Fish Identification Photos: Graceful Mojarra, Eucinostomus californiensis: The Graceful Mojarra is characterized by a slender body, silver appearance, pointed snout, and lack of distinguishing marks. The anal and pelvic fins of the Graceful Mojarra are yellow and the caudal fin is deeply forked. The anal spines are slender, the second dorsal spine is shorter than the third, and the pelvic fins are short.

The Graceful Mojarra is a member of the Gerreidae or Mojarra Family. The Graceful Mojarra might be confused with a series of other Mojarras found in Mexican waters which include the Dark Spot Mojarra, Eucinostomus entomelas (black gill chamber, second anal spine longest, dorsal grey with narrow black margin, long pectoral fins); the Golden Mojarra, Diapteus aureolus (separated dorsal fins, first is black tipped); the Pacific Flagfin Mojarra, Eucinostomus currani (spiny dorsal fin with grey base, white center and a wide black tip); and the Silver Mojarra, Eucinostomus dowii (not black inside gill covers, silver body and fins, second anal spine is the strongest).

The Graceful Mojarra reaches a maximum length of 8 inches and is found in the first 100 feet of the water column over sandy bottoms. In Mexico, the Graceful Mojarra is found around tip of the Baja California peninsula from Magdalena Bay to La Paz and along coastal mainland Mexico from Acapulco south to Guatemala; The Graceful Mojarra appears to be absent from the oceanic islands.

Graceful Mojarra, Eucinostomus californiensis: Caught at East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico, by Dutch angler, Ton van Dalen, on the fly. From Peter Langstraat: "It doesn't grow very big, but it's beautiful and indeed graceful, and an excellent baitfish. Within a minute after this picture, it was stolen by something fast and furious." Description and photo courtesy Peter Langstraat.