Fish Identification Photos: Yellowfin Mojarra, Gerres cinereus: The Yellowfin Mojarra is a member of the Gerreidae or Mojarra Family. The Yellowfin Mojarra is characterized by its silver-white appearance, pointed snout, and eight faint vertical bars along its sides (which are more obvious on collection than in preserved specimens).

The Yellowfin Mojarra's anal and pelvic fins are yellow, and the caudal fin is deeply forked. The dorsal fin has seven spines of which the second is the longest.

The Yellowfin Mojarra might be confused with a series of other Mojarras found in Mexican waters, including the Black Axillary Mojarra, Eugerres axillaries (thick dark lines along the scale row in the upper half of the body, first dorsal spine longest); the Golden Mojarra, Diapteus aureolus (first dorsal fin is black tipped); the Shortsnout Mojarra, Diapteus peruvianus (short snout, first dorsal spine is very short and the second is very long and thick); the Shortfin Mojarra, Eugerres brevimanus (thick fleshy lips, second dorsal spine longest); and the Streaked Mojarra, Eugerres lineatus (long pectoral fins with dark base, first dorsal spine longest, second anal spine long and thick).

The Yellowfin Mojarra reaches a maximum length of 12 inches and is found in the first 100 feet of the water column over sandy bottoms.

In Mexico, in the Pacific the Yellowfin Mojarra is found from Magdalena Bay south along the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula, in the lower two-thirds of the Sea of Cortez and along all parts of coastal mainland Mexico south to Guatemala it appears to be absent from the oceanic islands. In the Atlantic is is found all along the coastal mainland of the Gulf of Mexico.

Yellowfin Mojarra, Gerres cinereus: Photo courtesy of John Snow. Yellowfin Mojarra, Gerres cinereus: Shows up when one purchases a “scoop of bait.” Caught in the surf zone, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in 84 degree, ugly post-hurricane water, early morning in September 2003 in 5 to 10-foot deep water, utilizing a cast net by a panguero bait salesmen, in the surf at the mouth of the hurricane generated main river. Size approximately 8 inches and virtually weightless. A seldom seen fish. Description and photo courtesy John Snow. Fish identification courtesy of Dr. Ross Robertson, Smithsonian Institute, Panama.