Monthly Archives: June 2011
Striped Snakehead ( Channa striata )
Common Name: Snakehead, Mudfish
Local Name: Dalag, Haruan (Tagalog); Haluan, Haruan (Cebuano)
Max Size: 100 cm (3 kgs)
Biodiversity: Freshwater
Depth: 0 – 10 m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: 10 inches
Recommended Bait/Lures: Shrimp, Minnows, Frog lures, Spinnerbaits, and more
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Sonny’s Snakehead (1.7 kgs) caught in Caliraya Reservoir
This is one of the more prevelent gamefish in the Philippines. I have caught them in lakes Caliraya and Sampaloc, but I have seen them in almost every lake, river and pond I have been to. Fish for them as you would bass. I have caught them on bass worms, live minnows. I have seen them caught on crankbaits, spinners, spinnerbaits, frogs, and more. In Tagalog they are called Dalag. The one in the picture above was caught by Sonny on a Spinnerbait in Lake Caliraya and weighed 1.7kgs.
Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Largemouth Bass can be found in the Philippines in a few lakes, rivers and ponds. The three main lakes or reservoirs where they can be found Lumot and Caliraya (in the province of Laguna), and Pantabangan (in the province of Nueva Ecija). From my understanding these bass were shipped over here to the Philippines many years ago by the Americans and were seeded in these three man-made lakes. Since then the bass have successfully spawned and reproduced and now thrive in these waters. They have also been released into some ponds and rivers in the areas around the three lakes mentioned above.
Bass here in the Philippines have been taken on pretty much all of the same lures as in other countries, including; spinners, crank baits, jigs, soft plastics, live bait and more. Topwater bait prove less effective for most of the year due to the heat. The Bass tend to stay in deeper cooler water and rarely venture to the surface to fed.
Favorite months for Bass fishing include November, December, January and February (though bass can be caught all year around). I am not currently aware of when the bass here spawn, as I have seen bass fry present in the lakes most of the year.
Bass remain unknown to most people here in the country with the exception of anglers and the locals living around the lakes. They are often referred to as; Black Mass, Black Mask, or Black Bass.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about Bass fishing in the Philippines and I will help as I can.
Here is a link to a google map that shows spots in the Philippines where Bass can be caught:
Soft Shelled Turtle
I was bottom fishing in the Mabacan River in Laguna and caught this soft shelled turtle. The river is full of these turtles which stay along the bottom of the river and periodically come to the surface for air. I have unintentionally caught them on worms, chicken liver, chicken skin, and doughballs. These turtles take a variety of bait and have a tendency to swallow the hook. They can be difficult to unhook, but pliers help. I am not sure what species these are.
Checkered Snapper (Lutjanus decussatus)
Checkered Snapper caught off Mactan Island
Common Name: Snapper
Local Name: ?? (Tagalog), Bangalaw (Bisaya)
Max Size: 35 cm
Biodiversity: Marine, Reef Associated
Depth: 2 – 35 m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: 10 inches
Recommended Bait/Lures: Shrimp, small lures, spoons
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Wayne’s Checkered Snapper from Romblon
The checkered snapper is another of the small snapper species found often along the coastlines of the Philippines. Like other snapper species they are a good food fish. They can be caught on a variety of lures and bait typically around reefs and and rocky coastlines.
Here is a plump little Checkered Snapper caught in Puerto Galera, Mindoro. This was caught from the shore on a small silver minnow lure.
Cigar Wrasse ( Cheilio inermis )
Here is a Cigar Wrasse that was caught in Puerto Galera, Mindoro. It was caught on a silver minnow lure from the shore. This species an be found patrolling reefs, weed bed, and sand coastlines all around the country. It can be taken on various tackle including but not limited to live shrimp, crabs and minnows, as well as lures, jig and soft plastics. These fish put up great fights for their size.
Tripletail Wrasse (Cheilinus trilobatus)
Common Name: Wrasse
Local Name: ?? (Tagalog); Tanggisan (Cebuano)
Max Size: 45 cm
Biodiversity: Marine, Reef Associated, Brackish
Depth: 1 – 30 m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: 10 inches
Recommended Bait/Lures: Shrimp, crabs, other small crustaceans, small lures
Here is a nice little fish I caught in Puerto Galera Mindoro while surf fishing from the beach. I caught this using a peice of a ghost crab below a bobber. It put up a good fight. It was around 11 inches long. These fish can be found all over the Philippines around reefs.
Tapiroid Grunter (Mesopristes cancellatus)
Common Name: Grunter, Cross-Barred Grunter
Local Name: Pigek (Tagalog); Pigok (Cebuano)
Max Size: 30 cm
Biodiversity: Marine, Brackish, Freshwater, Amphidromous
Depth: 1 – ?? m
Fishing Season: April to September, December
Minimum Size Limit: 6 inches
Recommended Bait/Lures: small shrimp, worms, insects
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern(LC)
The Pigek is a somewhat rare species to catch around the country. It is a highly sought after food fish and usually has a high market price. They are caught mainly in freshwater rivers where they migrate to spawn. These fish are not large however can grow to be quite portly reaching weights of up to 1kg. Because they can be found in clear freshwater rivers and feed on small shrimp, insects and worms Pigek make a good species for fly fishermen to target. They are known to travel as much as 10km up streams.
Pigek caught in the Kawasan River, Cebu
A large pigek from Butuan City, Mindanao
Note the extended upper jaw and thick fleshy lips
Update: According to my friend Chito in Butuan City, this fish is seasonal and can be caught in nets of on tackle. It spawns in estuaries and is highly valued for its delicious meat. It can fetch up to 500.oo php per kilo in some places. Its oil is also apparently used in some musk perfume.
Duct Tape Boat
These Photos are for all who enjoy creativity, building things and the water. This is my ductape boat that I made in a week and have sucessfully sailed on Lake Lumot:
Fishing The Philippines 