Saltwater Fish of Connecticut
Tilefish
Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
🏆 Connecticut State Record
Harvest62 lb 9.6 oz · 49.25"Vincent Deledda · 2025 · West Atlantis Canyon
Catch & Release—
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Also called: Golden Tilefish
Identification
Colorful fish with yellow spots on a blue-green back and a fleshy crest on the head.
Habitat
Deep water along the edge of the continental shelf and the canyons.
Behavior
Lives in burrows on clay bottoms at 300 feet and deeper.
How to Catch
Deep-drop rigs with squid or clam in the canyons. Federal permits apply.
Notes
Rare visitor to Connecticut — listed in CT DEEP’s exotic marine species record category.