Category Archives: Squid (Pusit)
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.
Category Archives: Squirrelfish
Threespot Squirrelfish ( Sargocentron cornutum )
Squirrelfish caught night fishing on shrimp
Common Name: Squirrelfish
Local Name: Sigang Batohan, Ganteng (Tagalog); Ganting, Baga, Baga-baga (Cebuano)
Max Size: 27cm
Biodiversity: Marine, Reef Associated, Brackish
Depth: 1 – 40 m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: None
Recommended Bait/Lures: Shrimp, crabs, other small crustaceans
These small fish are known for hiding most of the day under rocks and edges and coming out at night to feed on small crustaceans. They are easiest to catch at night and provide a good little fight. They make a fair food fish and are said to taste delicious here in Cebu when cooked as Inun-unan. These little guys are armed with venomous spines so care must be taken when removing them from your hooks. I came across the fish in the picture above while night fishing from a seawall here in Cebu. We were using small shrimp for bait.
Category Archives: Surgeonfish
Black Surgeonfish ( Acanthurus gahhm )
This is one of the many species of surgeonfish present in Philippine waters. These fish have small mouths and are quite difficult to catch. This fish was caught in Cebu on some boiled Saba (cooking banana) as bait. In Tagalog this fish is called Labahita.
Trout Sweetlips ( Plectorhinchus pictus )
Dan’s Trout Sweetlips
Common Name: Sweetlips
Local Name: Alatan, Labian, Kayubibi (Tagalog); Lipti(Cebuano)
Max Size: 83 cm (6.9 kgs)
Biodiversity: Marine, Reef-associated
Depth: 20 – 200 meters
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: 12 inches
Recommended Bait/Lures: Shrimp, Squid, small fish
IUCN Red List Status Status: Not Listed
Sweetlips are a species of fish common around the country. They are most often found around reefs and wrecks swimming in schools often with other fish. They can be identified by their grayish silver color along with their small black spots found on their backs and tails. The species is known as sweetlips because of the large rubbery lips around the mouth.
The IGFA does not have a record listed for the Trout Sweetlips that I am aware of. If you catch a good sized one look into submitting it as a IGFA record
Category Archives: Tarpon (Buan-Buan)
Wolf Herring ( Chirocentrus sp. )
Wolf Herring Caught Trolling In Pagbilao
Common Name: Wolf Herring
Local Name: Buan-Buan, Bidb-bid (miss-identified) (Tagalog); ?? (Bisaya)
Max Size: 146 cm (40+kgs)
Biodiversity: Saltwater, Brackish, Reef associated
Depth: 1 – 120 meters
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: None
Recommended Bait/Lures: Small fish or lures
IUCN Red List Status Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
This sly predator is quite rare and elusive. It is often mistaken for a Tarpon or a Ladyfish due to its silvery sides and shape. It can be distinguished however by its large grotesque fangs and long sardine shaped body. These can be caught on lures, trolling or with live or dead bait.
There are two main species of Wolf Herring that can be found around the country, the Whitefin and the Blackfin. We believe this is the Blackfin (nodus) species however we are not sure.
A Wolf Herring taking on a pins minnow lure
Wayne’s Wolf Herring caught in Romblon
Indo-Pacific Tarpon ( Megalops cyprinoides )
Indo Pacific Tarpon
Common Name: Tarpon
Local Name: Bulan-Bulan (Tagalog), Buan-Buan, Salongong, (Cebuano)
Max Size: 150 cm (18kgs)
Biodiversity: Marine; Freshwater; Brackish; Benthopelagic; Amphidromous;
Depth: 1 – ?? m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: 12 inches
Recommended Bait/Lures: Shrimp, small fish; spoons, jigs, crankbaits and soft plastics
IUCN Red List Status: Data Deficient (DD)
The Philippines is unfortunately not blessed like Florida, USA with giant Tarpon. Instead we have the smaller Pacific cousin; The Indo-Pacific Tarpon. Though this species is reported to reach up to 18kgs, which is a good sized fish, the common size found throughout Philippines waters is closer to 1-2kgs. These fish are Benthopelagic, meaning they spend the majority of their time just above the sea floor. They are also Amphidromous, meaning they migrate to freshwater from salt or from salt to fresh at some point in their lives. It is not uncommon to find these fish in freshwater rivers, ponds and even lakes. Adult tarpon are more commonly found at sea while the smaller ones are typically found close to shore. These are a popular fish to stock in freshwater sportfishing ponds because of their energetic fights and often aerobatic displays. Baby tarpon can often be seen in pet shops for sale for freshwater aquariums and are easy to spot due to their large flashy silver scales. Their local name Buan-Buan (literally – Moon-Moon) comes from their flashy white color which can even be seen reflecting of of light at night.
Tarpon are excellent game fish because they take a variety of lures and have great fighting abilities. They are however fair to poor as a food fish. Their flesh has a very muddy taste and so we recommend that you release these fish if you catch them.
Joseph G. with his tarpon caught on a micro lure.
Jospeh G.’s impressive haul from Tarpon fishing
A Buwan-Buwan (Tarpon) caught night fishing in Cebu
Category Archives: Threadfin Salmon (Mamale)
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.
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.
