Fish Identification Photos: Spotfin Croaker, Spotfin Drum, Roncador stearnsi: The Spotfin Croaker is characterized by its metallic blue-gray overall appearance, blue-gray tint on the top, silvery lower body, very faint undulating series of lines along its sides, and a very characteristic large black blotch on the base of its pectoral fin. The Spotfin Croaker has an elongated body with a blunt snout that overhangs a recessed mouth. It does not have a barbell. The gill covers are finely serrated.

The Spotfin Croaker might be confused with a series of other croakers including the Black Croaker, Cheilotrema saturnum (overall black appearance with very large pale blotches on its sides), the Golden Croaker, Umbrina xanti (yellow anal and pelvic fins, dusky caudal fin, and the inner side of the gill cover is jet black), the Longfin Croaker, Umbrina dorsalis (black blue-gray appearance with a very short snout with dark fins except the pelvic fins which have a yellow tint), the Longspine Croaker, Umbrina analis (straight caudal fin, short pectoral fins, yellow anal and pelvic fins, a long snout, and a first dorsal fin with 10 spines and a second dorsal with a long base consisting of 24 to 26 rays), the Yellowfin Croaker, Umbrina roncador (a series of oblique undulating brown lines along the sides, and yellow fins with a single barbell under the chin), and Wintersteen’s Croaker, Umbrina wintersteeni (rounded caudal fin, tan to golden brown oblique lines on its sides, and dark fins).

The Spotfin Croaker is a member of the Sciaenidae or Croaker or Drum Family. In Mexico, the Spotfin Croaker is reported by the scientific community to exist only along the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula.

The Spotfin Croaker is found in surf zone in the first 50 feet of the water column above sandy bottoms adjacent to rocks.

The Spotfin Croaker is reported to reach 28 inches in length but 16 to 18-inch models are more common.

This species is caught primarily on cut bait (clams, squid, mullet, etc.) with small hooks and bottom rigs. It is viewed by locals to be excellent table fare.

Spotfin Croaker, Spotfin Drum, Roncador stearnsi: Caught off the municipal pier at Oceanside, California, in May 2006, water temperature 60-degrees, on cut mussels, utilizing size 4 hooks and a 2-ounce sinker. Size approximatetly 20 inches and six pounds. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow. Spotfin Croaker, Spotfin Drum, Roncador stearnsi: A pair of Spotfin Croaker, caught at El Tomatal, Baja California, Mexico (north of Guerrero Negro), April, 1988. Photo courtesy Jim Mori.