| The warm, tropical waters off the Pacific coasts | | | | Caranx Caballus |
| of Mexico to South America provide a treasure | | | | The pan-sized Burique is generally used as a bait |
| trove of opportunities for the "catch of a lifetime". | | | | fish. Ranging from 20 to 30 cm in length and |
| Even common food fish grow to tackle-busting | | | | weighing about a pound each. More abundant from |
| size and ferocity in the teeming waters that | | | | May through the summer months, they can be |
| beach Panama, Colombia and Ecuador. There's | | | | jigged and are especially well caught at night from |
| truly something to keep every angler hookin' and | | | | small boats and even canoes. They'll hit squid, |
| haulin' denizens of the not-so-deep. Here are some | | | | hermit crab and shrimp equally well and swim in |
| sport favorites that'll put a smirk on your face in | | | | large schools near the surface. The mouths of |
| no time. In the article, "Tropical Pacific Ocean | | | | streams and estuaries that empty into the sea |
| Game Fish You Should Know" you met some | | | | are good hot spots. Deep-fried they make a good |
| tropical Pacific Ocean species you're likely to | | | | meal on their own too. So be sure to save a |
| encounter south of the border. These species are | | | | couple or so to try out for yourself. |
| right there along with them south of the border | | | | Bravo |
| too. Here are more of the "Pacific Coast Posse". | | | | Seriola Dorsalis |
| The common name is listed above the scientific | | | | This deep-water denizen ranges from 50 to 60 |
| name. | | | | cm in length and can weigh from 15 to 25 pounds. |
| Jurel or Jurelillo | | | | They swim in groups of 8 to 20 fish in deep |
| Caranx Caninus | | | | waters near shore, frequenting rocky areas |
| Commonly sizing in at 25 to 40 cm in length and | | | | adjacent to sandy bottoms. Many caught during |
| weighing in at 4 to 6 pounds, Jurel can get up to | | | | the months of June to November using live bait |
| 12 or more line-busting pounds. They swim in | | | | of small fish or squid. An excellent eating fish, its |
| fairly large schools near the surface over areas | | | | size usually requires it to be filleted. It's good in |
| with sandy bottoms. They are most abundant | | | | soups and stews and the thick fillets grill nicely as |
| during the months of December to March and are | | | | well. Sharks are a natural predator of Bravo, so |
| commonly fished for using live bait fish or lead | | | | where there's Bravo, there are often Bull sharks. |
| head jigs. Crab and squid will also get you action | | | | Be careful. You might want to read the article, "A |
| from this dark-fleshed scrapper. In South | | | | Shark Tale" online at: You'll see what I mean. |
| America, the fish is often smoked or salted. | | | | Good luck on your next fishing trip. |
| Burique or Cojinuda | | | | |