COMMON MARINE FISHES 69 



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CALIFORNIA CORBINA 

 Menficirrhus undulatus 



Relationship: A member of the croaker family, Sciaenidae, which also includes 

 the yellowfin, spotfin and black croakers, the queenfish, kingfish, and white sea bass. 

 The whiting of the Atlantic coast belongs to the same genus. 



Distinguishing Characters: The tip of the snout projecting beyond the tip of 

 the lower jaw ; the spiny and soft dorsals being connected by a low membrane ; the 

 short fleshy barbel at the tip of the lower jaw (separating it from our other croakers 

 except the yellowfin) ; the single weak spine at the front of the anal fin (two spines 

 may sometimes be found) contrasted with the two strong spines of the yellowfin croaker ; 

 the somewhat flattened, long body with large pectoral fins ; the lack of vomerine teeth. 

 Reaches a length of 18 or 20 inches and has been reported to reach a weight of eight 

 pounds. Color: Sooty gray to steel blue on the back with metallic reflections, shading 

 into gray on the sides and white below ; dark points in the center of each scale form 

 wavy lines running upward and backward along the sides and back (often indistinguish- 

 able on the back because of the dark ground color) ; fins dusky. 



Distribution : Point Conception south into the Gulf of California ; perhaps rarely 

 north of Point Conception. A bottom fish found usually on sandy beaches along the 

 coast, but also in shallow bays. 



Fishing Season: Best in the summer, though these fish are taken throughout 

 the year. 



Importance: Illegal to take with nets since 1909 or to buy or sell since 1915. 

 The most popular game surf fish in Southern California. 



Fishing Methods: Taken almost entirely in the surf, using sand crabs, mussels, 

 clams, or pile worms as bait. 



Unauthorized Names: California whiting, corvina, surf fish. 



