Sargo
Anisotremus davidsonii

Physical Description

• Compressed oval body shape with elevated humpback.
• Have small mouths, bulging eyes, and deeply notched dorsal (back) fin.
• Metallic silver coloration with black bar running vertically down the body.
• Juveniles have several black horizontal bars on sides, with the one vertical stripe appearing when reach 2-3 inches in length.
• They are rarely bright yellow, orange, or pure white in coloration, and are darker silver when live in bays.

Range

• Santa Cruz, California to Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico.
• Gulf of California, Mexico.
• Uncommon north of Point Conception.

Habitat

• Found inshore, in bays.
• Live in rocky areas, around pilings and similar submerged structures.
• Found from the surface to 200 feet, but most common from 0 to 40 feet.

Reproduction

• Sargos spawn when they are about 2 years old and 7 inches long.
• Spawning occurs in late spring and early summer.

Diet

• Bottom feeders, eat small shrimps, crabs, clams, sea snails, bryozoans.

Predators

Interesting Facts

• As juveniles (under 5 inches), they are often found schooling with young salema and black croakers, before joining adult sargo schools.
• Sargo make a piglike grunt when removed from the water.

Sources: California Department of Fish and Wildlife; KenJonesFishing.com; USGS

Photo: Herb Gruenhagen