catalog Serranidae · predator

parrot sand bass

Paralabrax loro

Sea

Small rock cabrilla of the eastern tropical Pacific, with orange spots and lines on the head and dark bars on the body. Light bottom fishing with shrimp and jigs, around rocks next to sand.

Also called: cabrilha-papagaio, parrot sand bass, parrot rock-bass

forecast for parrot sand bass where found

Scientific illustration of Parrot sand bass

common size: 20–32 cm
maximum: 60 cm
common weight: 0.1–0.5 kg
record/max.: — kg
depth: 10–60 m
ideal water: 22–29 °C

overview

who is the parrot sand bass

Hard-bottom sea bass of the eastern Pacific, from the northeastern Gulf of California to northern Peru (FishBase only places it from Mexico to the Gulf of Panama). Lives on rocky bottoms and the sand patches beside them, generally at 10 to 60 m. It is little studied: FishBase has no use data but lists it as a sport fish, and the IUCN assessment is data deficient. Its third dorsal spine is much taller than the others and reaches 38 cm according to FishBase (STRI says at least 60 cm). For sport anglers it is a light bottom-fishing species over rocks and coastal reefs, taken with shrimp, fish strips and small jigs.

fun facts

The third dorsal spine, about three times the length of the second, is the mark that sets it apart from other cabrillas.
FishBase gives 38 cm as the maximum length and lists the species as little known; STRI cites at least 60 cm.

how to recognize it

identification

Head with large orange blotches and wavy lines, body with about 7 long dark bars, and the end of the tail stalk and the fins (except the pectorals) covered with brown and orange speckles. The edge of the dorsal and the top tip of the caudal are yellow to orange. The third dorsal spine is about three times the length of the second. Juveniles have orange spots on the head and back, about 4 bars and a white oval spot under the end of the spiny dorsal.

how parrot sand bass fishing looks

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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Does not occur in Brazil. Eastern Pacific, from the northeastern Gulf of California (Mexico) to northern Peru, through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. FishBase records it only from Mexico to the Gulf of Panama; STRI extends the range to northern Peru.

Habitat: Rocky bottoms and neighboring sand patches, from 10 to 60 m.

calendar and clock

when to fish

best season

time of year

JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Fished all year in tropical areas; no documented season. Clear water and moderate current over the rock matter more than the month.

best time of day

Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Fished by day and at the start and end of the afternoon, along the rocks. There is no specific data on the species' feeding time.

weather, water and behavior

what affects the parrot sand bass
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.

cold and cold fronts

Cold upwelling water drops activity over the rocks.

atmospheric pressure

A front with the sea turning rough hampers bottom fishing.

moon

Little effect; strong moons move the water over the rocks.

rain

Little effect on the bottom; heavy rain muddies the shore and the estuaries.

water level

Not applicable at sea.

noise

Anchor upcurrent of the rock and let the bait drift down; noise over the fish gets in the way.

wind

Strong wind makes it hard to keep the boat over the rock.

tide

Moderate current is best; slack tide produces little.

depth

From 10 to 60 m over rocks and coastal reefs.

technique, gear and bait

how to fish

Natural bait on the bottom Bottom fishing from a boat Rocky shore Bottom casting

rod: 6'6" to 7', medium to fast action, 8 to 17 lb
spinning / baitcasting reel: spinning reel 2500 to 3500
line: braided line 15 to 25 lb
leader: fluorocarbon 20 to 30 lb, 1 m
hook: circle 1/0 to 2/0

lures

jig head 1/4 to 1/2 oz with 7 to 10 cm shad or silicone shrimp
light metal jig

natural baits

shrimp
squid strips
sardine fillet

accessories

sinker of 30 to 100 g
alicate
descender for deeper rockfish

tip from an angler

Keep the bait a hand's width off the bottom, right next to the rock edge, and set the hook firmly at the first tap so the fish doesn't return to its hole.

what the law says

rules for the parrot sand bass

Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Insufficient data; old assessment with no fishing information.

Mexico: up to 5 per species and 10 saltwater fish per day

5 specimens of the species per angler per day, within the limit of 10 saltwater fish

In federal waters of Mexico, recreational sport fishing allows each angler to keep up to 10 marine fish per day, no more than 5 of the same species. The parrot cabrilla (cabrilla loro) is not among the species reserved for sport fishing (marlins, sailfish, swordfish, tarpon (sábalo), roosterfish and dorado, up to 50 nautical miles from shore, item 0.3 of the standard) and has no quota of its own. Fish over the quota must go back alive, and sport-caught fish may not be sold. From shore you need no permit; from a boat, you do (permits under the Federal Duties Law, item 4.3).

Source: Amendment to NOM-017-PESC-1994 (recreational sport fishing in federal waters of Mexico), published in the DOF on Nov 25, 2013, items 0.3, 4.3, 4.9.1, 4.9.5 and 4.11 (Sagarpa/Conapesca)

catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.

A rockfish can rise with an inflated swim bladder: use a descender to return it to depth. Hold it with a wet hand and release it quickly.

in the kitchen

FishBase has no culinary use information. As a small rockfish, like other cabrillas, it does well fried or baked whole.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

total length (cm)

Length-weight relationship W = a·L^b (a = 0.01047, b = 3.06; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

estimated weight

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sources and references

The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.

scientific FishBase: Paralabrax loro (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight relationship, depth, habitat, distribution, biology and IUCN status. Page checked Oct 13, 2026. FishBase gives 38 cm as the maximum length and says the species reaches at least 28 cm; the entry uses STRI's 60 cm, the most recent regional reference. FishBase records only the gamefish, with no use data.
scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Paralabrax loroNames by country and language.
scientific Robertson, D. R. & Allen, G. R. (2024). Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute: Paralabrax loroDescription, colors, size (at least 60 cm), depth (1 to 70 m, with a question mark) and distribution (northeastern Gulf of California to northern Peru). Size and country values adopted in the entry. Page checked Oct 13, 2026.
scientific Heemstra, P. C. (1995). Serranidae. Meros, serranos, guasetas, enjambres, baquetas, indios, loros, gallinas, cabrillas, garropas. In: Fischer, W. et al. (eds.). Guía FAO para la identificación de especies para los fines de la pesca. Pacífico centro-oriental. Roma: FAO.Main FishBase reference for rocky and sandy bottom habitat.
official DOF: Modificação da NOM-017-PESC-1994, para regular a pesca deportivo-recreativa em águas de jurisdição federal do México (publicada em 25/11/2013)Species reserved for sport fishing (item 0.3), permits (4.3 and 4.14), rod and hooks (4.6), bait (4.7), daily quotas at sea (4.9.1) and in fresh water (4.9.2), catch and release (4.9.5), closed areas and seasons (4.10) and the ban on selling the fish (4.11). Text checked Oct 13, 2026. The text carries the signature date of Oct 14, 2013; the DOF publication date (Nov 25, 2013) is the one the catalog already uses.

don't confuse

similar species

Serranidae

Kelp bass

Paralabrax clathratus

Calico bass of the kelp forests of the Pacific coast of Baja California. It lives for decades, strikes swimbaits and surface lures near the kelp, and is one of the most fished fish in northwestern Mexico.

Sea

time of yearbest: May–Oct

Serranidae

Peruvian rock seabass

Paralabrax humeralis

A sea bass of the rocky shores of the South American Pacific, heavily fished from rocks and boats in Peru and Chile. Takes natural bait and jigs near the rocky bottom.

Sea

time of yearbest: Nov–Mar