xantic sargo
Anisotremus davidsonii
Sargo of rocky reefs and kelp beds in the eastern Pacific, which now and then turns up on sport-fishing lines.
Also called: sargo-pedreiro, burro piedrero, sargo rayado, xantic sargo
- maximum
- 58 cm
- depth
- 0–40 m
who is the xantic sargo
The rock sargo belongs to the family Haemulidae, the same family as the sargos, grunts and burros. It reaches 58 cm and lives in coastal waters of the eastern Pacific, from central California, United States, to Baja California, Mexico, with an isolated population in the Gulf of California. It usually stays on rocky reefs, sometimes on sandy bottoms and near kelp beds. Juveniles form schools in tide pools along the shore. It feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and bryozoans. It is taken in sport fishing and also caught on a small scale by commercial fishing.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the xantic sargo; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It spawns by releasing eggs into the water, without leaving them on the bottom.
identification
Short, deep and compressed body of a reef fish, and juveniles form schools in tide pools along the shore. The rock sargo lives farther north, from California to Baja California and the Gulf, while Anisotremus taeniatus ranges from Mexico to northern Peru and is much more colorful: it has a golden-yellow back, six blue stripes on the flanks, each edged in dark blue, and a dark band running from the nape to the eye.
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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.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Found in the eastern Pacific, from central California, United States, to Baja California, Mexico, with an isolated population in the Gulf of California.
Habitat: Rocky reefs and sandy bottoms near algae, down to 40 m deep.
rules for the xantic sargo
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
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.
No danger to anglers. If you release it, return it to the water carefully, since it lives on shallow reefs.
in the kitchen
Sold fresh in markets; it is a food fish.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.0166, b = 3.02; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Anisotremus davidsonii (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Anisotremus davidsoniiNames by country and language.
