Author Archives: benaiahfogle
Mackerel Tuna ( Euthynnus affinis )
A good sized Mackerel Tuna caught in Siquijor
Common Name: Tuna, Kawa Kawa, Bullseye
Local Name: Tulingan (Tagalog); Barilis, Hasa Hasa (Cebuano)
Max Size: 100 cm
Biodiversity: Marine, Pelagic, Oceanodromous
Depth: 0 – 200 m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: 12 inches
Recommended Bait/Lures: Tuna flies, small fish and crustaceans
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
This species of fish is common in large schools off the coast all over the Philippines. It is usually found quite close to shore where the school feeds on baitfish. It is quite a popular fish for local fishermen to target as it is quite abundant, easily caught and fetches a good price in the market. It has dark flesh that is quite tasty.
Fishermen most often go after this fish with long lines of multiple hooks (sometimes up to 30 or more hooks per line). Their hooks are relatively small long shank hooks dressed with striped feathers, tinsel, crystallite, or various other materials to create a small pin fish lure. For those who are familiar fly fishing their dressed hooks look very much like Clouser Minnows.
Siquijor Tuna Photo courtesy of Eric Mark E. Opaon
Small Tulingan caught off Puerto Galera Mindoro
Mangrove Snapper (Lutjanus griseus)
Mangrove Snapper caught in Cebu
This beautiful species is common all through out the Philippines and is an excellent gamefish and food fish. They can be found patrolling water near rocky shorelines and they can also be caught offshore. They are known in the Tagalog speaking regions as Pargo or Maya Maya. Cebuanos call this fish Mangagat. They can be caught on lures (this one was taken on a floating minnow lure), shrimp, squid, dead bait, cut bait and more. They put up a great fight when hooked.
This one was caught in Cebu near the Carbon Market on a Yo-Zuri Pins Minnow.
Here are some more pictures of the fish:
Caught on Jerry Brown Line One Braid
Here is the fish with some of the kids who followed me around 🙂
1kg + Snapper
Here is the Fish Base page on Mangrove Snappers : http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Lutjanus-griseus.html
Feel free to leave comments or other info about this fish or fishing for them.
Narrow Barred Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson)
This is a very popular gamefish here in the Philippines which I have not yet caught. This is Chito with his 11+ lbs Spanish Mackerel. This fish was taken on a large trolling spoon trolled from a Pump Boat or Banka.
Chito’s Tanigue
These fish (and various other related species) are known throughout the Philippines as Tanigue or Tangingue. They are sought mainly by trolling lure such as; large spoons, large Rapala-like minnow lures, Squid Skirts, live bait, dead bait, and various other lures.
These Macs can grow quite large, up to 30+kgs, though most caught around the Philipines are around 2-10kgs. They lurk near reefs, and other structure and feed on smaller fish and squid.
Good times for trolling for these fish are at sunrise and sunset as that is when they are most active.
When fishing for Tanigue be sure to use a heavy mono (or fluoro) leader 0r a steal leader as these fish have razor sharp teeth.
Here is a link to the Fish Base page on this species: http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Scomberomorus-commerson.html
Black Spotted Emperor ( Lethrinus harak )
Blackspot Emperor
Common Name: Bream, Emperor
Local Name: Bitilya (Tagalog); Alumang Katambak, Agngan (Cebuano)
Max Size: 50 cm
Biodiversity: Marine; Brackish; Reef-associated; Non-migratory
Depth: 1 – 20+ meters
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: None
Recommended Bait/Lures: Shrimp, crabs, other small crustaceans
IUCN Red List Status Status: Not Listed
Wayne’s emperor from Romblon
The boys with their prize
Below are two pictures of two good size Black Spot Emperors caught in Puerto Galera while surf fishing.
Navotas Mamale Fishing
A popular place to fish near Manila which I have not yet had the privilege of trying is Navotas. It located north of Manila on Manila Bay and it is a popular destination for anglers search for such species as Threadfin Salmon (mamale), Trevally or Jacks (talakitok), Oxeye Tarpon ( ), Ladyfish (bid bid), and many other species. Below are some of the fish caught by Myke during a recent trip there:
Myke’s Navotas Haul
For anglers interested in fishing Navotas check out the link here to the Navotas Anglers Facebook page. You can see recent pictures of fish caught, connect with other anglers that fish Navotas and even plan a trip. Look for “Syark” in the group as he organizes the Navotas boatmen.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/navotas.anglers/
From what I hear angler who frequent these waters have good luck with skip bunnies/hairclips, spoons, poppers, and other lures. Please feel free to email me to add info if you know more about Navotas fishing. I have not yet done it as we have transferred back to Cebu now, so any additional info I can put up here is appreciated.
Juvenile Sphyraena Barracuda
Barracuda at Porter
I believe this is a juvenile sphyraena Barracuda, or Great Barracuda. There are many of these in the water around Porter and they are quick to inspect and sometimes bite just about anything that is thrown in the water. They tend to be a bit cautious so it is not uncommon to fish porter all day and have these cud’s chase your lures all day, but stop just before striking. Sometimes you fish the whole day and only get one fish. There are some big one here and I have heard of a friend catching one here around 5kgs.
