Shuttles Hoppfish

Periophthalmus modestus

Shuttles hoppfish (Periophthalmus modestus) is a mudskipper-like goby of East Asian mudflats and mangroves that spends much of its time out of water. It’s not a common game fish; most encounters are by hand, trap, or as bycatch in shallow intertidal habitats.

Brackish

Shuttles Hoppfish reference image — harum.koh from Kobe city, Japan, cc-by-sa, via Wikimedia Commons. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Identification points

Elongate goby body with large, high-set eyes for life on exposed mud
Mottled brown to gray coloration that blends with mudflat substrate
Pectoral fins used like props and a broad head typical of mudskippers

Habitat

Intertidal mudflats, estuarine creeks, mangrove edges, and brackish tidal marshes with soft mud, burrows, and exposed roots; often on open mud at low tide.

Bait notes

If targeted, tiny pieces of shrimp, bloodworm, lugworm, or insect larvae work best; small soft plastics or micro jigs can provoke strikes. It is rarely fished intentionally and usually responds only to very small baits.

Behavior

An amphibious benthic feeder that scoops small crustaceans, worms, insects, and algae from mud and surface film. It is territorial, highly active at low tide, and retreats to burrows or damp channels when disturbed.

Caution

Handle gently; mudskippers can wriggle hard and are easy to injure. Check local regulations because intertidal mangroves and mudflat species may be protected in some areas; consumption guidance is limited, so eat only if local fisheries advice confirms it is permitted and safe.

Fishing notes

Fish very shallow at low tide around burrow fields and creek edges with light or handline-style tackle. Present baits on the mud surface or just in a thin film of water; patience and minimal disturbance matter more than casting distance.