Grunts — Family Haemulidae
Salema
Salema caught at the Ocean Beach Pier in 2015
Salema caught at the Ocean Beach Pier in 2015
Species: Xenistius californiensis (Steindachner, 1876); from xenitius (strange sail, in allusion to the dorsal fin) and californiensis in reference to California as the geographic area where the fish was first captured (in San Diego Bay).
Alternate Names: Bass, big eye, big eye bass, striped bass and lima perch. In Mexico called salema, pajarillo or ojotón.
Identification: This pretty little fish resembles a striped bass in both shape and stripes, but both its color and range are different. Salema have a bass-like body, very large eyes, and 6-8 orange-brown horizontal stripes on the side. Their coloring is iridescent blue-green above, and silvery below; tail fins orange-brown. They will often also make a grunting noise when removed from the water, which perhaps is to be expected since they, together with sargo, are in the grunt family. They are sometimes mistaken for small striped bass.
Size: Up to 11.8 inches but most caught from piers are only 6-8 inches long.
Range: Found from northern Peru, Gulf of California, and the Pacific coast where they are found from Baja California to Monterey Bay. Considered most common from Santa Monica south into the tropics. They are uncommon north of Point Dume and rare north of Santa Barbara. My records show them most commonly caught from piers between Oceanside and Santa Monica.
Habitat: Shallow-water rocky areas and in eelgrass, surfgrass, kelp beds (although recorded over sand and to a depth of 131 feet). Salema are usually found in schooling groups during the day but then, about a half hour before sunset, head out on their own to feed. They are considered nocturnal (nighttime) predators that feed on a wide variety of organisms, everything from tiny shrimp and worms to such things as brittle stars, copepod, and small fish. When young they often school with juvenile sargo and black croaker.
Piers: Best bets: Oceanside Pier, San Clemente Pier, Seal Beach Pier, Belmont Veterans Pier (Long Beach), Hermosa Beach Pier, and Manhattan Beach Pier. I have also taken quite a few from the Cabrillo Mole in Avalon but only during nighttime hours. In addition, I have seen a number taken from the Port Hueneme Pier and Ventura Pier—both supposedly in areas where salema are considered uncommon.
Shoreline: Rarely taken by shore anglers.
Boats: Rarely taken from boats.
Bait and Tackle: These fish will take most small baits on a size 6 or 8 hook, including small pinhead anchovies. Most, however, are caught on mussels, bloodworms, or a small strip of anchovy or mackerel. Fish around the pilings and fish from just off the bottom to mid-depth.
Food Value: Salema are a mild-flavored fish with firm texture and due to size is best suited for pan-frying.
Comments: Although this is a small fish, its relative scarcity and attractive appearance make it a worthwhile catch (and they give a good, rugged little battle when caught on ultra-light tackle). I‘ve always thought they would make a beautiful saltwater aquarium fish.
Back in the day when tuna boats out of San Diego used rod and reel for tuna, salema were considered a valuable baitfish. Today few anglers use them as bait. However, I had an interesting talk one day was with “Jose” and his crew of anglers at the Ocean Beach Pier (known as the OB Extreme Shark Fishing Crew). The crew was noted for the high number of large sharks they catch at the pier (including sevengill sharks over 200 pounds in weight). In talking to him about bait for the sharks he mentioned that one of his favorite baits was a whole dead salema. I would never have guessed that salema was good bait for sharks.
