Roosterfish

Pompano pectoralis

Pectoralis pompano is a fish from the eastern tropical Pacific. Its range extends from San Clemente in Southern California to Peru and also includes the waters around the Galapagos Islands. North of Baja California it is rare.

Features

Pompano pectoralis resembles a Trevally and a maximum of 1.63 meters long, but remains usually at a length of 60 centimeters. The maximum published weight is 51.7 kg. The body of the fish is silvery, elongated, laterally flattened and covered with small cycloid scales. The scales are missing along the sidelines. Identification mark of the animals is the first dorsal fin, which consists of seven long, very strong hard jets that are hidden during fast swimming in scaly pits at the fin base. The rays are dark and have some yellow ribbons. The second dorsal fin has a hard - and 25 to 28 soft rays, the anal fin three hard - and 15 to 17 soft rays. The fish have 24 vertebrae, of which ten caudal vertebrae. The swim bladder has to be outgrowths improve contact with the inner ear, possibly at the hearing.

Way of life

The fish are rare and little known. Adult animals live oceanic. Young fish are mainly found in shallow sandy shore areas and are also found in tide pools. They are often found in the stomachs of large predatory fish such as tuna.

Fishing

In some areas, pompano pectoralis is fished, is a major destination for deep-sea fishing and is marketed fresh.