Also known as
- Pez Gallo MX
- Papagallo CR
- Gallo MX
Identification
An elongated, laterally compressed eastern Pacific surf-and-coast sportfish — explosive bursts of speed and heavy-shouldered power. Males and females alike.
- Seven elongated dorsal fin spines forming a tall rooster-comb appearance, reaching nearly the full height of the body
- Silvery-blue to grey body with four distinctive black bars: one between the eyes, one across the nape, and two curving toward the tail
- Large black patch at the lower base of the pectoral fins
- Extremely long, curved pectoral fins with 16 soft rays
- Deeply forked tail with pointed lobes
Where it holds
- Inshore
- Sandy Shores
- Rocky Shores
- Estuaries
Behaviour
An eastern Pacific tropical inshore predator working the upper 30m along sandy beaches, rocky points, surf gutters, reef corners, and current edges. Ambushes sardines, anchovies, mullet, and squid in pairs or small groups, herding bait toward shore or into reef pockets before exploding into the school. Tide-driven feeder; peak activity during the first two hours of incoming and outgoing tides when bait concentrates. Most active in 24-30°C (75-86°F) water; bursts of feeding at dawn and dusk.
Diet: Sardines, Anchovies, Mullet, Squid
How it's caught
Line Fishing
Live Lining
The dominant Costa Rica, Panama, and Baja approach — slow-troll a live blue runner, sardine, mullet, ladyfish, or small bonito at 1-2 knots along rocky points, sandy drop-offs, reef corners, and offshore islands. Use 7/0-9/0 circle hooks and 60-80lb fluorocarbon leader; let the fish fully take before tightening up. Trophy-sized fish prefer small bonito around offshore reefs. PE5-6 tackle.
Spinning
An equally productive approach for the most explosive surface action — cast 150-200mm topwater poppers and stickbaits along sandy beaches, rocky points, reef corners, and surf gutters. Aggressive walk-the-dog and pop-pause cadences trigger explosive surface strikes. Subsurface swimbaits work when surface action slows. PE4-5 spinning tackle, 60-80lb fluorocarbon leader.
Trolling
An effective method for locating fish across coastal beaches and rocky structure — pull medium to large diving plugs and rigged ballyhoo at 4-6 knots along beach drop-offs, rocky points, and current edges. Once a fish is located, slow down to live-line or switch to spinning for sustained hookups. PE4-5 trolling tackle, 60-80lb fluorocarbon leader.
Jigging
An effective approach when fish hold deeper around rocky structure or during midday heat — drop a 200-350g speed jig or knife jig along rocky points, drop-offs, and offshore reefs in 30-80m and work it with sharp upward sweeps and controlled falls. Productive when surface fishing slows. PE5-6 jigging tackle, 80-100lb fluorocarbon leader.
Fly Fishing
Saltwater Fly
A premier eastern Pacific fly target — work the bait-and-switch from a panga: a teaser angler runs a hookless popper to bring fish up; the fly angler then drops a 6-10 inch baitfish streamer in front of the fish. Aggressive strip-pause retrieves trigger explosive strikes. 10-12wt rod, intermediate WF saltwater line, 20lb fluorocarbon shock tippet.
