pacific smalleye croaker
Nebris occidentalis
Croaker with a huge mouth and very small eyes, from the surf zone, estuaries and lagoons, from Guatemala to Peru. It sometimes appears in local markets.
Also called: pescada-de-olho-pequeno, ojo chico, corvina ojo chico, Pacific smalleye croaker
- maximum
- 60 cm
who is the pacific smalleye croaker
Fish of the family Sciaenidae, with an elongated body that is rounded in cross-section, reaching 60 cm. Common size 20 cm. It lives in the surf zone of coastal waters, in estuaries and lagoons, from Guatemala to Peru. It has a very large, oblique mouth with a projecting lower jaw, and very small eyes. The teeth are small and set in narrow ridges. The Spanish name, ojo chico, refers to its small eyes. The commercial catch is small.
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 smalleye croaker; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated, rounded body, with a very large, oblique mouth and a projecting lower jaw. The eyes are very small, which is the most useful feature for recognizing it among the croakers of the coast. The back is yellowish brown with grayish reflections, and the flanks are silvery, with small dark spots.
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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 Guatemala to Peru, in the surf zone, estuaries and lagoons of Latin America.
Habitat: Surf zone, estuaries and coastal lagoons.
rules for the pacific smalleye croaker
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 is caught by accident, release it quickly and carefully.
in the kitchen
Sometimes appears in local markets.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00692, b = 3.1; 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: Nebris occidentalis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Nebris occidentalisNames by country and language.
