Great Northern Tilefish

The golden tilefish is easily distguishable fom other members of the family Malacanthidae by the large adipose flap, or crest, on the head. The species is blue-green and iridescent on the back, with numerous spots of bright yellow and gold. The belly is white and the head is rosy, with blue under the eyes. The pectoral fins are sepia-colored, and the margin of the anal fin is purplish-blue.

The great northern tilefish is known to dig and occupy burrows along the outer continental shelf, and on the flanks of submarine canyons in malleable clay substrate. Their abundance is strongly correlated with presence of silt-clay substrate, because the soft clay enables the fish to create the burrow itself by simply digging away the clay substrate.

The majority are found in depths of as shallow as 80 fathoms (480 feet) in the northeast US and up to 300 fathoms (1800 feet) of water in warmer areas like the Gulf of Mexico.

A common bottom rig with large grouer style circle  hooks (7/0 - 16/0) using bonito, mackerel, or squid are the most popular baits. Adding glow beads, lights, squid skirts, and rattles do seem to help solicit a bite.