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The Jolthead Porgy fish identification, habitats, characteristics, Fishing methods
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Jolthead Porgy, Calamus bajonado, also known as Bajonado, is a large and wide-ranging species that feeds on sea urchins, crabs, and mollusks. It is a good food fish caught by trawls, longlines, and hook and line. They range Atlantic coast from Carolinas to Brazil, Bahamas, north Gulf of Mexico from Florida Keys to Rio Grande, south Gulf around Yucatán Peninsula, and Caribbean, including Antilles. Absent from west Gulf of Mexico. Occasionally strays north to Rhode Island.
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Description
The body is laterally compressed and deep, and its depth being half its length. Their back is more regularly arched than in the other porgies, or not so hump¬backed. The head is large, with a long, pointed snout, and mouth moderate in size. The head of the jolthead porgy is distinctive from other porgies by its less rounded, sharp slope. They have lateral molar-like teeth. 15 pectoral fin rays; pectoral fin reaches past the anal origin. There are 50 to 57 scales in the lateral line. They have very large eyes located at the top of the head. They have a long, spiny dorsal fin followed by a secondary dorsal fin and a long anal fin.
Its color is generally silvery with blue centers and brassy margins. Some brown flecking may also be noticeable on the body. The corners of the mouth and the throat are brownish-orange with brassy reflections. The upper fins are pale or bluish, more or less mottled with darker shades; the lower fins are plain. Cheek brassy, with no markings, but appears crossed by white stripes when seen underwater. Blue line under each eye.
They are larger than most of the porgy species. The Jolthead Porgy averages a couple of pounds and sometimes more.
Habitats
Jolthead porgies prefer water above grass beds and around offshore reefs and patches. They are primarily bottom-dwellers and can be found in 20 to 30 feet and up to 150 feet deep. They prefer grass beds or reefs, but is adaptable to many habitats. The jolt-head resorts to the rocks and reefs, as well as to hard, sandy shoals, feeding on small fishes, crustaceans, and soft-shelled mollusks.
The Jolthead Porgy is a large and wide-ranging species that feeds on sea urchins, crab, and mollusks.
As an omnivorous fish, the Jolthead porgy feeds on whatever is available in its habitat, including algae and smaller fish. They get their name from their habit of using the large head to bump and jolt clams and other mollusks out of their hiding places.
Spawning
Jolthead porgies prefer water above grass beds and around offshore reefs and patches. They are primarily bottom-dwellers and can be found in 20 to 30 feet and up to 150 feet deep. They prefer grass beds or reefs, but is adaptable to many habitats. The jolt-head resorts to the rocks and reefs, as well as to hard, sandy shoals, feeding on small fishes, crustaceans, and soft-shelled mollusks.
It spawns in the summer. Little is known about the jolthead porgys reproductive habits, though they are known to spawn offshore, scattering their externally fertilized eggs to the ocean floor.
Fishing Methods include Drifting or Still Fishing with light spinning and baitcasting tackle, with live or dead shrimp and various cut baits. Though relatively small for marine fish, jolthead porgies are strong fighters for their size and good sport on light tackle. Despite their fighting ability, they are not a popular target for most anglers. Most are caught on mainly live bait, such as shrimp, squid, or any number of cut fish using light spinning or baitcasting rods.
Its diet being mainly sea urchins, crabs, clams, and mussels makes it difficult to catch on artificial lures. It will, however, readily take a hook baited with natural bait. It is very voracious, taking almost any kind of bait greedily. It is caught in company with the grunts and snappers, and on the same tackle, which should be light. Hooks numbers 1 to 2 are large enough, Sproat-bend preferred on account of its short barb with cutting edges and strong wire. Sinkers adapted to the tide and depth of water must be used. It grows usually up to 10 inches but often to 2 ft in length, and 6 – 8 lbs in weight. It is a good food-fish, and is always one of the commonest fishes in the markets.
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