This paper deals with the distribution and abundance of benthonic fishes main species exploited by liners off southeast Brazil (latitudes 18º-26ºS), in the period 1986-1995, listed as follows, with their respective participations in the whole catches: tilefish = Lopholatilus vilariii Ribeiro = 33.4%, sandperch = Pseudopercis numida Ribeiro = 18.4%, snowy grouper = Epinephelus niveatus (Valenciennes) = 12.1%grouper, = Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe) = 4.1%, and black grouper = Mycteroperca bonaci (Poey) = 3.1%. The fisheries were conducted in tropical (latitudes 18º-23ºS) and subtropical (latitudes 23º-26ºS) waters, having the Cabo Frio upwelling as zoogeographical divisor. The data were grouped by latitude and depth bands, according to species and year seasons. The fisheries were greatly concentrated in subtropical waters, with decreasing productivity trend(s) as increase(s) latitude and/or depth of exploited fishing grounds. Grouper and black grouper were the dominant species in tropical waters, clearly between latitudes 18º-20ºS, with major catches until 80 meters in depth. Tilefish, sandperch, and snowy grouper always were dominant species in subtropical waters, with major catches made in depths higher than 100 meters, including the upper continental slope. The main five species showed seasonal variation trends in production, but only the snowy grouper seems to carry out seasonal displacement along the coast. The lower diversity and higher biomass of benthonic fishes were confirmed in subtropical waters.
benthonic fishes; distribution and abundance; liner's fisheries; southeast Brazil
