The author's nice Barred Pargo caught bottom fishing with dead bonito in Drake Bay, Costa Rica
Barred Pargo Fishing
Hoplopagrus guntheri
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Barred Pargo Description
Barred Pargo live in the Eastern Pacific from Baja to the Panama area and in the Sea of Cortez. They are a powerful fish reaching about 30lbs. Smaller fish live in rocks in shallow water near shore, while larger specimans can be found on rock piles farther offshore in deeper water. They are a very tough adversary as they will always head straight into the rocks when hooked just like most snappers.
Barred Pargos have strong teeth made for chomping down on crustaceans. They eat those along with small fish. During the day they often hide out in caves but will come out to chase food. They are good eating but hard to clean due to tough scales and skin.
Barred Pargo Tackle
I would recommend a medium weight saltwater conventional setup rated 20-30lbs or so, maybe heavier if you are targeting the big ones. You could also use saltwater spinning gear. If you are fishing lures you would use a longer rod in the 7’+ length, and if you are fishing with bait you could get away with a slightly shorter rod. If you are trolling along rocky shorelines or fishing bait on the bottom you can use a short rod. The ideal setup would probably be a Shimano Trinidad reel or if you wanted to go with spinning gear a Daiwa Saltiga reel paired with a nice Calstar rod. Wire leaders would help with cutoffs but I don't recommend them since you won't get many bites.
Barred Pargo Techniques
Barred Pargo can be caught casting lures or bait in very shallow water near rock piles near shore or bottom fishing farther offshore with bait or jigs. However you fish for them, make sure you have a very tight drag to have a chance of keeping them out of the rocks. I usually fish with the drag almost completely locked down for most snapper since the most common way you lose them is when they break you off in the rocks. I would rather take my chances on them possibly breaking my line before they get in the rocks because it is a near certainty once they get in there.
Barred Pargo Lures
Barred Pargo will readily strike surface iron jigs like a Tady 45 or large Krocodile spoons cast over rocks and slowly retrieved so that they kick side to side. This is probably the most fun way to fish for them. Metal jigs fished vertically over rocks can also work well in deeper water.
Barred Pargo Baits
Live baits such as sardines work well. Barred Pargo don't have huge mouths so don't use giant baits. Chunks of oily baitfish such as bonito or skipjack can work. They eat a lot of crustaceans naturally so presumably those work as well although they are generally harder to get.
Where to get the big Barred Pargo
The Sea of Cortez has some nice ones but they are getting fished out. My biggest ones have come from Puerto Vallarta where they are farther offshore and face less fishing pressure. Costa Rica has some good ones also, especially on the Osa Peninsula.
Other Barred Pargo Resources
The Baja Catch by Gene Kira and Neil Kelly is an excellent resource for these fish
Hoplopagrus guntheri
HOME
Other Species
Barred Pargo Description
Barred Pargo live in the Eastern Pacific from Baja to the Panama area and in the Sea of Cortez. They are a powerful fish reaching about 30lbs. Smaller fish live in rocks in shallow water near shore, while larger specimans can be found on rock piles farther offshore in deeper water. They are a very tough adversary as they will always head straight into the rocks when hooked just like most snappers.
Barred Pargos have strong teeth made for chomping down on crustaceans. They eat those along with small fish. During the day they often hide out in caves but will come out to chase food. They are good eating but hard to clean due to tough scales and skin.
Barred Pargo Tackle
I would recommend a medium weight saltwater conventional setup rated 20-30lbs or so, maybe heavier if you are targeting the big ones. You could also use saltwater spinning gear. If you are fishing lures you would use a longer rod in the 7’+ length, and if you are fishing with bait you could get away with a slightly shorter rod. If you are trolling along rocky shorelines or fishing bait on the bottom you can use a short rod. The ideal setup would probably be a Shimano Trinidad reel or if you wanted to go with spinning gear a Daiwa Saltiga reel paired with a nice Calstar rod. Wire leaders would help with cutoffs but I don't recommend them since you won't get many bites.
Barred Pargo Techniques
Barred Pargo can be caught casting lures or bait in very shallow water near rock piles near shore or bottom fishing farther offshore with bait or jigs. However you fish for them, make sure you have a very tight drag to have a chance of keeping them out of the rocks. I usually fish with the drag almost completely locked down for most snapper since the most common way you lose them is when they break you off in the rocks. I would rather take my chances on them possibly breaking my line before they get in the rocks because it is a near certainty once they get in there.
Barred Pargo Lures
Barred Pargo will readily strike surface iron jigs like a Tady 45 or large Krocodile spoons cast over rocks and slowly retrieved so that they kick side to side. This is probably the most fun way to fish for them. Metal jigs fished vertically over rocks can also work well in deeper water.
Barred Pargo Baits
Live baits such as sardines work well. Barred Pargo don't have huge mouths so don't use giant baits. Chunks of oily baitfish such as bonito or skipjack can work. They eat a lot of crustaceans naturally so presumably those work as well although they are generally harder to get.
Where to get the big Barred Pargo
The Sea of Cortez has some nice ones but they are getting fished out. My biggest ones have come from Puerto Vallarta where they are farther offshore and face less fishing pressure. Costa Rica has some good ones also, especially on the Osa Peninsula.
Other Barred Pargo Resources
The Baja Catch by Gene Kira and Neil Kelly is an excellent resource for these fish
Click on a picture below to enlarge
A pair of Barred Pargo caught on chunked skipjack in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Barred Pargo caught on a Tady 45 surface iron jig in Drake Bay, Costa Rica
Barred Pargo caught near Cebaco Island, Panama on a surface iron jig.
Barred Pargo caught near San Evaristo, Baja Sur, Mexico on a surface iron jig.
Barred Pargo caught near San Evaristo, Baja Sur, Mexico on a surface iron jig.