Largetooth Sawfish

Anglers are most apt to encounter small specimens, 2-6 feet long. World record 890 pounds, 8 ounces;

Common Sawfish

Likes mud or sand bottom along the coast, and will wander for up freshwater streams. A euryhaline species. Inhabits inshore coastal waters to moderate depth, also around off lying islands. Found also in estuaries, lagoons, river mouths, and even freshwater. Feeds on fishes and bottom-living animals. Ovoviviparous. Apparently can reproduce in freshwater. Freshwater populations occur to about 750 km up Amazon River; populations in Lake Nicaragua may be non-migratory

Brown or rusty in color; snout extends to a long, hard beak or "saw," fitted with sharp teeth on both sides. There is also a very similar species, the Smalltooth Sawfish, Pristis pectinata. Both are now pretty rare in Florida and the largetooth is encountered most often. Rostral blade with 20 or fewer pairs of rostral spines

Ovoviviparous, embryos feed solely on yolk.

Summary of Distribution: Circumglobally in tropical and subtropical waters, entering estuaries and littoral lagoons and ascending river courses. Western Atlantic: Florida and Louisiana, USA to Brazil; eastern Atlantic: Portugal to Angola, including the western Mediterranean Sea; western Pacific: northern Australia, from western Australia to Queensland; eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Ecuador. In freshwater it can be found in rivers of West Africa, Ogowe River and Congo River
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

Seldom caught. Occasionally bites dead baits fished for Sharks.