fishing forecast

orangemouth corvina

Cynoscion xanthulus · Sciaenidae · predator

SeaEstuary

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.

Also called: corvina-boca-laranja, orangemouth corvina

everything about the orangemouth corvina where found

Scientific illustration of Orangemouth corvina

common size: 50–90 cm
maximum: 129 cm
common weight: 1.2–7 kg
record/max.: 24.6 kg
depth: 0.5–30 m
ideal water: 20–30 °C

location

Sample location: choose yours to see the forecast for where you fish.

species

period

Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…

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index Score from 0 to 100 for the fishing conditions of each hour. It reads weather, sun, moon, tide and the species' habits. It doesn't promise fish: it tells you when the water is on your side. 0–24 poor · 25–44 fair · 45–64 good · 65–84 very good · 85–100 excellent.

today

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confidence —

confidence How much you can trust the weather forecast for the day. It drops with distance and when the models disagree. It is not the chance of catching fish.

models and trend Up to 16 days, three global weather models (the European ECMWF, the American GFS and a high-resolution blend) read hour by hour; when they disagree, the light band on the chart widens. Beyond that it's a trend: 31 runs of the American GEFS model. Confirm when it's 1 week out.

window Consecutive hours with the index near the day's peak and no danger alert. It is the time to have the bait in the water.

hour by hour

slide your finger or mouse over the chart to see each hour

see hour-by-hour table

why this index at —?

next 7 days

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chart: bar height = day's index · line = variation between models · striped = trend · fainter = less confidence

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.

the species

everything about the orangemouth corvina

overview

who is the orangemouth corvina

Croaker endemic to the Mexican Pacific, from the Gulf of California to the Pacific coast of Mexico. It lives in coastal waters, bays and estuaries, over sand and mud bottoms, and preys on fish and shrimp. It reaches 1.29 m and 24.6 kg, making it one of the largest croakers in the genus. It has commercial importance in the gulf, and data on population status are scarce: the IUCN lists it as Data Deficient. It was introduced to the Salton Sea, a very salty lake in California, where it became a famous sport fish. For Mexican anglers it is a fish of beaches, boats and estuary mouths, caught with swimbaits, spoons, mid-water lures and live or cut fish.

fun facts

It was introduced to the Salton Sea, a very salty lake in the California desert, where it came to support sport fishing.
The name comes from the yellow-orange color inside its mouth.

how to recognize it

identification

Elongated body, blue-gray back and silvery flank; large oblique mouth, protruding lower jaw and a pair of large canine teeth at the tip of the upper jaw. The inside of the mouth is yellow-orange, and the fins have a yellowish tone. The yellowtail croaker (corvina cola amarilla) is smaller and has a yellow tail; the Pacific white croaker does not have canines at the tip of the upper jaw.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Not found in Brazil. Only in Mexico, in the Gulf of California and on the Pacific coast; introduced to the Salton Sea (California, USA).

Habitat: Beaches, bays, estuaries and mouths of coastal lagoons, over sand and mud.

calendar and clock

when to fish

best season

time of yearbest: Apr–Aug

JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Best as the water warms, from spring to summer, when schools move toward the coast.

best time of day

Dawn and dusk. Hunts most at dawn, dusk and night, when it moves into shallow water after fish and shrimp.

weather, water and behavior

what affects the orangemouth corvina
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.

cold and cold fronts

Cold winter water in the northern gulf reduces activity.

atmospheric pressure

A front with strong wind churns the sea and gets in the way.

moon

Full-moon and new-moon tides move water in the estuaries.

rain

Little effect; heavy runoff muddies the estuaries.

water level

Not applicable at sea.

noise

In shallow water, approach quietly.

wind

Strong wind raises surf and hinders beach fishing.

tide

Moving tide, especially the rising tide, is best at estuary mouths.

depth

From the beach shallows out to about 20 m.

technique, gear and bait

how to fish

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

rod: 7' to 9', 15 to 30 lb
spinning / baitcasting reel: spinning reel 4000 to 5000
line: braided line 20 to 40 lb
leader: fluorocarbon 30 to 50 lb (teeth)
hook: circle 3/0 to 6/0; jig head 1/2 to 1 1/2 oz

lures

swimbait 12 to 18 cm
metal spoon
jerkbait
stickbait at dawn

natural baits

small live fish
shrimp
lula

accessories

long-nose pliers
landing net

tip from an angler

On the rising tide, cast the swimbait into the estuary mouth and retrieve slowly near the bottom: the croaker strikes the lure carried by the current.

what the law says

rules for the orangemouth corvina

Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Insufficient data to assess the risk; there is commercial fishing in the Gulf of California.

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 orangemouth corvina (corvina de boca amarilla) 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 lower jaw with a fish grip or pliers (watch the canines) and support its belly. Release it facing the current.

in the kitchen

Soft white flesh; fried, roasted or ceviche fillets.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

total length (cm)

Length-weight relationship W = a·L^b (a = 0.00759, b = 3.06; FishBase). 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 xanthulus (ficha da espécie)Names, distribution, biology, length-weight relationship, country list and references. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
scientific IUCN Red List — Cynoscion xanthulus (avaliação global: Dados Insuficientes, DD, 24/01/2020)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

Stolzmann's weakfish

Cynoscion stolzmanni

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.