Monthly Archives: August 2013
Bluespotted Hind ( Cephalopholis cyanostigma )
Good sized Lapu Lapu caught off Olango Is.
Common Name: Grouper, Hind
Local Name: Lapu Lapu (Tagalog), Lapu Lapu, Pogapo (Cebuano)
Max Size: 40cm
Biodiversity: Marine, Reef Associated
Depth: 1 – 50 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
These are one of the many species of Lapu Lapu (or grouper like species) that can be caught here in Philippine waters. This species is easy to confuse with its close relative the Bluespotted Grouper because of its dark color and blue spots. This species has smaller spots and is usually smaller. These relatively small fish are found around shallow reef and are usually caught on bait like squid, shrimp or even on jigs. This is an excellent food fish if you are lucky enough to catch one large enough to eat. They have a creamy white meat that tastes great steamed. Some popular dishes are Sweat and Sour, and Black Bean Sauce.
If you happen to catch small fish of this species please release them and give them a chance to grow to a larger size. We recommend that you don’t keep them if they are smaller than 10inches.
The fish in the picture above was caught on shrimp while bottom fishing in around 40m of water off of Mactan Island, Cebu.
Black Snoek ( Thyrsitoides marleyi )
Black Snoek caught in Batangas
Common Name: Snoek, Snake Mackerel, Blacksail Snake Mackerel, Barracauta
Local Name: Tanigueng Aswang (Tagalog), ??? (Cebuano)
Max Size: 200cm ( 6kgs kgs )
Biodiversity: Marine, Reef Associated, Oceanodromous
Depth: Surface – 400 m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: None
Anthony caught this bizarre fish on August 25, 2013 while deep water jigging. Apparently these fish takes good when fried. Snoek are deep water fish that often migrate too the surface at night to feed. They are normally found in school and feed on a variety to small fish and crustaceans. They put up a good fight and apparently often swim straight down or up during the fight.
Dogtooth Tuna ( Gymnosarda unicolor )
Big Dogtooth caught in Zambales
Common Name: Dogtooth Tuna, White Tuna
Local Name: Tambakol (Tagalog), Lanhu-an (Cebuano)
Max Size: 248 cm ( 131 kgs )
Biodiversity: Marine, Reef Associated, Oceanodromous
Depth: 10 – 200 m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: None
This is one of the big game species that can be caught here in the Philippines which is normally targeted by angler who are deep water jigging. Those this species is normally caught at deeper depths, it can also be caught while trolling lures near the surface. Dogtooth are reef associated fish normally found offshore around reefs. They feed mainly on small schooling fish and squid though they are opportunistic feeders and can be caught on a variety of bait.
Dogtooth are known by many different names throughout the country of which Tambakol seems to be the most common. Surprisingly they are not members of the Tuna family. They are excellent food fish and prove a great challenge when hooked.
The one pictured above was caught by anglers fishing out of the Masinloc Zambales Fishing Lodge.
Fishing The Philippines 