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Rooster, peacock fish, long-finned horse mackerel are the names of one fish of the horse mackerel family. Rooster is also often called a rooster. Monotypic species, the only representative of the genus Nematistiidae. Fish of tropical waters with a very exotic appearance. The body is compressed from the sides, the first dorsal fin consists of seven individual high rays, pulled together by a film only in the lower part, which, as a rule, are tucked into a groove on the back. The caudal stalk is narrow. The arrangement of the fins is characteristic of the whole family. The body has a silvery sheen, there are black stripes on the sides and fins. There are three of them on the body, but in some individuals they are barely noticeable. They live singly or in small groups. A rare species, industrial production is not conducted. Pelargic fish of surface waters. Lives in the coastal zone, often found in shallow water and along sandy beaches. The size of the fish can reach a weight of 50 kg and a length of 1.2 m. Fishermen are interested in the fact that they often hunt along the coastline. They move near the surface of the water, while the dorsal fin sticks out of the water, thereby betraying their presence.
Ways to catch Roosters
The fish is quite rare, fastidious and therefore is a worthy trophy. The most successful fishing is during the migration of small mullet or sardines. Peacock fish are caught by trolling, but it is pointless to look for it in the ocean – the main habitat is in the coastal zone. But the most reckless fishing for this fish is from the shore. When hunting, Roosters come very close to the water’s edge, sometimes, in the heat of an attack, they can jump ashore. This is an excellent object of fishing for fans of surf fishing: fly and spinning. Fishing for this fish is very mobile and requires good tackle. The fish are tracked along the coast, watching the appearance of fins on the surface of the water, in case of detection, it is often necessary to run in the direction of the escaping fish in order to throw the bait to it.
Catching roosters on spinning “cast”
When choosing gear for fishing with a classic spinning rod for catching rusters, it is advisable to proceed from the principle of matching the baits used to the size of the fish. In coastal, specialized fishing for rusters, various spinning rods are used to cast lures in coastal fishing conditions. But roosters can stay at different distances in the shallow coastal zone, so fishing is also possible from sea watercraft. In this case, various baits are used: poppers, wobblers, spinners and so on. Reels should be with a good supply of fishing line or cord. In addition to a trouble-free braking system, the coil must be protected from salt water. In many types of sea fishing equipment, very fast wiring is required, which means a high gear ratio of the winding mechanism. According to the principle of operation, the coils can be both multiplier and inertial-free. Accordingly, the rods are selected depending on the reel system. The choice of rods is very diverse, at the moment, manufacturers offer a large number of specialized “blanks” for various fishing conditions and types of lures. When fishing with spinning marine fish, fishing technique is very important. To select the correct wiring, it is necessary to consult experienced anglers or guides.
Fly fishing
Roosters, along with other coastal fish, are actively caught by sea fly fishing. In most cases, before the trip, it is worth clarifying the sizes of all possible trophies living in the region where fishing is planned. As a rule, class 9-10 one-handers can be considered “universal” marine fly fishing gear. When catching medium-sized individuals, you can use sets of 6-7 classes. They use fairly large baits, so it is possible to use lines a class higher than the corresponding one-handed rods. Bulk reels should be suitable for the class of the rod, with the expectation that at least 200 m of strong backing should be placed on the spool. Do not forget that the gear will be exposed to salt water. This requirement applies especially to coils and cords. When choosing a coil, you should pay special attention to the design of the brake system. The friction clutch must be not only as reliable as possible, but also protected from salt water ingress into the mechanism. During fly fishing for marine fish, including roosters, a certain technique for controlling the lure is required. Especially at the initial stage, it is worth taking the advice of experienced guides.
Baits
The main spinning baits used when fishing for rusters are various poppers, walkers and more. They also use wobblers, oscillating and spinners, silicone imitations and more. In addition, fish react to natural baits, such as live bait. Roosters are caught with fly gear on poppers, streamers and imitation crustaceans.
Places of fishing and habitat
Roosters are fish of tropical waters, the main habitat is located near the Pacific coast of Central and South America: Peru, Costa Rica, Mexico. As already mentioned, roosters stick to moderate depths close to the coast, which is of great interest to anglers from the shore or in shallow water.
Spawning
Little is known about the spawning of rusters. Like most horse mackerels in the tropical zone, they breed throughout the year. Roosters are pelargic fish of the upper water layers. Portion spawner. Eggs and larvae are also pelargic. At first, juveniles feed on zooplankton, but quickly begin to hunt small fish.