Fish
Yellowfin croaker
Corvina de aleta amarilla (roncador aleta amarilla)
Umbrina roncador
At a glance
½–2 lb.
3–30 ft.
Evening and night.
2 areas
Know it
Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.
- Identification
Silvery croaker with dark wavy lines on the sides, yellow pelvic and anal fins, and a small, stiff barbel on the chin.
- Typical size
½–2 lb.
- Maximum size
About 20 in.
- Diet
Small crustaceans, worms and small fish.
- Behavior
Schools in the surf and bays; a common summer catch from the beach and piers.
Find it
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 and the Gulf of California.
- Habitat
Sandy beaches, bays and harbors from Point Conception to Baja California and the Gulf of California.
- Depth
3–30 ft.
- Fishing depth
3–12 ft in the surf.
- Best season
Summer.
- Best time
Evening and night.
- Best tides
Incoming tide.
- Best weather / conditions
Small surf.
Bait & gear
What to tie on and what to throw.
- Best bait
Bloodworms, mussels, ghost shrimp and squid strips.
- Best artificial lures
Small grubs and soft plastics.
- Tackle setup
Light surf rod.
- Hook size
Size 4–1.
- Line
6–10 lb.
- Leader
6–8 lb.
BigJoe's setup for Yellowfin croaker
The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.
Also at Bass Pro Shops: RodReelLineGrubsRigSinkersSand spike
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Catch it
Step by step, from first cast to landing.
Step-by-step: how to catch it
- Go where it lives: Sandy beaches, bays and harbors from Point Conception to Baja California and the Gulf of California.
- Rig up: Light surf rod. 6–8 lb.
- Pick your bait: Bloodworms, mussels, ghost shrimp and squid strips. Lures: Small grubs and soft plastics.
- Fish it: Fish a small bait on a Carolina or high-low rig in the surf troughs.
- Time it: Evening and night. Incoming tide.
- Fishing techniques
Fish a small bait on a Carolina or high-low rig in the surf troughs.
- BigJoe's tip
Where you find one yellowfin, keep fishing — they travel in schools.
- 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.
Clean & cook
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 or in tacos.
Stay safe & legal
Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.
- Safety warnings
Stingrays in the surf — shuffle your feet.
- Regulations
California 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
Common.