Fish

Roosterfish

Pez gallo

Nematistius pectoralis

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

10–40 lb.

Depth

2–60 ft; often in the surf in just a few feet of water.

Best time

Early morning and late afternoon.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Unmistakable: a 'comb' of seven very long, thin spines on the dorsal fin that stands up like a rooster's crest, and two curved black stripes on a silver body.
Typical size: 10–40 lb.
Maximum size: About 5 ft and over 110 lb.
Diet: Sardines, anchovies, mullet, small jacks, crabs, shrimp and squid.
Behavior: Lives along rocky points, reefs, islands, sand beaches and mangrove mouths, and ambushes bait near structure.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Baja & Sea of Cortez and Pacific Mexico. Sandy beaches, surf lines and rocky points from Baja and the Sea of Cortez to Peru; the East Cape, La Paz, Loreto and the beaches of Nayarit are famous for them.
Habitat: Sandy beaches, surf lines and rocky points from Baja and the Sea of Cortez to Peru; the East Cape, La Paz, Loreto and the beaches of Nayarit are famous for them.
Depth: 2–60 ft; often in the surf in just a few feet of water.
Fishing depth: 5–100 ft along rocks, reefs and drop-offs.
Best season: All year; spring through fall is best for most inshore fish in the Sea of Cortez.
Best time: Early morning and late afternoon.
Best tides: Moving water — the first hours of a strong tide around points and island edges.
Best weather / conditions: Calm seas; the Sea of Cortez can blow hard in winter (the 'norte').

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live sardines, mullet, ladyfish and small jacks (caballito).
Best artificial lures: Big poppers and stickbaits, and long-casting metal lures from the beach.
Tackle setup: 7 ft medium-heavy rod with a conventional or 6000-size spinning reel.
Hook size: 2/0–5/0 live-bait or circle hooks; 1–3 oz jigs.
Line: 30–50 lb braid or mono.
Leader: 30–60 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Sandy beaches, surf lines and rocky points from Baja and the Sea of Cortez to Peru; the East Cape, La Paz, Loreto and the beaches of Nayarit are famous for them.
Rig up: 7 ft medium-heavy rod with a conventional or 6000-size spinning reel. 30–60 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live sardines, mullet, ladyfish and small jacks (caballito). Lures: Big poppers and stickbaits, and long-casting metal lures from the beach.
Fish it: Slow-troll a live bait along the beach just outside the surf, or walk the beach and cast a popper to fish you can see chasing bait in the waves.
Time it: Early morning and late afternoon. Moving water — the first hours of a strong tide around points and island edges.

Fishing techniques: Slow-troll a live bait along the beach just outside the surf, or walk the beach and cast a popper to fish you can see chasing bait in the waves.
BigJoe's tip: When a rooster lights up its comb behind your popper, don't stop or slow down. Speed up, and it will crash the lure.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Usually released — a sport fish more than a food fish.
Cooking suggestions: Edible, but the meat is dark and coarse. Almost everyone releases them.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Strong sun and heat — bring water, shade and sunscreen. Hooked fish run straight for the rocks, so fish with a tight drag.
Regulations: Reserved for sport fishing in Mexico, with a limit of 2 per angler per day. Nearly every guide practices catch and release. Mexico requires a sport fishing license (CONAPESCA) for every person aboard a fishing boat, even those not fishing. The general daily limit is 10 fish per person, no more than 5 of one species, and only 1 billfish (marlin, sailfish or swordfish) or 2 of dorado, roosterfish, tarpon or shark. Billfish, dorado and roosterfish are reserved for sport fishing, and many islands and coasts are parks or biosphere reserves with their own rules.
Conservation: Roosterfish are worth far more alive to the guides and the towns that depend on sport fishing. Take your photo and let it go.

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Sources & photo credits