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Amazon Game Fishes -
Saltwater
Robalo
- Common snook (Centropomus
undecimalis)
Geographical Distribution:
 Western
Atlantic: southern Florida (USA), southeastern coast of the Gulf of
Mexico, most of the Antilles and Caribbean coast of Central and South.
Habitat:
They are found in salubrious waters, and can be caught from the
sandbanks of the rivers up to several kilometers above the mouth of
the river. They feed on small fish and crustaceans, especially shrimps
and crabs.
Description:
Scale fish. From the seven species of snook found in the Atlantic
Ocean, two can be caught in the coast of Brazil, the robalo-flecha and
the robalo-peva. Both have a side-compressed body, and inferior
salient mandible. The robalo-flecha can be as long as 3.9ft and 55 lb.
It is grayish on the back and whitish on the abdomen, with a black
longitudinal line that separates the two colors. The robalo-peva is
smaller, reaching about 19 in and 5 kg. It has a greenish gray back
and silver flanks.
Ecology:
This carnivorous, called robalo in Brazil and Venezuela, is a kind of
tropical american counterpart of the european seabass and
north-american stripped bass. This fish is as widespread as the tarpon
in areas of mangroves, estuaries and coastal rivers of the amazonian
rain forest, principally during the rainy season. This superb cousin
of the african Nile perch and of the australian barramundi takes very
well the fly. Its research moreover, is full of subtlety, accuracy and
discretion, because we do know that our fellow uses to hide in the
middle of the most intractable and interlaced mangrove roots,
springing like a devil from its box on the infortunate baitfish or
shrimp that commited the foolhardy to swim closer to its lurking post.
However, a streamer or a popper skillfully presented close to these
sensitive areas have a maximum of chances to be taken by a snook whose
distrust has not been awoke. The largest specie of snook ( centropomus
undecimalis) can reach and even exceed 50 pounds, which makes it an
adversary that we must consider seriously.
Equipament:
Medium/heavy tackle, lines 14 to 25 lb tied to a leader of at least 2m
(6.5 ft) long, since as soon as they find themselves hooked, they swim
towards the branches.
Baits:
The best ones are shrimps and small fish, which can be cast near the
margins and in dead drift fishing near the bottom. Artificial lures
such as plugs, surface or mid water, jigs and shads are also very
productive and should be worked near the branches and tree trunks by
the margins.
Tips:
Always check a tide table (tidal flow) before going on a snook fishing
trip. Choose the quarter of the moon tide and try to obtain
information about fishing spots with tree trunks and branches.
Pescada
Amarela - Acoupa weakfish (Cynoscion
acoupa)
Geographical
Distribution:
 Atlantic
Ocean. Western Atlantic: Panama to Argentina
Description:
Found over mud or sandy mud bottoms near mouths of rivers. Juveniles
are restricted to brackish and fresh waters. Feeds on shrimps and
fishes. Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes. Important foodfish. 3.5
ft max; max.weight: 38 lb
Habitat:
In coastal waters, ports and protected bays, in salubrious waters in
the mouth of rivers and coastal rivers.
Equipment:
Medium/heavy tackle for the larger specimens, quick action rods, lines
10 to 25 lb, and hooks ranging from 1/0 to 6/0.
Baits:
Almost only natural baits of live shrimps and small fish, such as
sardines, anchovies and mangrove morays.
"Artificial lures junping jigs are very productive".
Tips:
The use of leaders is recommended, since most species have sharp
canine teeth.
Xareu
- Crevalle jack (Caranx
hippos)
Geographical Distribuition:
Eastern Atlantic: Portugal to Angola, including the
western Mediterranean. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia,
Canada and northern Gulf of Mexico to Uruguay, including
the Greater Antilles. Absent from eastern Lesser
Antilles. Indian Ocean records are probably
misidentifications of Caranx ignobilis. Reports from
Pacific refer to Caranx caninus, which may be
conspecific.
Descrition:
 Dorsal
spines (total): 9 - 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19 -
21; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 15 – 17. Scutes 25
to 42; no scales on chest, except a small mid-ventral
patch in front of pelvic fins; upper profile of head
steep; maxilla ending approximately below posterior edge
of eye; front of soft dorsal and anal fins elevated;
olivaceous to bluish green dorsally, silvery to brassy
on the sides; prominent black spot posteriorly on gill
cover at level of eye, another at upper axil of pectoral
fins, and often a third on lower pectoral rays; caudal
yellowish.
Biology:
Generally in neritic waters over the continental shelf.
Ascends rivers. Juveniles abundant in brackish estuaries
with muddy bottoms, near sandy beaches and on seagrass
beds. Forms fast-moving schools, although larger fish
may be solitary. Feeds on smaller fish, shrimp, and
other invertebrates. Often grunts or croaks when caught.
Equipament:
Medium/heavy equipament should be used considering the size of this
fish. Lines should be 17,20,25 to 30lb, prepared with rigs and hooks
ranging from 6/0 to 10/0.
Baits:
Natural baits such as sardines, a great variety of lures
can be used, such as middle water plugs, jigs, shads and
spoons.
Common names:
Common jack - Puerto Rico, Carangue crevalle - France.
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Pirapema
- Tarpon (Megalops
atlanticus) King Silver
Geographical
Distribution:
Atlantic Ocean.
