How to catch Lookdown
Selene vomer (Linnaeus, 1758)
About Lookdown fishing
The lookdown is a striking marine and brackish fish belonging to the jack family Carangidae. It possesses an exceptionally deep, rhombus-shaped and laterally compressed body with a concave head profile, high-set eyes, and dramatically elongated scythe-like dorsal and anal fin rays. Reaching a maximum length of nearly forty-eight centimetres and a weight of just over two kilograms, this silvery pelagic hunter frequently gathers in schools over shallow coastal sand or hard bottoms, estuaries, and around structural pilings. Adults feed primarily on small crustaceans, worms, and juvenile fishes, using their flashy appearance and schooling habits to navigate coastal shallows across its western Atlantic range.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
35 cm TL
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Market value
Medium
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Habitat
Brackish, Saltwater
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Season
Spring, Summer, Autumn
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Also known as
Dollarfish, Flatjack, Hairfinned dory, Hairfinned silverfish, Horsehead, Jack
Forked Caudal Fin
Deeply forked caudal fin typical of fast-swimming carangids.
Small Pelvic Fin
Pelvic fin is extremely small and reduced.
Lookdown fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
35 cm TL (max 48.3 cm TL ) -
Typical weight
0.4 kg (max 2.1 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
11.8–27.9 °C -
Depth
1–53 m -
Body shape
Fusiform / Normal -
Commercial?
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Vulnerability score
31.7
Best hours
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Active
Dawn
First light
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Peak
Morning
After sunrise
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Low
Midday
High sun
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Low
Afternoon
Late day
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Peak
Dusk
Last light
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Low
Night
After dark
When to fish for Lookdown
How to catch Lookdown
Tips for catching Lookdown
Anglers targeting lookdown in shallow coastal waters and around bridge pilings or piers should employ ultra-light spinning or fly fishing tackle. Because these fast-swimming schooling predators feed actively on small crustaceans and baitfish, casting small flashy jigs, soft plastics, or small streamer flies right near sandy bottoms or structure yields the best results. Sight fishing around piers during daylight hours with subtle presentations or vertical jigging small soft baits through suspended schools can trigger aggressive strikes. Natural baits such as live or fresh shrimp drifted gently with the current provide an equally effective presentation for shore and pier anglers.
Other names for Lookdown
Local and alternate names anglers use for Lookdown.
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Lookdown
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Dollarfish
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Moonfish
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Moonshine
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Horsehead
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Jack
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Hairfinned silverfish
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Hairfinned dory
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Flatjack
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Wireback
Best equipment to catch Lookdown
Compare fishing methods for Lookdown — sized kit for each technique.
Note: Typical fish is 0.4 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.
Spinning
Casting and retrieving lures with a spinning rod and reel.
85% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
light · 2.1 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
6 kg · 0.1 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
7 kg · 0.3 mm · 90 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Fly Fishing
Presenting artificial flies with a fly rod and weighted line.
75% Effectiveness
Rod
Fly rod
A fly rod is a fishing rod sized by line weight, with a fly reel seat. The fly line, not a heavy lure, loads the blank.
Sized for a typical fish
2.44 m · 3wt
- Reel seat
- Fly
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Moderate-fast
- Grip
- Cork
Reel
Fly reel
A fly reel is a large-arbor drum that stores backing and fly line. Drag is a disc; the reel does not cast the fly.
Sized for a typical fish
2 kg drag · 3wt
- Spool
- Drum
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Disc
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Fly line
Fly line is the weighted shooting line that carries a near-weightless fly. Match it by weight class to the fly rod, not by kilo rating.
Sized for a typical fish
3wt
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Tippet
Tippet is the fine, replaceable end of a fly leader, sized in X so you can match the fly and the fish.
Sized for a typical fish
1.6 kg · 0.13 mm · 75 cm · 6X
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- Medium
- Sink rate
- Slow
Bottom Fishing
Presenting bait or rigs on or near the lake or sea floor.
70% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
light · 2.1 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line is the everyday main line: easy to knot, cheap to replace, and stretchy enough to forgive a hard strike.
Sized for a typical fish
2.5 kg · 0.16 mm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
4 kg · 0.2 mm · 80 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Hook
Circle hook
A circle hook turns in the mouth and usually finds the corner of the jaw. You do not strike hard — you come tight. It includes freshwater.
Sized for a typical fish
4
- Points
- 1
- Offset
- No
- Barbed
- Yes
- Gap
- Standard
Jigging
Working vertical lures with an active up-and-down motion.
65% Effectiveness
Rod
Jigging rod
A jigging rod is the short, powerful fishing rod for working a metal jig up through the column, including freshwater jigging.
Sized for a typical fish
heavy · 1.52 m
- Reel seat
- Casting
- Form factor
- One-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Jigging reel
A jigging reel is a compact, high-speed conventional for working metal jigs. A short retrieve picks up slack fast.
Sized for a typical fish
10 · 10 kg drag
- Spool
- Revolving
- Mount
- Over
- Drag
- Star
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
6 kg · 0.1 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
7 kg · 0.3 mm · 90 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Best lures and baits for Lookdown
Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.
01
Soft jerkbait
- Spinning
A soft baitfish you twitch and kill like a jerkbait.
02
Casting jig
- Spinning
A casting jig you hop, drag, and swim on the bottom.
04
Shrimp
- Bottom Fishing
Translucent segmented carapace protects the body.
05
Crab
- Bottom Fishing
Hard upper shell protects the crab and anchors its vital organs.
06
Worm
- Bottom Fishing
Rounded anterior end containing the mouth used for anchoring the bait on the hook.
07
Metal jig
- Jigging
A long metal lure for speed-jigging the deep column.
How Lookdown migrates — Inshore–offshore
Shifts between shallow inshore water and deeper offshore grounds with the season.
1 Warm months
Inshore
Stay close inshore through the warm months.
2 Cold months
Offshore
Move offshore into deeper water as it cools.
Hover or tap a number to read each stage.
Diet and behavior of Lookdown
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Diet
Top predator -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Morning · Dusk -
Feeds over
Hard bottom -
Social
Schooling
Where Lookdown lives
Lives on or just above the bottom. Work jigs, bait, and lures along the seabed.
1–53 m
Estuary
Where this species lives
Lookdown photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.
Where to fish for Lookdown
Mapped fishing spots where Lookdown is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.
