About Umbrina roncador Jordan & Gilbert, 1882
Yellowfin croaker (Umbrina roncador Jordan & Gilbert, 1882) have an elliptical-elongate body with a slightly arched back, and a conical, blunt head. Their base coloration ranges from iridescent blue to gray, with brassy reflections on the back that fade to silvery white on the belly. Many diagonal dark wavy lines mark the back and sides of the fish. All fins are yellowish except for the dark-colored dorsal fins. Yellowfin croaker can be distinguished from other California croaker species by two key features: a single fleshy barbel projection on the lower jaw, and two heavy spines at the front of the anal fin. The diet of yellowfin croaker is made up mainly of small adult fish and fish fry, but they also consume large amounts of invertebrates including small crustaceans, worms, and mollusks. This species spawns during the summer months, when it is most frequently found along sandy beaches. Individuals do not reach sexual maturity until they grow slightly longer than 9 inches. The largest yellowfin croaker ever recorded measured 20.13 inches in length, with no corresponding weight reported. A 18-inch yellowfin croaker has been recorded weighing 4.5 pounds.