Description:
 Scale
fish. The body is compressed on the sides with large scales. Its
inferior mandible sticks out and upwards, the teeth are small and
narrow and the border of the operculum is a bone plate. It can exceed
5.9 ft and weigh over 220 lb. The color on its back is either greenish
or going from silver to almost black, the flanks and the abdomen are
silver. In dark waters, it can become gold or brown.
Biology:
Inhabit coastal waters, bays, estuaries, mangrove-lined lagoons, and
rivers. Often found in river mouths and bays, entering fresh water.
Large schools may frequent particular spots for years. Feed on fishes
like sardines, anchovies, Mugilidae, Centropomus, Cichlidae (mainly
those forming schools) and crabs. The swim bladder, attached to the
esophagus, can be filled directly with air and permits the fish to
live in oxygen-poor waters. Has high fecundity, a 203 cm female is
estimated to produce over 12 million eggs. Spawn in waters which can
be temporarily isolated from the open sea. Famous for its spectacular
leaps when hooked. Marketed fresh or salted. Large scales are used in
ornamental work and in preparation of artificial pearls. Used to be
cultured commercially in Colombia. Highly appreciated by sport fishers.
The flesh is also highly appreciated despite its being bony. The world
record for hook and line is 283 lbs.
Equipment:
Medium/heavy; lines 14, 17, 20, 25 and 30 lb; reinforced hooks sizes
4/0 to 8/0.
Baits:
Natural baits such as sardines, a great variety of lures can be used,
such as middle water plugs, jigs, shads and spoons.
Tips:
Right after it is hooked, it jumps out of the water several times,
requiring a great deal of attention from the angler so that the line
does not loosen up and breaks. Be very careful when removing the hook
because the border of the operculum cuts like a knife.
Special:
Also called pirapema, camurupim in Brazil, sabalo in Venezuela, palika
in French Guiana, it's not necessary to present this extraordinary
game fish which is probably at the origin of many addictions for
tropical flyfishing. Indeed, the infortunate who enjoyed the
incomparable pleasure of the capture of the " silver king" with a fly,
is instantily and irretrievably struck by an incurable desease, the
only treatment of which is a diligent and obsessing quest of its
responsible all over the mangroves and flats of the tropical Atlantic
Ocean.
If the perrenial stereotype of the tarpon's waters are the blue
swimming-pool coloured flats of Florida, Belize and Yucatan, we have
to know that our animal is a fish definited as " euryallin",
scientific term that means: able to live both in fresh and salt water.
So, with a top period during the rainy season, we can abundantly found
it in tropical mangroves, coastal rivers and lagoons of Amazonia.
Bijupirá
- Cobia (Rachycentron
canadum)
Geographical Distribution:
 Worldwide
in tropical and subtropical waters except the eastern Pacific. Western
Atlantic: Canada to Bermuda and Massachusetts, USA to Argentina,
including the Gulf of Mexico and entire Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic:
Morocco to South Africa. Indo-West Pacific: East Africa.and Hokkaido,
Japan to Australia. Not recorded from the Pacific Plate, except
marginally.
Description:
The Cobia is a large, long, slim bodied fish with a broad depressed
head, a protruding lower jaw. The Cobia is overall a dark brown color
with a prominent dark lateral stripe that runs from the eye to the
tail. Its distinguishing first dorsal fin is composed of 7 to 9 spines
that are not connected by a membrane.
Biology:
Occurs in a variety of habitats, over mud, sand and gravel bottoms;
over coral reefs, off rocky shores and in mangrove sloughs; inshore
around pilings and buoys, and offshore around drifting and stationary
objects; occasionally in estuaries. Forms small groups and may pursue
small pelagic inshore. Feeds on crabs, fishes, and squids. Spawns
during the warm months in the western Atlantic; eggs and larvae
planktonic. Caught in small quantities due to its solitary behavior.
Good food fish; marketed fresh, smoked, and frozen. Also caught for
sport.
Equipament:
Medium/heavy; lines 14, 17, 20, 25 and 30 lb; hooks sizes 4/0 to 8/0.
Baits:
Natural baits such as sardines, a great variety of lures can be used,
such as middle water plugs, jigs, shads and spoons.
Common names:
Bacalhau - GuineaBissau, Beijupirá or Bijupirá - Brazil, Black King
Fish -Índia, Black Salmon - or Cobia - USA and Cuba.
Mero
- Itajara (Epinephelus
itajara)
Geographical Distribuition:
 Western
Atlantic: Florida, USA to southern Brazil, including the
Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic:
Senegal to Congo (reported as Epinephelus esonue; rare
in Canary Islands. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California
to Peru.
Biology:
A solitary species occurring in shallow, inshore
areas. Found on rock, coral, or mud bottoms. Juveniles
found in mangrove areas and brackish estuaries. Large
adults may be found in estuaries. Adults appear to
occupy limited home ranges with little inter-reef
movement. Feeds primarily on crustaceans, particularly
spiny lobsters as well as turtles and fishes, including
stingrays. Territorial near it's refuge cave or wreck
where it may show a threat display with open mouth and
quivering body. Larger individuals have been known to
stalk and attempt to eat divers. Over-fished, primarily
by spear fishing. Marketed fresh and salted. Meat is of
excellent quality. Important game fish. Reported to
reach weights of more than 315 kg.
Equipament:
Medium/heavy; lines 14, 17, 20, 25 and 30 lb; reinforced
hooks sizes 4/0 to 8/0.
Baits:
Almost only natural baits of live shrimps and small fish,
such as sardines, anchovies and mangrove morays. |
