Umbrina roncador (yellowfin croaker) is a nearshore fish that is found from Point Conception in California to Bahia Magdalena in Baja California, Mexico, as well as in the northern part of the Gulf of California (Radford and Walker 1992). Their nomenclature refers to their coloring and their place within the Sciaenidae (croaker) family, which is characterized by the unique drumming noises produced by fish in this family (Pondella et al. 2008). Some of the yellowfin croaker’s distinguishing characteristics are its short chin barbel and its distinctive yellow fins. The majority of the yellowfin croaker’s body is a silver shade with a blue tinge on its back (Skogsberg 1939). Yellowfin croaker grow at a faster rate until three years of age, around when they reach sexual maturity (Pondella et al. 2008) and their lifespan can be as much as 15 years. Female yellowfin croakers reach their adult size faster than the males (Miller et al. 2011) and their reproductive season usually occurs in the summer months (Pondella et al 2008).

References

Miller, E. F., C. T. Mitchell, D. J. Pondella, II, and S. Goldberg. 2011. Life History Parameters of Common Marine Fish Subject to Entrainment. California Energy Commission, PIER Energy-Related Environmental Research Program. CEC-500-2011-008.

Pondella, D. J., J.T. Froeschke, L.S. Wetmore, E. Miller, C.F. Valle, and L. Medeiros. 2008. Demographic Parameters of Yellowfin Croaker, Umbrina roncador (Perciformes: Sciaenidae), from the Southern California Bight. Pacific Science, 62(4): 555-568.

Radford, K.W. and H.J. Walker Jr. 1992. Eastern Pacific species of the genus Umbrina (Pisces: Sciaenidae) with a description of a new species. Fishery Bulletin, 90(3): 574-587.

Skogsberg, T. 1939. The Fishes of the Family Sciaenidae (Croakers) of California. Division of Fish and Game of California, Bureau of Marine Fisheries, Fish Bulletin, 54:54-56.

See Map (including site records) of Distribution in the Tropical Eastern Pacific

 
Global Endemism: All species, East Pacific endemic, Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic

Regional Endemism: All species, TEP endemic, Continental TEP endemic, Cortez province endemic, Continent, Continent only

Residency: Resident

Climate Zone: North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California), Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap)

Umbrina roncador can be found from Magdalena Bay in Baja California up to Point Conception in Southern California, as well as in the northern part of the Gulf of California (Radford and Walker 1992).

References:

Radford, K.W. and H.J. Walker Jr. 1992. Eastern Pacific species of the genus Umbrina (Pisces: Sciaenidae) with a description of a new species, Fishery Bulletin, 90(3): 574-587.

Some of Umbrina roncador’s distinguishing characteristics are its short chin barbel and its distinctive yellow fins. The majority of the its body is a silver shade with a blue tinge on its back, with dark green streaks stretching across their body (Skogsberg et al 1939).

References

Skogsberg, T. 1939. The Fishes of the Family Sciaenidae (Croakers) of California. Division of Fish and Game of California, Bureau of Marine Fisheries, Fish Bulletin, 54:54-56.

• Marine

Umbrina roncador are a nearshore fish that reside over sandy sea floors in shallow water (Skogsberg 1939).

References:

Skogsberg, T. 1939. The Fishes of the Family Sciaenidae (Croakers) of California. Division of Fish and Game of California, Bureau of Marine Fisheries, Fish Bulletin, 54:54-56.

From late fall until the beginning of spring, Umbrina roncador gonads remain inactive (Skogsberg 1939). Gonadal condition indicates spawning can occur from June until August. In general, batch fecundities spanned from around 100,000 to 400,000 eggs per female (Miller et al. 2009).

References:

Miller. E.F., S. Goldberg, J. Nuñez, N. Burkes, J. Kuratomi. 2009. The Reproductive Biology of Two Common Surfzone Associated Sciaenids, Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador) and Spotfin Croaker (Roncador stearnsii), from Southern California. Bulletin, Southern California Academy of Sciences 108(3):152-159.

Skogsberg, T. 1939. The Fishes of the Family Sciaenidae (Croakers) of California. Division of Fish and Game of California, Bureau of Marine Fisheries, Fish Bulletin, 54:54-56.

Umbrina roncador grow at a faster rate until the age of three and then growth rates level off as they reach sexual maturity. Despite this trend, it has been found that growth rates can vary substantially between individuals (Pondella et al. 2008).

References

Pondella, D. J., Froeschke, J. T., Wetmore, L. S., Miller, E., Valle, C. F. and Medeiros, L. 2008. Demographic Parameters of Yellowfin Croaker, Umbrina roncador (Perciformes: Sciaenidae), from the Southern California Bight. Pacific Science, 62(4): 555-568.