Yellowfin Croaker

The California State record is 2.1 pounds.

Yellowfin are croakers like many of their cousins that swim the beaches of Southern Cal. Springtime through the summer bring them to the beaches and bays by the thousands. Yellowfin are the most caught of the surf fishes right along side the barreds. Yellowfin are easily the most frequent biters of all. They bite at any time of the tides. They are caught anywhere in the shallow waters of the coast. Found in shallow sandy areas, often in surf zones, bays and tidal sloughs. Feed on fishes, crustaceans, marine worms and bivalves. Often caught by surf fishers. Pelagic spawners

Yellowfins have shiny gray, green or bluish backs with white bellies and a series of diagonal yellow brown stripes on their backs. There is a pronounced barbel on the chin. Their fin color can be a dark yellow brown to a brilliant canary yellow color.

Oviparous. Pelagic spawner

Summary of Distribution: Yellowfin range from San Francisco to the Gulf of California but are rarely taken above Ventura, California. Eastern Central Pacific: Point Conception in California, USA to the Gulf of California; old records from as far north as San Francisco, California.
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

	Kite Fishing (Trolling) Kite Fishing Trolling is when you are....
	Trawling Trawling is when....

If the surf is where you wish to fish the yellowfin then remember that it takes long casts to reach them. In this case you should use a long rod with light #15 pound test line so that you can really throw the bait great distances. You can use light tackle in the bays and off the piers. Their favorite food is live anchovies but readily take any bait that you can put in front of them. Casting great distance calls for bait that will stay on the hook and not get thrown off. Blood worms and ghost shrimp are probably the best for this application. You can enjoy some real tackle busting fun if you can get a boat into their zone and fish with artificials. They love to hit small plugs, rubber grubs and small barracuda feathers. Trolling these artificials can sometimes really catch them.