Pescada
Our “Fish of the Week” is Pescada, which are large, silver predators that are well-distributed throughout the Amazon basin and in waters holding peacock bass, making them good alternative targets. They tend to occupy deeper, oxygenated waters often near lagoon mouths and away from the shoreline areas that are often visited by peacocks.
The keys to identifying pescada are its silvery body with a prominent lateral line, long second dorsal and large, oblique mouth. Their bodies are relatively uniform and free of any clearly visible markings except for a large black blotch at the base of the pectoral fin. The pescada have a reflective silver color on their lateral body, while the dorsal area is slightly darker. Their abdomen is lighter and their fins may have a reddish hue. Pescada can grow up to 15 pounds and are distinguished by their prominentlateral line, silver scales and black mark at the base of their pectoral fin. While there are several species of Plagioscon in the Amazon basin, none reach the size of P. squamosissimus (featured).
The best locations for anglers to find pescada are in Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Suriname, Guyana and Fr. Guiana. Specifically, the Amazon, Orinoco, Parana, Sao Francisco and Guianas river basins are key locations holding pescada. As with other Sciaenids, pescada make underwater sounds, helping anglers locate them. Pescada also make migrations that may combine feeding and spawning purposes. They are often found in deeper waters within lowlands river systems and in slower waters and deep pools in high gradient rivers. Anglers may also know pescada by their common names “silver croaker” and “corvina.”
Russell Jensen with 11 lbs. 4 oz. Pescada Caught on an Acute Angling Trip, an IGFA World Record
Pescada are relatively aggressive feeders and will hit a variety of artificial lures, cut bait and live bait. They can be targeted in lagoon mouths in lowlands rivers that are wide open to river channels. You can access them with deeper running swimming plugs or lipless baits such as rapalas, rattletraps, shad raps, jigs and so forth. In high gradient areas, pescada will take CD 11 and CD 14 rapalas, spoons and even flies when fished deep in quiet pools. They are often caught on cut bait when fishing for catfish. They are good fighters and tend to run deep, rarely jumping like some other exotic species do. And, while Acute Angling practices catch and release in all of our fishing, pescada do make delicious meals.
Pescada
Acute Angling – Official Website
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