Fish

Spotted rose snapper (pargo lunarejo)

Pargo lunarejo (pargo flamenco)

Lutjanus guttatus

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–3 lb.

Depth

15–200 ft.

Best time

Dawn, dusk and night.

Found in

5 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Pinkish-red to rosy snapper with thin golden-yellow lines along the sides and a round black spot on the back below the rear of the dorsal fin.
Typical size: 1–3 lb.
Maximum size: About 2½ ft, but most are much smaller.
Diet: Fish, shrimp and crabs.
Behavior: Common over rocky and sandy bottoms near reefs, often in schools.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Baja & Sea of Cortez, Pacific Mexico, Pacific Central America, Pacific Colombia & Ecuador and Peru. Rocky reefs, rubble and sandy edges from Mexico to Peru.
Habitat: Rocky reefs, rubble and sandy edges from Mexico to Peru.
Depth: 15–200 ft.
Fishing depth: 30–120 ft.
Best season: All year.
Best time: Dawn, dusk and night.
Best tides: Moving tide.
Best weather / conditions: Calm seas.

What to tie on and what to throw.

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

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Leader Hooks Weight Tool

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Rocky reefs, rubble and sandy edges from Mexico to Peru.
Rig up: Medium bottom rod. 30–50 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Squid, shrimp and cut sardine. Lures: Small jigs.
Fish it: Bottom fish with bait near rocky edges, especially at dawn, dusk and night.
Time it: Dawn, dusk and night. Moving tide.

Fishing techniques: Bottom fish with bait near rocky edges, especially at dawn, dusk and night.
BigJoe's tip: A favorite catch for panga trips in Costa Rica and Panama.
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: Sweet white meat; fried whole or grilled.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp spines and teeth.
Regulations: General bag limits; check local rules. Rules vary by country: Mexico requires a CONAPESCA sport fishing license for everyone aboard a fishing boat, Costa Rica requires an INCOPESCA license, and Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru set their own rules. Many islands and coasts (Coiba, Isla del Coco, Malpelo, Gorgona, the Galápagos and others) are marine parks with strict limits or no fishing.
Conservation: Heavily fished commercially; follow limits.

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Sources & photo credits