Blackchin Tilapia ( Sarotherodon melanotheron )
Cebu
Common Name: Tilapia,
Local Name: Gloria, Tilapiyang Arroyo (Tagalog), ?? (Cebuano)
Status: Introduced
Max Size: 28 cm
Biodiversity: Marine, Brackish, Freshwater
Depth: 1 – ?? m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: none
Recommended Bait/Lures: Masa (dough bait), Algae, worms
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
This is a species of Tilapia native to Africa that was introduced into the waters of the Philippines by unknown means presumably for use in the aquaculture industry. BFAR denies any knowledge of the species introduction and has classified this fish as a invasive exotic species. It is a unique tilapia species due to its ability to tolerate high salinity. It can be found in many places around the Philippines where it has become well established and even a potential threat. Manila Bay and Bataan are two place where these fish have taken over. This fish is also present in Cebu City.
The local names of this species; Gloria and Tilapiyang Arroyo, are attributed to a former president of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The Blackchin’s small size is compared to the former presidents petite size, and the black spots on the snout of the fish are compared to a prominent mole on her face.
Gloria can be caught by anglers using bait, which makes them useful for the fishing community. Though they are small in size, often only reaching 4 inches, they can still be utilized as a food fish. Anglers are encouraged not to release these fish if they catch them and instead to eat them or dispose of them in another way. Some anglers also use small Gloria for bait for larger fish in both saltwater and freshwater.
Bunso Bunso
This is a local form of jigging for mackerel and other small fish. It involves dropping a long main line with many snoods (or short branch leaders) almost to the bottom. The main line is then jigged up and down by hand to attract fish throughout the water column. The hooks are similar to small sabiki like hooks that are dressed with small feathers, tinsel or other similar fabrics or plastics. This is typically done around Payaw (buoys) in deeper water to catch small schooling pelagics. Unlike in the west these small mackerel and other small species that are caught by this method are eaten and not used as bait. These rigs can be quite productive when big schools are present. Guys who use this technique are quick to tell though of how they have often been snagged by many of the small hooks when a large predator takes one of the smaller fish that is struggling on the line. The way to avoid this is to firmly hold the main line so that the snood will snap off instead of drag the main line and other small hooks through your hand. The snoods are usually very light poundage (4-8lbs) with the smallest of the locally available hooks.
This technique is an excellent way to catch baitfish when fishing Payaws for Dorado, Tanigue, Tuna and other large predator fish. They are quite easy to make although they are a bit time consuming.
Send us your pictures or other info you have about this fishing method and we’ll add it to the site.
<><
Ladyfish ( Elops sp. )
Common Name: Ladyfish
Local Name: Bidbid
Max Size: 100 cm (3.7 kgs)
Biodiversity: Marine, Brackish, Endemic
Depth: Surface – ?? meters
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: None
Recommended Bait/Lures: Cut Bait (Shrimp and fish), lures
IUCN Red List Status: (LC) Least Concern
This is another species found in the Philippines specifically along the coastline where estuaries and mangrove swamps are. These aggressive predators are often mistaken for Milkfish (Bangus) because of their almost identical body shape and color. The fry of these fish look almost identical to Milkfish fry and so they are often mistakenly stocked in Milkfish ponds where they become a damaging pest.
Ladyfish can be taken on a variety of baits and lures. They are quite aggressive and often leap from the water when hooked to try to escape. They have large soft mouths which can make landing them quite frustrating. They often will strike and and run and manage to unhook themselves before you can land them.
Ladyfish on a soft plastic
I have not listed a specific species for the Ladyfish here because there are apparently seven different species of this fish which share many similarities. I prefer to just call these Philippine Ladyfish.
If you have caught Ladyfish here in the Philippines or if you have any other helpful information regarding this fish then please contact us.
17″ Ladyfish
____________________________________________________________
Philippine Record:
Angler: Ron Cortez
Location: D’Cove Pavilion and Fishpond; Tagalag, Valenzuela
Date: December 17, 2016
Weight: 3.7 kilograms
Length: 36 inches
Bait: cut shrimp
Setup: Ultra Light (6lbs)
<><
Squid from the shore
Nokus on Minnow Lure
I was able to get in a couple casts while on vacation with family at a resort in Cebu. This Green Eyed Squid aggressively chased and snatched my little Yo Zuri Pins minnow. To my surprise I was able to hook it and bring in my first Squid on a lure 🙂 I found that to get successful hook-up with a Squid you need to wait a second or two after the cuttlefish strikes before reeling in. That second wait allows the cuttlefish time to pull the lure in close to its beak which gives you a better chance for a positive hook-up if you are using simple treble hooks.
Squid in Tagalog is Pusit and in Bisaya it is known as Nokus.
Fishing The Philippines 