Roosterfish

General Info: Roosterfish are an incredible fish. They look amazing, fight as hard as any other fish, make massive runs, are incredibly aggressive and can reach huge sizes. With a beach fishery that makes them accessible without a guide, they may be the most underrated tropical sport fish out there. They can be found on the Pacific side of Mexico throughout the Sea of Cortez (Baja), up the Pacific Coast into the San Diego area.

While most folks fish in Baja, there is an emerging fishery in Costa Rica, where many of the big Roosters migrate in the winter. In Baja, stripping baitfish as fast as possible is the name of the game. They mostly eat Mullet and Sardines, so stack your box with baitfish patterns. Hit the points just before high tides, and keep moving... Oh, and on average, anglers will go through more than 2 dozen flies per day as Needlefish will tear up flies almost as bad as hitting the sand dunes on the backcasts.

Preferred Gear

Rods: 10 wt. Stiff, fast action to cut through the wind. Distance is key, and the wind can be horrendous, so stiffer is better with a Roosterfish rod

Favorites: Orvis Helios 3D, Orvis Recon, Echo EPR, Redington Predator

Reels: Large arbor, sealed drag. The sand adds an extra factor in gear. Many flats anglers are in the water or boat all day and do not get sand all over their gear constantly. Keep those reels washed out.

Favorites: Orvis Mirage LT, Orvis Mirage, Redington Grande, Big Y General, Lamson Centerfire

Lines: Tropical, overweighted. The most used line is RIO Outbound Short Tropical with the clear intermediate sink tip WF10F/I

Favorites: RIO Outbound Short Tropical