational fishermen can keep a limited number of tilefish per fishing trip in the Mid-Atlantic/Southern New England area.
- There is a limit on how many tilefish recreational fishermen can keep and a limit on the total amount that can be harvested during the year in the South Atlantic.
- The South Atlantic recreational fishery is closed when the annual catch limit is projected to be met.
- In the Gulf of America, tilefish are included in the reef fish aggregate bag limit, along with several other reef fish species, and the fishery is closed when the annual catch limit is projected to be met.
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Chordata | Class | Actinopterygii | Order | Perciformes | Family | Malacanthidae | Genus | Lopholatilus | Species | chamaeleonticeps |
|---|
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Barotrauma expands gasses in a fish causing the air bladder and other organs to expand as well, making it difficult for fish to swim after release. Credit: NOAA Fisheries, Florida SeaGrant
Related Species
Commercial Fishing Regulations
Possession and Size Requirements
The commercial/incidental trip limit (for vessels that possess a Commercial/Incidental Tilefish Permit without an IFQ Allocation Permit) is 500 lb or 50 percent, by weight, of all fish (including the golden tilefish) onboard the vessel, whichever is less. Fish must have head and fins attached, but may be gutted.
Any golden tilefish landed by a vessel fishing under an IFQ Allocation Permit on a given fishing trip count as landings under the IFQ Allocation Permit. Commercial vessels are prohibited from discarding golden tilefish, unless fishing under the incidental catch limit.
There are no fish size limits in the tilefish fisheries.
Current Golden Tilefish Specifications (January 1–December 31, 2024)
| Overfishing Limit (OFL) | 2.226 million lb |
|---|---|
| Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) | 1.964 million lb |
| Annual Catch Limit (ACL) | 1.964 million lb |
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Annual Catch Target (ACT) | 1.763 million lb |
| Incidental ACT | 0.093 million lb |
| IFQ Total Allowable Landings (TAL) | 1.763 million lb |
| Incidental TAL | 0.075 million lb |
Accountability Measures (AM)
If the ACL is exceeded, the amount of the ACL overage that cannot be directly attributed to IFQ allocation holders having exceeded their IFQ allocation will be deducted from the ACL in the following fishing year. All overages directly attributable to IFQ allocation holders will be deducted from the appropriate IFQ allocation(s) in the following fishing year.
Reporting A Commercial Catch
Catch Reporting and Electronic Vessel Trip Reports (eVTR)
Commercial permit holders for golden tilefish (and other Mid-Atlantic species) must submit the required VTR by electronic means through a software application approved by NOAA Fisheries. These electronic log VTRs must be submitted within 48 hours after entering port at the conclusion of a trip.
More information of the eVTR requirements and help with electronic reporting can be found online on our reporting page.
Other Reporting Information
The commercial golden tilefish fishery does not have any Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), or specific observer requirements. However, all federally permitted vessels are obligated to carry an observer if randomly selected by the National Observer Program.
Commercial Gear Information
Commercial Gear Information
Bottom-tending mobile gear (such as trawl gear) may not be used in specified gear-restricted areas (see below). There are no other gear requirements in the commercial tilefish fisheries.
Tilefish Gear Restricted Areas
There are four canyons that have been designated Tilefish Gear Restricted Areas. These areas are closed to vessels with bottom-tending mobile gear and are described in the tilefish regulations at 50 CFR 648.297. No vessel of the United States may fish with bottom-tending mobile gear (otter trawls, beam trawls, hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, and seines) within the restricted areas described below; which include Lydonia, Norfolk, Oceanographer, and Veatch Canyons.
| Lydonia Canyon | Norfolk Canyon | Oceanographer Canyon | Veatch Canyon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N Lat. | W Long. | N Lat. | W Long. | N Lat. | W Long. | N Lat. | W Long. |
| 40°31'55.2" | 67°43'1.2" | 37°5'50" | 74°45'34" | 40°29'50" | 68°10'30" | 40°0'40" | 69°37'8" |
| 40°28'52" | 67°38'43" | 37°6'58" | 74°40'48" | 40°29'30" | 68°8'34.8" | 40°41'69" | 69°35'25" |
| 40°21'39.6" | 67°37'4.8" | 37°4'31" | 74°37'46" | 40°25'51.6" | 68°6'36" | 39°54'43" | 69°33'54" |
| 40°21'39.6" | 67°37'4.8" | 37°4'1" | 74°33'50" | 40°22'22.8" | 68°6'50.4" | 39°54'43" | 69°40'52" |
| 40°21'4" | 67°43'1" | 36°58'37" | 74°36'58" | 40°19'40.8" | 68°4'48" | - | - |
| 40°28'31" | 67°43' | 37°4'26" | 74°41'2" | 40°19'5" | 68°2'19" | - | - |
| - | - | - | - | 40°16'41" | 68°1'16" | - | - |
| - | - | - | - | 40°14'28" | 68°11'28" | - | - |
Seafood Facts
Is Golden Tilefish Sustainable?
U.S. wild-caught tilefish is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Massachusetts to Texas.
Taste
Tilefish has a mild flavor, similar to lobster or crab. Almost all tilefish is sold fresh.
Texture
Firm and flaky.
Health Benefits
Tilefish are low in sodium. They are a good source of niacin and phosphorus, and a very good source of protein, vitamin B12, and selenium.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1; Serving Weight: 100 g; Calories: 96; Protein: 17.5 g; Total Fat: 2.31 g; Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 0.441 g; Carbohydrate: 0 g; Total Sugars: 0 g; Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Cholesterol: 50 mg; Selenium: 36.5 mcg; Sodium: 53 mgTilefish Recipes
Looking for ways to add white fish like tilefish into your rotation? If you need cooking inspiration, browse these recipes for herb roasted tilefish, battered white fish, and more!
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Science Overview
NOAA Fisheries conducts various research activities on the biology, behavior, and population health of golden tilefish. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions for this species.
For detailed information about stock status, management, assessments, and resource trends, you can search for golden tilefish, and any other species of interest, using NOAA’s StockSMART web tool.
Golden Tilefish Research
Scientists from NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center monitor the Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England’s golden tilefish stock through the stocks assessment process.
Scientists from NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center monitor the Gulf ofAmerica and Southeast Atlantic’s golden tilefish stocks through the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review process.
