Freshwater

Bobo mullet

Bobo (cuyamel, lisa de río)

Joturus pichardi

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–4 lb.

Depth

1–10 ft in rapids and runs.

Best time

Daytime.

Found in

3 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A river mullet with a thick, dark olive-gray body, a big blunt rounded snout overhanging a small mouth, and a forked tail.
Typical size: 1–4 lb.
Maximum size: About 2 ft and 7 lb.
Diet: Algae scraped from rocks, plus small insects.
Behavior: Lives in fast, rocky mountain rivers and rapids; very shy and a powerful fighter.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Central America Lakes & Rivers, Caribbean Lakes & Rivers and Central America. Fast, clear rivers with boulders on both coasts of Central America and in Colombia, the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles.
Habitat: Fast, clear rivers with boulders on both coasts of Central America and in Colombia, the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles.
Depth: 1–10 ft in rapids and runs.
Fishing depth: Pockets behind boulders in fast water.
Best season: Dry season, when rivers are low and clear.
Best time: Daytime.
Best tides: No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.
Best weather / conditions: Clear water after several dry days.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Algae-covered bits, small fruit and dough baits (local methods).
Best artificial lures: Small nymphs and algae-imitating flies; rarely lures.
Tackle setup: 6–8 weight fly rod or light spinning rod.
Hook size: Size 6–2.
Line: 8–12 lb.
Leader: 8–12 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Fast, clear rivers with boulders on both coasts of Central America and in Colombia, the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles.
Rig up: 6–8 weight fly rod or light spinning rod. 8–12 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Algae-covered bits, small fruit and dough baits (local methods). Lures: Small nymphs and algae-imitating flies; rarely lures.
Fish it: Sight-fish feeding bobos in clear rapids with small flies drifted right in front of their noses.
Time it: Daytime. No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.

Fishing techniques: Sight-fish feeding bobos in clear rapids with small flies drifted right in front of their noses.
BigJoe's tip: Very hard to hook and hard to land — a true challenge for fly anglers.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Highly prized eating in Central America, fried or in soup.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Slippery boulders and fast water — wear good wading boots and never wade alone.
Regulations: Local rules vary; protected areas may close rivers. Each country sets its own license rules: Costa Rica requires a fishing license (INCOPESCA) for sea and fresh water, and Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico and the Caribbean islands have their own rules. National parks and reserves often have special limits — check local rules before you fish.
Conservation: Dams and river pollution threaten local populations.

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Sources & photo credits