Fish Identification Photos: Longspine Croaker, Umbrina analis: The Longspine Croaker is named for the length of its dorsal spines. It is characterized by a bright silver overall appearance with a brown tint on the top and white below, a series of undulating brown lines along the sides, yellow fins, and a characteristic single barbell at the tip of the chin.

A key to identification of the Longspine Croaker is that the second anal spine is thick and equal in length to the first anal fin ray. They have pale gill cavities, and the caudal fin is straight. The first dorsal fin has a short fin base. The second dorsal fin has a long fin base. These fins are grey with a yellow margin.

The snout of the Longspine Croaker is longer than the width of the eyes.

The Longspine Croaker can be easily confused with a series of other croakers, most commonly the Cortez Croaker, Umbrina wintersteeni (the second anal spine is half the length of the first anal fin ray), the Surf Croaker, Umbrina xanti (thin second anal spine), and the Yellowfin Croaker, Umbrina roncador (yellow pectoral fins, next to last line on belly straight, snout length less than the width of the eye).

Longspine Croakers reach a maximum of 14 inches in length and are found in the first 150 feet of the water column near the bottom (demersal), in the surf line, and in bays with sandy bottoms.

In Mexican waters the Longspine Croaker has a limited distribution from Magdalena Bay south along the Pacific coast of Baja California, along the east coast of Baja California south of Loreto, and along the coast of the Mexican mainland from Acapulco south to Guatemala. Although not abundant, it is viewed by locals to be excellent table fare.

The Longspine Croaker is a member of the Sciaenidae Family, a series of croakers or drums, caught out of the surf and known in Mexico as corvinas and berrugatas.

Longspine Croaker, Umbrina analis: A rare fish species, which showed up when a “scoop of bait” was purchased. Caught in the surf zone, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in June 2007, water temperature below 65 degrees, early morning in water 5 to 10 feet deep, utilizing a cast net by a panguero bait salesman. Size approximately 8 inches. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.