Fish

Spotfin croaker

Corvina de aleta manchada (roncador)

Roncador stearnsii

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

2–5 lb.

Depth

3–50 ft.

Best time

Dawn, dusk and night.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Silvery-gray croaker with a bluish back, wavy diagonal lines on the upper sides and a big black spot at the base of the pectoral fin; no chin barbel.
Typical size: 2–5 lb.
Maximum size: About 27 in and over 10 lb.
Diet: Clams, worms and small crustaceans.
Behavior: Feeds on the bottom in sandy surf troughs and bays; big schools ('croaker holes') gather in summer.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Southern California and Baja & Sea of Cortez. Sandy beaches, bays and harbors from Point Conception to Baja California.
Habitat: Sandy beaches, bays and harbors from Point Conception to Baja California.
Depth: 3–50 ft.
Fishing depth: 3–15 ft in surf troughs and bay channels.
Best season: Summer and early fall.
Best time: Dawn, dusk and night.
Best tides: Incoming tide.
Best weather / conditions: Small surf.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Sandy beaches, bays and harbors from Point Conception to Baja California.
Rig up: Light to medium surf rod. 8–10 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Bloodworms, ghost shrimp, mussels and clams. Lures: Small soft plastics.
Fish it: Fish worms or ghost shrimp on a Carolina rig in the troughs and bay channels on an incoming tide.
Time it: Dawn, dusk and night. Incoming tide.

Fishing techniques: Fish worms or ghost shrimp on a Carolina rig in the troughs and bay channels on an incoming tide.
BigJoe's tip: Fish the same holes at night in late summer for the biggest spotfin.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Mild, white meat; good fried.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Stingrays in the surf — shuffle your feet.
Regulations: California prohibits selling it and sets bag limits; check local rules. Licenses, size and bag limits and seasons are set by each state — the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (wildlife.ca.gov), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (myodfw.com) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (wdfw.wa.gov) — together with NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Rules change often, and many areas are no-take marine reserves: check before you go.
Conservation: Popular; follow limits.

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Sources & photo credits