shining drum
Larimus effulgens
Croaker of coastal waters and lagoons of the Pacific, from southern Baja California to Peru. It grows to 30 cm, feeds on plankton crustaceans and is seen in local markets.
Also called: corvina-brilhante, boquinete boca de novia, corvineta chata, shining drum
- maximum
- 30 cm
who is the shining drum
The shining croaker is a fish of the family Sciaenidae found in coastal waters and lagoons of the eastern Pacific, from southern Baja California and the Gulf of California to Peru. It grows to 30 cm, with a common size of 18 cm. It feeds mainly on plankton crustaceans. Like other croakers of the genus Larimus, it has a dorsal fin divided into two parts, one spiny and one soft. It is often found in local markets and appears in small-scale commercial fishing.
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 shining drum; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated croaker body with the dorsal fin divided into two parts. It grows to 30 cm, so it is smaller than the silver croaker (Larimus argenteus), which reaches 36 cm, and a little smaller than the Pacific croaker (Larimus pacificus), which reaches 32 cm. It lives on the same coast as those two, and its size, together with the place of capture, 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 southern Baja California and the Gulf of California to Peru, in coastal waters and lagoons of Central America and the Andean coast.
Habitat: Coastal waters and lagoons of the tropical Pacific.
rules for the shining drum
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.
Poses no danger to anglers. Handle with wet hands and carefully release the specimens you are not keeping.
in the kitchen
Frequently found in local markets.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00708, 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: Larimus effulgens (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Larimus effulgensNames by country and language.
