THE MIGHTY EL PEZ FUERTE
Originally Published the Week of June 8, 2016 in Western Outdoor News
Whenever someone catches this particular fish, the uninitiated usually bust out the usual comments…
“I caught a what?”
“Is this like…uh…a tuna or something?”
“Is this a junk fish?”
“Should I throw it back?”
“Any good to eat?”
“My brother caught one once and said it was good fertilizer.”
OUCH! Talk about no respect. Into the rosebeds with the mackerel, the Miracle-Gro and the mulch.
The Mexicans call this fish the “ el pez fuerte.” And it’s name is well-deserved. Nothing fancy, colorful or elegant. It surely doesn’t rise to the level of say, “wahoo.” Or maybe “sailfish.”
They call it like they see it. “ El Pez Fuerte” means “the strong fish.” Simple. Clear. Word economy at it’s best. At it’s most descriptive.
Most of the rest of us know it as the amberjack. And yea, it’s pretty strong.
Like the rest of the members of it’s family.
That includes the more famous, yellowtail (jurel). And glamorous roosterfish (pez gallo) . And the hard-charging jack crevalle (toro) and pompano (pompano…no fancy name at all. ). All three of these sure get a lot more press than the amberjack.
Folks line up to get in on the bite when the yellowtail are going off. Anglers come from all over the world to hook up on a Baja roosterfish. Jack crevalle are a favorite of light tackle and flyfishers.
So, why does the amberjack get slighted?
Better known as the Almaco Jack or the Pacific Jack, these guys sport the same bad attitude as their cousins. Bullish runs. Dogged battles. Quick to bend rods and just as easily send anglers into frustration as they dive back to cover and snap tackle.
They are just bigger and stronger. Actually, they are the largest of the jack family. Fifty…sixty…seventy pounders and larger are not uncommon.
It’s like the old saying about a good big guy is usually better than a good small guy, the amberjack here in Baja are characterized by the big thick powerful bodies of the roosterfish (but without all the fancy rigging on their back.)
They have linebacker bodies compared to, for example yellowtail which are more slender.
They have muscular tails and blunted heads. And yes, they do get bigger.
The current IGFA record of 132-pounds was caught in Baja waters. In my 20 years here in southern Baja, I’ve seen larger fish that never got to the certified scales.
It happens more than you think. Several years ago, a fish estimated at close to 150-pounds got carved up on the beach before we could stop our amigo who had visions of delicious sashimi dancing in his eyes!
Because for sure, they make great eating. Amberjack in other areas are often tossed back or tossed into the rose bushes. These are the same fish. The pez Fuertes we see here are famously tasty.
Roosterfish and jack crevalle have dark stringy strong-tasting meat. Most captains will tell you to release then. Yellowtail and amberjack are at the other end. Definitely keeper fish.
The amberjack is a culinary surprise for most folks. Imagine the tender moist meat of the yellowtail. Only better.
I had one marine biologist tell me that the amberjack are not as migratory as their kin, the yellowtail. They tend to be more “homeguard” fish and their diets include shellfish, shrimp and mollusks. So, imagine the succulent flavor of flaky white yellowtail with a slight hint of crab or shrimp!
As sashime, it’s meat is almost translucent and velvety in its’ texture and highly prized. But rarely found because they’re not commercially chased.
So, that leaves it to us sportfishermen…and ladies.
Fishing-wise, folks genuinely are surprised to catch them. It’s not too different from fishing for yellowtail in Baja.
Usually, they are found near structure which would include rocks, reefs, boulders and deep drop-offs like canyons. When scuba diving, I seem to encounter schools where there are vertical objects like rock walls where the fish hold at certain levels.
They’ll take live and dead bait like squid, mackerel and caballitos (a smaller member of the jack family). You can fish them on the flyline (with no weight). Or, you can fish them with a sliding egg-sinker on a Carolina rig or similar. Depending on the depth.
They will often school. Find one and you’ll find others. If they’re hungry, look out. They don’t “nibble” and will slam a rod right out’ve your hand.
And they are not shy. Being the big dog, they don’t have to be. I’ve had spearfishermen tell me they didn’t shoot amberjack because the fish will swim right up to them out’ve curiosity and look right at the point of the speargun.
“It didn’t seem fair to shoot a fish that swims right up to the gun!” said on spearfishing client.
And, they do love lures too.
Slow trolling a diving lure like a Rapala, Yo-Zuri, Mirro-Lure or other lipped-lure produces well.
If you like to fish the iron or knife jigs, this is another popular way to get hooked up. Drop down and crank like your arm is going to fall off.
Basically, fish like you’re fishing for yellowtail. And that’s why folks get surprised when their reel goes screaming; they’re double-bent; and they pull up a fish that doesn’t quite look like a yellowtail.
Often copper-colored or even golden tan in the sun, it’s definitely not a junk fish. And yes, it tastes darned good. Save something else for the fertilizer!
The other great aspect is that a good time to fish for them is during the same season as the yellowtail. That would be the late winter and early spring.
However, when the yellowtail have moved off to follow the colder waters, the amberjack can stick around for many months into the summer or even longer.
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter-international.com. They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com or drop by the restaurant to say hi!
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