Roosterfish are saltwater game fish exclusively inhabiting the warm waters of the East Pacific Ocean; they are distinguished and named because of their unique, recognizable ‘Rooster Comb’ shaped dorsal fin. They are usually found close to shore, often within a kilometre, along sandy beaches, rocky outcropping areas and near estuaries; they’re very active in warm, shallow water.
Adult Roosters are genuine apex predators. They can swim at incredible speeds and use their large dorsal fin to manoeuvre their body, darting and diving, chasing prey, usually, Sardina shoaled up in shallow water. They don’t tail baitfish; they announce their presence with authority, crushing everything in their path. Roosterfish can reach over 1.6m in length and over 100lb in weight, and the IGFA record is a behemoth of 114lb; however, they average around 20lb.
Over recent years the popularity of catching Roosterfish has risen and risen fast; they beautiful to look at, can be landed on all manner of bait, lures and flies, and when hooked, they don’t fight but brawl. Using every inch of their muscular frame, they raise their sizeable dorsal fin like a flag out of the water and battle hard, often leaping clear of the water, repeatedly trying to shed the anglers hook. These Pacific Ocean torpedoes are classed as prized sport fish, and for good reason.
Below are the top destinations in the world for Roosterfish Fishing.
El Bahia de Los Suenos, also commonly referred to as the ‘Bay of Dreams’, offers travelling rods mile upon mile of open and accessible coastline, as well as some of the richest offshore waters found anywhere in the world. Here, the Roosterfish is king, and the area is probably the number one destination for both numbers and the large average size of fish.
Bluewater Fishing Panama offers travelling anglers the chance to enjoy a fantastic week of mixed fishing for an array of hard-fighting species. Fishing the rich waters of the Gulf of Chiriquí, an area responsible for over 50 IGFA World Records, you'll wet a line in some of the most famous fishing marks on the planet.
The Zancudo Lodge, where over 70 IGFA records have been set, is world-renowned for its lure and fly fishing inshore and offshore and its finest service. You will receive access to all the required fishing tackle from ultra-light to heavy fly fishing tackle with all poppers, lures, jigs and small flies will also be included.
Our fully hosted holidays to Mexico have been running for many years and this is due to how incredible both offshore and inshore fishing is, for a huge variety of different species. Each year we help many anglers catch their target species and 9 times out of 10 these anglers will book year after year. Fully packaged for your convenience.
The world-class resort in Costa Rica called Crocodile Bay has won so many awards on Trip Adviser that we class it as a must go for any big game angler. It is also the perfect destination to take your non-angling family, as the eco tours onsite are unbelievable and if you were to stay there for a whole month, you would never get through them.
Often referred to as the Billfish capital of the world, Guatemala is famed for its insane averages and yearly release numbers of Sailfish and other hard fighting pelagics. Although many anglers travel to this beautiful region for big game fishing, it’s become increasingly popular amongst the saltwater fly fishing community.
Every sport fisherman has heard of stories of how world-class the fishery is in Panama and it's no wondering when Panama is the home to so many IGFA records of all manner of species and our lodge is right in the thick of it. The Gulf of Chiriquí is a real treasure of Panama and with the likes of world-renowned areas such as Hannibal Bank and Isla Montuosa being the fishing grounds
Palma de Cortez resort in Mexico is the ideal big game fishing destination. Not only is the resort located next to all the prime fishing grounds but all tackle is included too. On top of this, we now offer light tackle packages on all Panga boats for bait fishing which include all hooks, weights and leaders free for you to use.
Guatemala is the most prolific and talked about Sailfish destination in the world. Home to so many world records it really is classed as the number one place in the world. Our boats get really good numbers of fish during peak times and you will soon find your self realising that this part of the world is a must visit Sailfish destination.
This is a very exclusive trip based on only a few anglers plus a Sportquest Host. The holiday is ideal if you are looking at travelling on your own and would like to fish with like-minded anglers. If you have wanted to go big game fishing but struggled to find other friends to travel with then now is the perfect time to join us.
