pacific kingcroaker
Menticirrhus elongatus
Kingfish of sandy beaches and lagoons in the eastern Pacific, from Mexico to Peru. Common in local markets and subject to commercial fishing.
Also called: betara-alongada, ratón, berrugato fino, Pacific kingcroaker
- maximum
- 62 cm
who is the pacific kingcroaker
Fish of the family Sciaenidae, with an elongated body, reaching 62 cm. Common size of 35 cm. It lives near the bottom, in coastal waters, mainly on sandy beaches and lagoons, from Mexico to Peru. It feeds on polychaetes, crustaceans and mollusks. It is common in local markets and subject to commercial fishing. Kingfish are croakers with a protruding snout and a lower mouth. Adults search for food on the sandy bottom, close to the coast.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the pacific kingcroaker; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated, spindle-shaped body, with a protruding snout and lower mouth, traits of the kingfish. The Portuguese name recalls the elongated body. It lives on sandy beaches and lagoons, near the bottom. It reaches 62 cm; the highfin kingfish (Menticirrhus nasus), which shares the coast, reaches 52.6 cm, and the size difference helps tell them apart.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Eastern Pacific, from Mexico to Peru, on sandy beaches and lagoons in Latin America.
Habitat: Sandy beaches, lagoons and coastal waters.
rules for the pacific kingcroaker
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Harmless to people. If it comes up in the net or the line, release it quickly and carefully.
in the kitchen
Common in local markets.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00603, b = 3.11; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Menticirrhus elongatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Menticirrhus elongatusNames by country and language.
