Saltwater · Year-round on the Mexican Pacific coast; a significant fishery resource in the Gulf of California and central Mexican Pacific.
Reticulated Weakfish
Cynoscion reticulatus
An eastern Pacific weakfish, also called striped corvina, and the only corvina with striping on its back; it ranges from southern Baja and the Gulf of California to northern Peru.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Wavy dark stripes / reticulated pattern along the upper body — unique among local corvinas
- Silvery body with a slightly oblique mouth and projecting lower jaw
- Pair of large canines at the tip of the upper jaw; no chin barbel
- Soft dorsal fin scaled at the base; caudal fin pointed in the middle
- Reaches about 90 cm, larger than most inshore croakers here
Habits
- Demersal over sand, entering estuaries and surf
- Feeds on small fishes and shrimps
- Caught year-round, often as shrimp-trawl bycatch and by artisanal fishers
- Spawning linked to warm months in the Gulf of California
Distribution
Where to find them
- Surf and estuary mouths in Sinaloa and the Gulf of California
- Sandy bays along mainland Mexico to Guatemala
- Coastal grounds off Costa Rica and Panama
Where they live
How to catch them
Bottom fishing with natural bait Boat
Rig: Two-hook paternoster or Carolina rig with 1-3 oz sinker
Bait/lure: Live or fresh shrimp
Key tip: Keep the bait on the bottom over sand or mud and wait for the soft, tapping bite.
Surfcasting Shore
Rig: Long surf rod with fish-finder rig and pyramid sinker
Bait/lure: Fresh shrimp or sand crab
Key tip: Cast into the trough behind the breakers and move along the beach until you find fish.
Slow jigging and soft plastics Boat
Rig: Light jigging rod with 1/2-2 oz jig head or metal jig
Bait/lure: Shrimp-imitating soft plastic or small metal jig
Key tip: Work the lure slowly just above the bottom; most strikes come on the fall.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Medium spinning or conventional rod 7-9 ft
- Line: 20-30 lb braid with 30 lb fluorocarbon leader
- Terminal: 2/0-4/0 circle hooks, 2-4 oz sinker or jig
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
7'6" medium-heavy jigging rod
≈ US$110-170
Works 2-6 oz jigs over rock and reef and still has the backbone to lift a halibut off the bottom.
Line · Budget
50 lb braid with 40 lb leader (200 yd)
≈ US$25-40
Thin braid cuts the current so jigs stay vertical; the leader shrugs off rock and teeth.
Terminal · Budget
Leadhead jigs, swimbaits and two-hook bottom rigs
≈ US$25-40
A leadhead with a swimbait tail is the universal bottom-fish catcher, from rockfish to cod to flounder.
Picks are never paid placements. Prices are guides; price links are coming soon and none is an affiliate link yet.
Typical size
Up to about 90 cm; IGFA record only 1.13 kg, most fish much smaller than the maximum length suggests.
On the table
Fine, firm flesh; a valued local food fish, good steamed, fried or in soups.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
Plan a trip for Reticulated Weakfish
Build today's plan⚠ Heads-up: Reticulated Weakfish doesn't occur around Vancouver, BC (or is very rare there), so it's not a sensible local target. Your plan stays in Vancouver, BC and is built around the fish that actually live there.