Blue Bobo Photos and Species Information for Fish Caught in Mexico
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Blue Bobo, Beardfish, Raton
Bobo Blanco, Barbudo de Seis Barbas, Barbudo Azul
(Polydactylus approximans)
Fish Identification Photos: Blue Bobo, Polydactylus approximans: The Blue Bobo looks like an albino freshwater catfish with a blue back, silver white sides, and black pectoral fins. The Blue Bobo has five to six free pectoral rays which provide the best method of identification.
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The Blue Bobo is easily confused with the Yellow Bobo, Polydactylus opercularis (bronze brown coloration with yellow fins, eight or nine free pectoral rays). The Blue Bobo reaches a length of 14 inches and about 2 pounds in weight. It is normally found in the first 60 feet of the water column over sandy bottoms near the mouths of rivers.
The Blue Bobo is a member of the Polynemidae or Threadfin Family which consists of bobos and threadfins. In general, they are elongated warm-water fishes with compressed conical bodies, short snouts, mouths that overhang the bottom lip, and no top lips. They have large eyes with fatty eyelids, two well separated dorsal fins, and a forked tail. The characteristic and identifying pectoral fins are divided into two sections, a lower detached section that consist of five to nine free rays, and an upper section that is a normal pectoral fin. These rays serve as feelers or scoops as the fish feed over hard, sandy bottoms.
Globally, 15 species have been identified of which two are found in the Eastern Pacific and both live in Mexican waters.
The Blue Bobo is a non-migratory species found in Mexican waters along the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula, in the lower two-thirds of the Sea of Cortez, and along the coast of the mainland south to Guatemala; it does not appear to be present around the oceanic islands.
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Blue Bobo, Polydactylus approximans: Shows up when one purchases a “scoop of bait.” Caught in the surf zone, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, during the winter months with water temperatures below 78 degrees, early morning in 10 to 20 foot water, utilizing a cast net by panguero bait salesmen. Pictured fish, 8 inches. Adult size to 14 inches, 1.5 pounds which can be caught on rare occasions out of the surf. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.
The Blue Bobo can be differentiated from the very similar Yellow Bobo, Polydactylus opercularis, by its black pectoral fin and the whisker count, five or six for the Blue Bobo and eight or nine for the Yellow Bobo. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.
Blue Bobo, Polydactylus approximans: Caught out of the surf, utilizing a 15-pound test with a two dropper loop rig, no swivels, 1.5-ounce bank sinker, and Mustad 92553 hooks, size #4, on cut squid at the Todos Santos commercial beach, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in September 2001. Size approximately 12 inches and 1.5 pounds and a strong fighter. These appear frequently as by-products when one purchases a “scoop of bait” at La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, during the winter months, with water temperatures below 78 degrees, early morning in 5 to 10 foot deep water, utilizing a net cast by a panguero bait salesmen. Bait specimens range from 4 to 14 inches and up to 2 pounds. Not viewed by locals as of great value. They do survive a panga “bait tank” at a high level. The Blue Bobo can be differentiated from the very similar Yellow Bobo (Polydactylus opercularis) by its black pectoral fin and the whisker count, five or six for the Blue Bobo and eight or nine for the Yellow Bobo. Description and photo courtesy John Snow. |
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