Threadfin Salmon (Eleutheronema tetradactylum)
This species is one of the popular gamefish here in the Philippines. It is known locally (in the Tagalog regions) as Mamale or Mamali. These fish normally school in bays, and other muddy or sandy bottom coastal waters. They feed on a variety of smaller fish and shrimp. Anglers typically target these fish using spoons, casting jigs, crank baits or topwater lures. One major destination for Mamale Fishing is Manila Bay. Boats can be hired in Navotas. The captains take out anglers to chase the boils and catch Mamale up to around 4kgs and many other smaller species of fish.
Jun caught the one pictured above while using a light setup (3000 size reel loaded with 10lbs braid) while fishing a crank bait. I have also caught juveniles while surf casting in Puerto Galera.
Category Archives: Tilapia
Mayan Cichlid ( Cichlasoma urophthalmus )
A great shot of a Mayan Cichlid thanks to Welbart
Common Name: Mexican Mojarra, Tilapia (mis-identified)
Local Name: ??? (Tagalog); ??? (Cebuano)
Max Size: 39.4 cm (1.1 kg)
Biodiversity: Freshwater, Brackish, Introduced
Depth: 0 – ?? m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: none
Recommended Bait/Lures: Shrimp, Worms, Small Fish, Insects
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
Mayan Cichlids have been reported in central Luzon as established in many local waterways. This species is originally from South America and has been transferred around the globe through the aquarium trade. That is undoubtedly how it found its way to the waters of the Philippines. It is likely that this species will spread throughout the country and become well established.
These cichlids are look very similar to tilapia only they have a more brownish and reddish color and a spot on their tail. They also have eight bars along their bodies which can help identify them. Anglers are most likely to catch these in the Provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan when fishing in freshwater for tilapia or brackish water fish. Mayan Cichlids make good food fish and can be fished for as gamefish.
Monster Tilapia from the Pasig
Here is an amazing catch from the Pasig River in Metro Manila. This is a 2 kg Pla-pla or Nile Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) caught by Bipoy. This is undoubtedly an escaped convict from one of the fish pens in Laguna Lake as these fish are not native to the Philippines. Anglers catch tilapia, knife fish, sea catfish, and many other species of fish in the Pasig. It is great to see this river that was once considered “dead” because of pollution to have great signs of life.
Have you caught a nice fish in the Pasig? Send us your photos and we will share them here.
Tripletail ( Lobotes surinamensis )
Common Name: Tripletail
Local Name: Tilapiang Dagat (Tagalog), Gingao, Ligad (Cebuano)
Max Size: 110 cm ( 19.2 kgs )
Biodiversity: Marine, Brackish, Benthopelagic, Oceanodromous, Endemic
Depth: 1 – 70m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: 15 inches
The fish in these pictures were caught off Dumaguete, Negros Oriental around FADs (fish aggregating devices) or buoys. These fish can be caught along the coast as well. Yet another one of the many game fish species that can be caught here .
Nile Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus )
Dec 12
Posted by benaiahfogle
Common Name: Tilapia
Local Name: Pla pla (Tagalog), Tilapia(Cebuano)
Max Size:
Biodiversity: Marine, Brackish, Freshwater, Introduced
Depth: 0 – 6 meters
Fishing Season: All Year Long
This is one of the larger growing tilapia species that can be caught in Philippines waters. It is a species that reportedly was introduced into the Philippines in 1972 as a food fish which has been released into many bodies of water deliberately or indirectly by these fish escaping from fish pens. These fish are primarily herbivores and can grow over 3kgs in weight. They also do occasionally take other baits such as worms, and even small lures. This 1.2kg fish took a Berkley plastic trout worm that I wacky rigged on a weightless hook. This fish are excellent food fish and are now a common food fish on Luzon. I have come to see though that these fish are not as highly valued by the Visayas probably due to the vast amount to saltwater fish available.
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.
Tilapia on a Rapala
She was caught and released in our hole here on the Mabacan river. Thanks Buddy cause I am sure you picked this lure out for me:-)
Posted in Tilapia
Leave a comment
Red Bellied Tilapia (Tilapia Zillii)
Oct 4
Posted by benaiahfogle
Common Name: Tilapia,
Local Name: Tilapia (Tagalog); Tilapia (Cebuano)
Max Size: 40 cm
Biodiversity: Freshwater, Brackish
Depth: 1 – 7 m
Fishing Season: All Year Long
Minimum Size Limit: 6 inches
Recommended Bait/Lures: Worms, Masa (doughbait), algae; flies
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
I went fishing this morning in the Mabacan River hoping to catch some carp that I have heard inhabit our area. I was not able to catch any carp, though I was able to hook this tilapia on a doughball and corn. I think I am now convinced that these are Red Bellied Tilapia in our river. There may be other species as well, but this is the only one that I can identify with certainty. These are an introduced species.
Tilapia
There are many varieties of Tilapia that can be caught in the country. All of these species were introduced. Tilapia can be difficult to catch at times because they primarily feed on vegetation. I have fished for them in may lakes and rivers here in laguna and have caught them on many different things including worms, doughballs, corn, spinners, small plastic worms, flys, and more. The first Tilapia is a 9″er that I caught in the Mabacan River on a worm. The larger tilapia are known in this area as Pla pla.