Sardinata fooled by a Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow in Bolivia
Sardinata
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Pellona castelnaeana
Sardinata Description
Sardinata (or apapa as they are called in Brazil) are a beautiful and feisty gamefish found in the Amazon. They look a lot like an American Shad but grow larger (up to 15lbs+) and are a stunning gold/orange color. They resemble a small tarpon and have a small bony mouth that can be hard to hook. During some times of the year, they group together in large schools to attack baitfish, and during those times they can be caught relatively easily. During other times, they are more spread out and can be a little tricky to hook due to their excellent eyesight and bony mouth.
When hooked, Sardinata put up an excellent fight that typically includes some acrobatic leaps to try to spit the hook. They have some sharp spines on the top and bottom of their bodies so care needs to be taken when handling them.
Sardinata are somewhat fragile after being taken out of the water as they typically fight to exhaustion. I have heard that they taste ok but have never eaten one. They are a really underrated and relatively unknown gamefish that are well worth pursuing if you are lucky enough to be somewhere that has some.
Sardinata Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 7 out of 10 on the Freshwater Scale
These guys are pretty strong for their size, and they really put up a spirited fights with lots of leaping. Quite a few manage to throw the hook, kind of like the Tarpon they resemble. They fight clean and don't generally wrap you up in cover, but they are often found near current and can use that to their advantage.
Sardinata Tackle
In most cases you can get away with Largemouth Bass type tackle. The larger ones (10lbs+) will put up quite a fight on that size tackle.
Sardinata Techniques
Sardinata can be fished successfully with bait, lures, and fly. They have excellent eyesight and will often charge a lure and then turn away at the last minute. One time I was fishing in an area with a lot of them and could see them flashing on the lure on every cast. I assumed they were striking and missing but upon closer inspection I saw that they were actually turning at the last minute to eye the lure and then swim off. Especially when fishing in clear water, try to use natural looking lures or flies in smaller sizes than you might otherwise use for that size of fish.
Sardinata Lures
A whole host of lures work in different situations. I had some success with the Mepps Cyclops Spoon in both silver and gold, the Sebile Stick Shad in silver type colors, the Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow, and various small streamer flies. Whatever lure you use, make sure it looks natural and doesn't have hooks that are too big for their mouths. Sharp hooks are a must to penetrate their bony mouths. A steady retrieve is often better than one with pauses because the pause gives the fish a chance to determine the lure is fake.
Sardinata Bait
I have not fished for them with bait but since they eat mostly small fish you could probably use most types of small fish found in the area.
Where to Catch Big Sardinata
Sardinata are found throughout the Amazon. There are large populations in the Caura River in Venezuela and in the Cano Negro area of Bolivia.
Home
Other Species
Pellona castelnaeana
Sardinata Description
Sardinata (or apapa as they are called in Brazil) are a beautiful and feisty gamefish found in the Amazon. They look a lot like an American Shad but grow larger (up to 15lbs+) and are a stunning gold/orange color. They resemble a small tarpon and have a small bony mouth that can be hard to hook. During some times of the year, they group together in large schools to attack baitfish, and during those times they can be caught relatively easily. During other times, they are more spread out and can be a little tricky to hook due to their excellent eyesight and bony mouth.
When hooked, Sardinata put up an excellent fight that typically includes some acrobatic leaps to try to spit the hook. They have some sharp spines on the top and bottom of their bodies so care needs to be taken when handling them.
Sardinata are somewhat fragile after being taken out of the water as they typically fight to exhaustion. I have heard that they taste ok but have never eaten one. They are a really underrated and relatively unknown gamefish that are well worth pursuing if you are lucky enough to be somewhere that has some.
Sardinata Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 7 out of 10 on the Freshwater Scale
These guys are pretty strong for their size, and they really put up a spirited fights with lots of leaping. Quite a few manage to throw the hook, kind of like the Tarpon they resemble. They fight clean and don't generally wrap you up in cover, but they are often found near current and can use that to their advantage.
Sardinata Tackle
In most cases you can get away with Largemouth Bass type tackle. The larger ones (10lbs+) will put up quite a fight on that size tackle.
Sardinata Techniques
Sardinata can be fished successfully with bait, lures, and fly. They have excellent eyesight and will often charge a lure and then turn away at the last minute. One time I was fishing in an area with a lot of them and could see them flashing on the lure on every cast. I assumed they were striking and missing but upon closer inspection I saw that they were actually turning at the last minute to eye the lure and then swim off. Especially when fishing in clear water, try to use natural looking lures or flies in smaller sizes than you might otherwise use for that size of fish.
Sardinata Lures
A whole host of lures work in different situations. I had some success with the Mepps Cyclops Spoon in both silver and gold, the Sebile Stick Shad in silver type colors, the Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow, and various small streamer flies. Whatever lure you use, make sure it looks natural and doesn't have hooks that are too big for their mouths. Sharp hooks are a must to penetrate their bony mouths. A steady retrieve is often better than one with pauses because the pause gives the fish a chance to determine the lure is fake.
Sardinata Bait
I have not fished for them with bait but since they eat mostly small fish you could probably use most types of small fish found in the area.
Where to Catch Big Sardinata
Sardinata are found throughout the Amazon. There are large populations in the Caura River in Venezuela and in the Cano Negro area of Bolivia.
Sardinata caught in Bolivia on a Yo Zuri Crystal Minnow
Big Sardinata caught by the author's friend Gary in Colombia
Sardinata caught on a streamer fly.
Sardinata caught on a Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow