Monthly Archives: November 2012
Barramundi ( Lates calcarifer )
Common Name: Sea Bass, Barramundi, Asian Sea Bass
Local Name: Apahap (Tagalog); Apahap, Seabass, (Cebuano)
Max Size: 200 cm ( 60 kgs )
Biodiversity: Marine, Brackish, Freshwater,
Depth: 1 – 40 m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: 12 inches
Recommended Bait/Lures: Shrimp, small fish and crustaceans; Soft plastics, crankbaits, spoons, etc.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
Here is another highly sought after species that can be found here in the Philippines. Known locally as Apahap, these Barramundi or Asian Seabass as they are also known are excellent gamefish. They can be found inhabiting coastal water, estuaries, lagoons and rivers. They feed on a variety of marine line including, but not limited to; shrimp, crustaceans, mollusks and small fish. They can be taken on live bait as well as on a variety of lures. This fish here that Cris caught was taken on a redhead crank bait.
In some areas of the country these fish are raised in ponds for sport fishing and consumption. They can grow quite large and can reach lengths of up to 1.8m. Here is a larger one (6.7kgs) also caught by Cris in Bacolod:
Island Trevally ( Carangoides orthogrammus )
Common Name: Yellow Spotted Trevally, Island Jack, Thicklip Trevally, False Bluefin Trevally
Local Name: Talakitok (Tagalog), Mamsa (Bisaya)
Max Size: 75 cm ( 6.6 kgs )
Biodiversity: Marine, Reef Associated, Endemic, Oceanodromous
Depth: 3 – 170 m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: 10 inches
Here is a Trevally or Talakitok (known in Bisaya as Mamsa) caught by Sharptooth while fishing live shrimp on the bottom. This is another example of the variety of trevally species which can be caught here in the Philippines.
White Spotted Spinefoot ( Siganus canaliculatus )
This is one species of spine foot or Rabbitfish which is well known in Cebu and throughout the country. It is locally called Danggit (pronounced dung-geet). These are a relatively small fish that can be found around the coastlines and reefs scavenging and feeding on algae.
More info to follow…
Long Nosed Emperor Fish ( Lethrinus olivaceus )
Common Name: Emperor, Long Face Emperor,
Local Name: Bakutut, Batilya, Bukawin (Tagalog), Dugso, Katambak (Cebuano)
Max Size: 100cm (14 kgs)
Biodiversity: Marine, Reef Associated
Depth: 1 – 185 m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: 10 inches
Recommended Bait/Lures: Shrimp, Squid, small fish or cut bait/ small jigs, soft plastics
This is a species of Emperor Fish common throughout the country. Eric caught this fine 2.5kg specimen in Puerto Galera while bottom fishing at around 100m using live shrimp as bait. These fish are reef associated fish, often seen patrolling with other fish. They are reported up to depths of 185m and can be taken on a variety of lures and bait including but not limited to; jigs, soft plastic lures, live shrimp, crank baits and more. These fish reportedly grow up to 70cm and can weigh as much as 14kgs.
Slender Needlefish ( Strongylura leiura )
Common Name: Needlefish
Local Name: (Tagalog), Balo, Bao (Cebuano)
Max Size:
Biodiversity: Marine,
Depth:
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: none
Recommended Bait/Lures:
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
Here is a picture of a small needlefish I caught recently while fishing from the Navy Pier on Corregidor Island. I believe this is a Slender Needlefish. This species is quite common all over the country. If can often be seen patrolling the shorelines and reefs. This species can grow over a meter in length. I caught this fish while fishing a pink sardine pins minnow. I had strikes from large Crescent Grunter (probably around .5 kg each) but was not able to properly hook them. There are also many Jacks patrolling the piers.
For anyone visiting Corregidor Island, it is an excellent place to fish. You can fish anywhere on the island and even rent bankas on the island to take you trolling around the island. The only downside is the garbage which collects on the side of the island that faces Manila Bay.
Black Snakehead ( Channa melasoma )
Black Snakehead
Common Name: Snakehead, Mudfish
Local Name: Dalag, Haruan (Tagalog), Haruan, Haluan(Cebuano)
Max Size: 30 cm ( 1 kgs )
Biodiversity: Freshwater, Endemic
Depth: 1 – 10m
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)
Here is a Black Snakehead caught in Taal Lake by Buboy. This species is quite rare here in the Philippines compared to its cousin the Striped Snakehead. It can be differentiated from its cousin by the lack of a white underbelly. The Black Snakehead can be found throughout South East Asia from Thailand over to the Philippines and Malaysia. This species is reported to grow up to 30 cm. This fish was caught on a medium running crank bait.
Below is a picture of the fish’s mouth:
Fishing The Philippines 