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Name: Roosterfish
Also Known as: Pez Gallo (Pronounced Guy-yo)
Scientific Name: Nematistius Pectoralis
The Roosterfish is one of the most unique-looking fish in the ocean. It’s well known for its distinctive feathery dorsal fin, which always has seven spines and a separate section further down with 25 soft rays. It is very similar to that of a Rooster, hence their name. Traditionally, Roosterfish are of a bright chrome silver, typically covered in a collection of large dark stripes down their flanks, and a pronounced, pointed snout marks their faces.
Roosterfish typically breed in the warmer months of the year. However, this does vary across the range of locations they’re found. During these months, the Roosters collect into groups known as “Breeding Congregations”. Juvenile fish are known to stay in shallow waters, feeding on small fish and other prey until around the age of 4, which is when they reach sexual maturity and move on to targeting bigger meals like Anchovies.
Known for their powerful swimming abilities, Roosterfish are strong fighters, making them a popular target for sport fishermen and are estimated to be capable of swimming at speeds of around 40 to 50 miles per hour. Typically, they are not seen as a food fish, with their meat being extremely dark and bloody, so usually, this species is almost exclusively for sport, and we recommend catch and release when possible.
Fact: The Roosterfish are able to raise or lower their fin when they feel excited or threatened.
Roosterfish are primarily found in the warm coastal waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean. Some of the best destinations to catch this species include Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica as the main three. These locations offer the perfect habitat for Roosters to thrive, with warm water temperatures and a range of reef areas, bays and beaches. Some names that stand out amongst travelling anglers include The Bay of Dreams in Mexico, Zancudo Lodge in Costa Rica, and the Gulf of Chiriqui in Panama.
Roosterfish prefer environments with strong currents and waves, as these areas provide ample hunting opportunities for their prey; with smaller fish getting thrown around in these conditions, it makes for an easy meal for the Roosterfish. The main prey they target is Anchovies. However, a range of species is known to be enjoyed by Roosters, including Small mullet, Bonito fry and even Blue Runners, which have been known to be herded up in big shoals by the shores.
Our top three Roosterfish fishing tours:
Zancudo Lodge Costa Rica
Fly Fishing For Roosters Mexico
Bluewater Fishing Panama
Roosterfish is an exceptional species to target with ultralight tackle. Like many members of the Jack family, they put up a great fight. However, unlike other Jacks, they typically don’t retreat into rocky areas, removing the chance of being cut off by an underwater feature. Therefore, you can land some relatively big fish on pretty light tackle. Roosterfish readily attack lures and bait. They often feed at the surface as they splash around chasing baitfish. They will come right up to shore, sometimes chasing baitfish onto the beach. When picking tackle, we advise a rod with a casting weight of 80-250g to cover all lure fishing methods. We suggest a strong braided mainline of 60-90 lbs down to the reel with a fluorocarbon leader. For lures, we highly recommend surface poppers and shallow diving hard baits.
For fly anglers, the Roosterfish poses as a fantastic target, often feeding close to the water surface. Primarily, small baitfish patterns are the way to go; patterns typically between 3-8 inches long are the perfect quick meal for a hungry Rooster. When it comes to the hardware, we would recommend 10-11 weights paired with a strong reel, which can hold anywhere from 250-400 yards of strong 45lb+ backing.
Traditionally, anglers targeting the much larger Roosters will almost always exclusively baitfish. Slowly trolling a sizeable live baitfish behind the boat can prove deadly.
Note: Roosterfish don’t always engulf the whole bait when feeding, in a similar vein to the European Pike, so we advise allowing the fish to properly take the bait before striking.
Roosterfish are known for their impressive size and are the largest of the Carangiformes family. Typically, they reach average lengths of 3 to 4 feet and weigh between 20 to 50lbs. However, in ideal conditions, especially in the warm coastal waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean where they are commonly found, they have been known to grow even more significantly to over 100lbs.
The current IGFA record for Roosterfish was caught by Ade Sackheim in 1960 at a whopping 114lb. This fish was caught off the coast of the USA in La Paz, Baja California.
