catalog Sciaenidae · predator

stolzmann's weakfish

Cynoscion stolzmanni

SeaEstuary

The Pacific yellowtail croaker, from the Gulf of California to Peru. Common in beaches, lagoons and estuaries, it is fished from the beach and from boats with natural bait and mid-water lures.

Also called: corvina-rabo-amarelo, corvina-coliamarela, yellowtail corvina

forecast for stolzmann's weakfish where found

Scientific illustration of Stolzmann's weakfish

common size: 35–65 cm
maximum: 115 cm
common weight: 0.5–3 kg
record/max.: 9.5 kg
depth: 0.5–30 m
ideal water: 22–29 °C

overview

who is the stolzmann's weakfish

Eastern Pacific croaker, from the Gulf of California to Peru. It lives in coastal waters, lagoons and estuaries, also offshore, over sand and mud bottoms, and feeds mostly on small fish and shrimp. It reaches 1.15 m and 9.5 kg, but the common size is near 40 cm. It is of great commercial importance across the area, caught with nets and lines. For sport anglers it is a fish of beaches, river mouths and anchored boats, caught with shrimp, cut fish and mid-water lures, especially on moving tides.

fun facts

One of the most commercially fished croakers in the tropical Pacific of the Americas.
It changes name in each country: coliamarilla in Mexico, amarilla in Panama and guavina in Ecuador.

how to recognize it

identification

Elongated, silvery body, grayish back; large mouth with a pair of canines at the tip of the upper jaw. The tail is yellowish, hence the name coliamarilla. The orangemouth croaker, found only in Mexico, is larger and has an orange mouth inside; the Atlantic pescada amarela is a different species (Cynoscion acoupa).

how stolzmann's weakfish fishing looks

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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.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Not found in Brazil. Eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California (Mexico) to Peru, through Central America, Colombia and Ecuador.

Habitat: Beaches, coastal lagoons, estuaries and river mouths, over sand and mud; also offshore.

calendar and clock

when to fish

best season

time of yearbest: Apr–Oct

JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Fishable all year in the tropical areas. Moon tides and river mouths with clear water produce more.

best time of day

Dawn and dusk. More active at dawn, dusk and night, when it enters shallow water.

weather, water and behavior

what affects the stolzmann's weakfish
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.

cold and cold fronts

Cold upwelling shuts down activity in the shallows.

atmospheric pressure

A front with a turning sea hinders beach fishing.

moon

Full-moon and new-moon tides move the water and activate the schools.

rain

Heavy rain muddies estuaries and river mouths; afterward, the murkier water can help with natural bait.

water level

Does not apply at sea. In the estuary, the rising tide brings fish inward.

noise

In shallow water, approach quietly.

wind

Strong wind raises surf and hinders beach fishing.

tide

Moving tide is best; slack tide tends to be weak.

depth

From the beach shallows out to about 20 m.

technique, gear and bait

how to fish

Beach fishing Natural bait on the bottom Mid-water casting Jigging

rod: 7' to 10', 12 to 25 lb (longer on the beach)
spinning / baitcasting reel: 3000 to 5000 spinning reel
line: braid 20 to 30 lb
leader: fluorocarbon 25 to 40 lb
hook: circle 1/0 to 4/0

lures

jig head with 8 to 12 cm shad
metal spoon
jerkbait

natural baits

live or dead shrimp
fish pieces
lula

accessories

beach sinker 60 to 120 g
alicate

tip from an angler

On the beach, look for channels between the sandbanks on the rising tide, and use shrimp on the bottom with a light sinker.

what the law says

rules for the stolzmann's weakfish

Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.

Mexico: up to 5 per species and 10 saltwater fish per day

5 specimens of the species per angler per day, within the limit of 10 saltwater fish

In recreational sport fishing in Mexican federal waters, each angler may keep up to 10 saltwater fish per day, no more than 5 of the same species. The yellowtail croaker (corvina coliamarilla) is not among the species reserved for sport fishing under art. 68 of the General Law of Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture, and has no quota of its own. Fish over the limit must be returned alive to the water, and sport-caught fish may not be sold. Anglers fishing from a boat need a Conapesca permit.

Source: Amendment to NOM-017-PESC-1994 (recreational sport fishing in federal waters of Mexico), published in the DOF on Nov 25, 2013, items 4.9.1 and 4.9.5 (Sagarpa/Conapesca)

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.

Hold it by the jaw with pliers or a fish grip, watch the canines, and release it quickly, facing the current.

in the kitchen

Soft white flesh; fried, roasted or ceviche.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

total length (cm)

Length-weight relationship W = a·L^b (a = 0.00871, b = 3.06; FishBase (estimativa bayesiana para o gênero e o formato do corpo)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

estimated weight

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sources and references

The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.

scientific FishBase — Cynoscion stolzmanni (ficha da espécie)Names, distribution, biology, length-weight relationship, country list and references. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
scientific IUCN Red List — Cynoscion stolzmanni (avaliação global: Pouco Preocupante, LC, 16/10/2019)Global assessment. Link given on the FishBase entry (Red List, version 2025-2).
scientific Chao, L. N. (1995). Sciaenidae. Corvinas, barbiches, bombaches, corvinatas, corvinetas, corvinillas, lambes, pescadillas, roncachos, verrugatos. In: Fischer, W. et al. (eds.). Guía FAO para la identificación de especies para los fines de la pesca. Pacífico centro-oriental. Vol. 3, p. 1427-1518. Roma: FAO.FishBase reference for habitat, feeding and common size.
official DOF — Modificação da NOM-017-PESC-1994, para regular a pesca deportivo-recreativa em águas de jurisdição federal do México (publicada em 25/11/2013)Daily limits at sea (item 4.9.1) and in fresh water (4.9.2), one rod in inland waters (4.6 b), ban on live fish as bait in inland waters (4.7 c) and on fishing in closed areas and seasons (4.10).

don't confuse

similar species

Sciaenidae

Orangemouth corvina

Cynoscion xanthulus

The large croaker of the Gulf of California, with an orange mouth inside, over 1 m. Fished from beaches, from boats and in estuaries with mid-water lures and fish.

SeaEstuary

time of yearbest: Apr–Aug