Species profile
Croaker
Genyonemus lineatus
At a glance
Croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 6 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 6 (California); the most generous is 100 (Florida).
Confirmed by 282 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in California.
Notable details
- White croaker produce a distinctive croaking sound by rapidly contracting muscles around the swim bladder.
- Typically 8–14 inches long and rarely exceed 1.5 pounds.
- Found along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to Baja California.
- Juveniles use bays and estuaries as nurseries before moving to open coastal waters.
- A common prey item for harbor seals and California sea lions.
Where Croaker are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Croaker
Background
White croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) is a species of croaker occurring in the Eastern Pacific. White croakers have been taken from Magdalena Bay, Baja California, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, but are not abundant north of San Francisco. White croakers swim in loose schools at or near the bottom of sandy areas. Sometimes they aggregate in the surf zone or in shallow bays and lagoons. Most…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Croaker article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.