Catching a Longfin Sanddab - By: Tauqeer Hassan

It is a species of sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus). It has its Latin name as Citharichthys xanthostigma and other names given to it are: soft flounder, sanddab, and Catalina sanddab.

The longfin sanddab is usually found in the waters ranges from Costa Rica to Monterrey, California. It has a large mouth and also large scales, usually has a flat oblong body with lateral line runs through the length of its eye side. A left eyed species that is dark brown having small spots and a pectoral fin along the eye side. The pectoral fin is usually longer than the head. The blind eye is a blend of off white- to tan. Its caudal fin resembles the body color and is normally round in shape.

Female longfin sanddabs sexually matures at about 3 years of age and normally are larger than the males. Their spawning period ranges from July to September and they spawn more than once during their spawning period. A normal mature female produce about 25,000 to 50,000 eggs per spawn.

They are usually common in muddy or sandy bottom that are about 10 to 650 feet deep. It feeds itself on octopus, squid or small fishes. Other feeding resources for longfin sanddabs are shrimp, fish eggs, bloodworm, sea worms, sand worms and crabs. All the sanddabs have the tendency to bury them in the sand or mud with only the eyes protruding. They also have the ability to change their colors to camouflage them for dense against predators. You can catch them in water the entire year.

Fishing Tips

To catch a longfin saddab, it is better to drift over the area, i.e. sandy or muddy deep holes, you think are the home of fish. The baited hook should rest on the bottom of the muddy holes.

Bait

Like most of the fishes, longfin sanddab also jumps at the baited hook. The best baits you can use to catch longfin sanddab are strips of: bloodworm, sand worms, cut squid, cut, octopus, shrimp, or crabs. Generally, terminal fishing rigs vary from 1 to 10 hooks per rig, but there are anglers for the sake of simplicity use 1 to 4 hooks per rig.

Equipment

If you are willing to use 10 or more hooks at a time, the rod should have roller guides to minimize the friction on the line. You can use fast to extra fast boat rod of 6 to 7 foot length with resembling traditional bait casting reel fitted with 25 to 40 pound test mono filament line. Make sure that the whole mechanism is strong enough to drag several fish at time.
On the other hand if you are using 1 to 4 hooks, it is better to use 6 to 7 foot moderate to fast action boat rod with resembling bait casting reel fitted with 20 to 30 pound test mono filament line.

About the Author

You might also want to learn about holding and hanging a Sockeye Salmon and Hold and hang a Longfin Sanddab.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Tauqeer-Hassan/71074

Additional Articles From - Home | Home & family | Pets