Salema are like the bite-sized “Tropical Flavors” version of Striped Bass.

Species: Salema (Xenistius californiensis)
Location: Dana Point Marina, Dana Point, CA
Date: August 9, 2017

If an advertising team were to market the Salema, they’d describe it as a bite-sized, “Tropical Flavors” version of the Striped Bass.

It truly looks like a tiny striper with slightly more vivid coloration. It even feeds like one on a tiny scale, cruising the marinas and rocky shorelines of California to feed on tiny fish and microorganisms that get in its way.

When I caught my first one, I assumed it was some sort of surfperch species, but as I did some research later that night, I was surprised/slightly horrified when I read that it wasn’t their vivid colors to worry about but the vivid hallucinations they cause.

Seriously. Google “Salema”, and you’ll find the other, more dangerous fish first.

“Salema are known to cause vivid hallucinations when consumed.”

Granted, that was describing the Salema Porgy found in the Mediterranean.

It still provided a little excitement for an otherwise not-too-exciting fish, and that’s all I can ask for as  Species Hunter.

#SpeciesQuest // #CaughtOvgard

Read the next entry in #SpeciesQuest here: Species #104 — Largemouth Blenny.

16 Replies

  1. This site is known as a walk-by way of for all the info you wished about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse right here, and you’ll undoubtedly discover it.

  2. This design is incredible! You most certainly know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

  3. Those are yours alright! . We at least need to get these people stealing images to start blogging! They probably just did a image search and grabbed them. They look good though!

  4. Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us you really recognize what you’re speaking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also seek advice from my website =). We can have a link alternate arrangement between us!

  5. I?¦ve been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts in this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site. Studying this information So i am happy to convey that I have a very good uncanny feeling I came upon just what I needed. I so much surely will make sure to do not put out of your mind this web site and give it a look regularly.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.