Chilean Silverside
The Chilean silverside — pejerrey de mar to locals — is a slender, schooling fish that runs the length of Chile's Pacific coast from the Aysén Region north to Peru.
It's a staple of artisanal and recreational shore fishing, targeted from beaches, piers, and estuaries up and down the coast. Fast to bite and easy to find in numbers, it's the kind of fish that fills a bucket and a frying pan.
Scientific Name: Odontesthes regia
Also known as Pejerrey, pejerrey de mar
- Elongated, nearly cylindrical body with a distinctive silver lateral stripe running from gill to tail — the defining mark for quick ID.
- Translucent greenish-silver flanks, small mouth, and fine scales; closely resembles the Atlantic silverside but is its own Pacific species.
- Typically 15–25 cm in coastal catches; a solid fish for the table, though not a large species by any measure.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the Southeast Pacific — found along Chile's entire coast from the Aysén Region (roughly 47°S) north through Peru, living in the Humboldt Current system.
- An epipelagic, nearshore species: it stays in the upper water column close to shore, in estuaries, coastal lagoons, and sheltered bays rather than open ocean.
- Tolerates marine, brackish, and occasionally freshwater conditions, making estuaries and river mouths reliable year-round habitat.
- Schools are common in the littoral zone — the shallow coastal strip — and are regularly encountered from Iquique in the far north down through central and southern Chile near Concepción and Dichato.
Key Locations
- Iquique and the far northern coast — warm-water hub where pejerrey schools are accessible from shore and piers year-round.
- Concepción and Dichato area (Biobío Region) — well-documented populations in the south-central coast, accessible from beaches and the bay.
- Coastal estuaries and lagoons throughout central Chile — consistent holding areas where the species concentrates in sheltered water.
- The coast from Aysén north through the Lakes Region — the southern limit of the species' range, where fish are present but water is colder.
Specific Spots
- Estuaries and river mouths concentrate schools, especially where freshwater mixes with saltwater and baitfish and small invertebrates gather.
- Piers, jetties, and rocky points give shore anglers direct access to the nearshore schools without a boat.
- Shallow sandy beaches with gentle surf hold fish feeding near the surface, particularly during calm conditions.
- Coastal lagoons along the central and southern coast are reliable holding areas where fish school in numbers.
Chilean Silverside FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Chilean Silverside?
Sabiki rigs with size 8–12 hooks are the most effective tool from shore, the small flashy teasers imitate the tiny crustaceans and fish eggs the pejerrey feeds on, and multiple fish per cast is common.
When is the best time to fish for Chilean Silverside?
Available year-round along most of the Chilean coast, with no strong seasonal absence, the Humboldt Current keeps conditions relatively stable. Summer (December–March) brings warmer nearshore water and active feeding schools close to shore in central and southern Chile.
How do you catch Chilean Silverside?
Shore fishing from piers, jetties, and beaches is the most common approach, with sabiki rigs or small jigs cast into schooling fish. Artisanal fishermen work the same waters at night with nets, but sport anglers typically fish during daylight when the species is most active.
What do Chilean Silverside eat?
Adults feed heavily on anchovy eggs (particularly those of Engraulis ringens, the Peruvian anchoveta) as well as small crustaceans and zooplankton, small, flashy lures and sabiki-style rigs with tiny hooks imitate this forage well.
Where do Chilean Silverside live?
Native to the Southeast Pacific, found along Chile's entire coast from the Aysén Region (roughly 47°S) north through Peru, living in the Humboldt Current system.
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