Name/Relations || Range/Sizes || Habitat & Habits || Notes
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Common Name:
Lookdown
Other Common Names:
Moonfish,
Atlantic Lookdown, Bluntnose, Jorabado
Scientific name:
Selene vomer
Family:
Carangidae (Jacks)
Related Species:
Moonfish, Palometa, Blue Runner
| Range: Atlantic Ocean from Maine, USA, to Southern Brazil including the Gulf of Mexico (less common) and the Caribbean. |
Sizes: To 3 lbs maximum, common 1/4lb-1 lbs
Habitat: A schooling species. Inshore waters over soft bottoms (sand, silt, mud), especially around jetties, piers, and bridges, and cruising the edge of beach just outside the surf. From Maine to the Carolinas it is primarily a summer and fall visitor, as this fish prefers water over 60 degrees F.
Spawning Habits:
Feeding Habits: Eats smaller fishes such as silversides, anchovies, glass minnows, as well as shrimps, squid, and small crabs. Can aggressively attack minnows even at relatively fast speeds, though nearly all foods are much smaller than the lookdown.
Notes:
Can be very aggressive to very shy, but will usually strike any swift and
erratically moving lure such as a small jig (crappie jig/bucktail) or spoon.
Also has a fondness for small live shrimp and glass minnow pieces.
Will rarely leave its school to chase a food item, but instead lurks with
its school in the shadows behind structure in current, popping out to inhale
a food item. Fights by placing its body perpendicular to the direction
of force, making it a tough opponent on ultralight tackle. These
fish are important forage for larger fishes such as barracuda, bluefish,
tunas, and striped bass.