steeplined drum
Larimus acclivis
Small croaker of coastal waters and lagoons of the Pacific, from Baja California to Peru. It feeds on plankton crustaceans and appears in local markets.
Also called: corvina-de-estrias-negras, boquinete, cajeta, steeplined drum
- maximum
- 26 cm
- depth
- 1–30 m
who is the steeplined drum
The blackstripe croaker is a small fish of the family Sciaenidae, found in coastal waters and lagoons of the eastern Pacific, from Baja California and the Gulf of California to Peru. It grows to 26 cm, with a common size of 18 cm, and lives in shallow water, from 1 to 30 m deep. It feeds mainly on plankton crustaceans. It has a dorsal fin divided into two parts, like the other croakers of the genus Larimus. It appears in local markets and 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 steeplined drum; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated croaker body typical of its family, with the dorsal fin divided into two parts. The Mexican popular name refers to the dark stripes on the flanks. On the same coast live the Pacific croaker (Larimus pacificus), which reaches 32 cm and is found between 29 and 50 m, and the silver croaker (Larimus argenteus), which reaches 36 cm. This species is the smallest of the three, at up to 26 cm.
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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 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 shallow lagoons, 1 to 30 m deep.
rules for the steeplined 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
Sold in local markets.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00741, b = 3.15; 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 acclivis (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 acclivisNames by country and language.
