jack silverside
Atherinopsis californiensis
Silverside that forms schools in bays and along the coast of the Mexican Pacific, sold fresh. It is a common prey of larger fish and poses no danger to anglers.
Also called: peixe-rei-mocho, pejerrey mocho, jack silverside
- maximum
- 45 cm
who is the jack silverside
Fish of the family Atherinopsidae, with an elongated, silvery body, that forms schools near the coast and in bays. In Mexico it lives on the Pacific coast, especially in Baja California. It reaches 45 cm total length and 11 years of age. Adults stay in shallow coastal areas and spawn near the coast, with eggs attached to the substrate by adhesive filaments. The species is commercially caught and sold fresh, and it is a common prey of larger fish.
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 jack silverside; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated, silvery fish of the family Atherinopsidae, with two separate dorsal fins, like other silversides. It reaches 45 cm, more than Atherinops affinis, which reaches 37 cm and is distinguished by a silver band with a well-marked blue edge along the body, and which lives on the same coast. In schools, the two species look alike, and fish size 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
In Mexico it occurs on the Pacific coast, especially in Baja California, in bays and shallow coastal areas.
Habitat: Bays and shallow coastal areas, from the surface down to 30 m.
rules for the jack silverside
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 anglers. It is a small schooling fish: release it quickly.
in the kitchen
Sold fresh.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00617, b = 3.06; 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: Atherinopsis californiensis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Atherinopsis californiensisNames by country and language.
