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DIVISION OF FISH AND GAME 



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KINGFISH 

 Genyonemus lineafus 



Relationship: A member of the croaker family, Sciaenidae, together with the 

 yellowfin, spotfin and black croakers, queenfish, California corbina and white sea bass. 



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

 the lower jaw ; the presence of several very small barbels on the chin ; the two dorsal 

 fins which are connected but have a deep notch between them ; the two weak spines at 

 the front of the anal fin ; the first dorsal fin with 12 to 15 spines ; the lack of vomerine 

 teeth. Reaches a length of a little over a foot and a weight of about 1^ pounds. Color: 

 Silvery with a brassy luster, becoming lighter below ; faint wavy lines follow the rows 

 of scales backward and upward ; fins, except the ventrals, normally yellowish ; a small 

 black spot at the upper, inner corner of the pectoral base. 



Distribution: Vancouver Island south to central Lower California; rare north 

 of San Francisco. A schooling fish, often in company with queenfish and other species. 



Fishing Season: Throughout the year, with maximum landings at Monterey in 

 the summer and fall and at Los Angeles in the late winter and spring. 



importance: A market species of minor importance. Since 1943, heaviest land- 

 ings have been made in the Monterey region, replacing the Los Angeles region which 

 formerly reported the greatest catch. Used to a small extent as live bait in Southern 

 California. Not considered a game fish, though it is caught in huge quantities by sport 

 fishermen in Southern California. The recorded catch in 1946 showed it to rank sixth 

 in number taken among the State's ocean sport species. 



Fishing Gear: Small round haul nets, gill nets, accidentally in drag nets, and, 

 in small quantity, by hook and line. Taken by sportsmen on hook and line with all 

 types of bait and lures. 



Unauthorized Names: Tomcod, shiner, herring, white croaker, carbinette, chen- 

 fish. 



