How to catch Vadigo
Campogramma glaycos (Lacepède, 1801)
About Vadigo fishing
The vadigo is a coastal marine fish belonging to the jack family Carangidae, recognised by an elongate, slightly compressed body with a broad, rounded upper jaw, a scaleless chest area, and distinctive zig-zagging dark lobes along its steel-blue upper flanks. Growing up to 60 cm in maximum length, this pelagic and epibenthic predator inhabits shallow marine waters between 15 and 30 metres deep across the eastern Atlantic and parts of the western Mediterranean. It feeds primarily on smaller schooling fish and moves closer to coastal zones during the warmer summer months. Highly regarded as a spirited sports fish, it provides exciting encounters for light tackle anglers.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
58 cm TL
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Market value
Medium
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Habitat
Saltwater
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Season
Spring, Summer, Autumn
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Also known as
Bigtoothed pompano, Big-toothed pompano, Lexa, Lexola, Zippered pompano
Caudal shape
Deeply forked caudal fin helps distinguish this active carangid.
Pelvic-fin position
Thoracic pelvic fins located far forward under the throat.
Lateral stripe
Distinct dark midlateral stripe running along the flank.
Vadigo fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
58 cm TL (max 60 cm FL ) -
Typical weight
0.5 kg (max 2.8 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
10.3–20.7 °C -
Depth
15–30 m -
Body shape
Fusiform / Normal -
Commercial?
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Vulnerability score
44.4
Best hours
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Peak
Dawn
First light
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Active
Morning
After sunrise
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Low
Midday
High sun
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Active
Afternoon
Late day
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Peak
Dusk
Last light
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Low
Night
After dark
When to fish for Vadigo
How to catch Vadigo
Tips for catching Vadigo
Anglers target this energetic coastal predator primarily during the warm summer and early autumn months when fish move closer inshore into shallow coastal zones and around rocky structures. Surface and mid-water spinning with slender minnows, metals, or surface plugs can trigger aggressive strikes when fish hunt schooling prey near the surface. Alternatively, presenting live baits or fresh strip baits close to the bottom in depths ranging from 15 to 30 metres proves highly effective. Early morning and late afternoon hours offer the most reliable sport, particularly when moving tides increase current activity around points and rocky headlands.
Other names for Vadigo
Local and alternate names anglers use for Vadigo.
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Zippered pompano
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Vadigo
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Lexola
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Lexa
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Big-toothed pompano
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Bigtoothed pompano
Best equipment to catch Vadigo
Compare fishing methods for Vadigo — sized kit for each technique.
Note: Typical fish is 0.5 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.
90% 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
Live Baiting
Fishing a live baitfish or live invertebrate as the primary presentation.
80% 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
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
Best lures and baits for Vadigo
Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.
02
Metal jig
- Spinning
A long metal lure for speed-jigging the deep column.
04
Live baitfish
- Live Baiting
Elongated segmented worm body provides natural movement to attract fish.
05
Sardine
- Bottom Fishing
Elongated silvery baitfish body releases strong scent trails.
How Vadigo 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 Vadigo
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Diet
Top predator -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Dawn · Dusk
Prey and predators of Vadigo
Prey is what Vadigo eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.
That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.
Prey
What it eats
Other prey
Where Vadigo lives
Lives near the bottom but swims in the water just above it. Cover the lower column, not only the mud.
15–30 m
Where this species lives
Vadigo photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.