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fishing forecast

white croaker

Genyonemus lineatus · Sciaenidae · predator

Croaker of sandy bottoms of the Pacific, from Canada to Baja California, Mexico. A sport fish, with small commercial catches.

Also called: corvineta-branca, corvineta blanca, roncador blanco, white croaker

Scientific illustration of White croaker
maximum
41 cm
location

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period

Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…

the species

everything about the white croaker

overview

who is the white croaker

The white croaker is a fish of the family Sciaenidae that lives on sandy bottoms of the eastern Pacific, from Canada to Baja California, Mexico, usually down to 30 m deep, though it reaches 183 m. It grows to 41 cm and can live 15 years. It feeds on polychaete worms, small shrimp, crabs and molluscs that it searches for on the bottom. It spawns several times, releasing pelagic eggs. It is taken in small-scale commercial fishing and also attracts sport anglers.

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 white croaker; in the meantime, see the similar species.

fun facts

  • It spawns several times in the same season, releasing its eggs into the water.
  • It can live up to 15 years.
how to recognize it

identification

Elongated, fusiform body of pale colour. The most useful mark is the fleshy appendage at the base of the pelvic fins, and the first ray of those fins ends in a loose thread. On the California coast there are other croakers, such as the spotfin croaker (Roncador stearnsii) and the yellowfin croaker (Umbrina roncador), but this detail of the pelvic fins helps identify it.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

In Latin America, it occurs only in Mexico, down to southern Baja California, on sandy bottoms near the Pacific coast. Farther north it reaches Canada.

Habitat: Sandy bottoms of the coast, usually down to 30 m.

what the law says

rules for the white 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.

Poses no danger to anglers. Release small fish carefully.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01047, b = 3.09; 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.

  1. scientific FishBase: Genyonemus lineatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Genyonemus lineatusNames by country and language.
don't confuse

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