Yellowtail Photos and Species Information for Fish Caught in Mexico
See current, on-the-spot sportfishing reports and photographs of fish caught at Mexico's top vacation spots in this week's edition of
"Mexico Fishing News" and see hundreds of other fish pictures and species information by clicking here for our main Fish Photo List.
Yellowtail, California Yellowtail, Yellowtail Amberjack
Jurel, Jurel de Castilla, Pez Limón
(Seriola dorsalis lalandi)
Fish Identification Photos: Yellowtail, California Yellowtail, Yellowtail Amberjack, Seriola dorsalis lalandi: The Yellowtail is one of the prized game fish of the Carangidae or Jack Family found in Mexican waters.
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The Yellowtail is characterized by its long aerodynamic body with a long pointed, "smooth"-looking snout, a mouth ending at the front edge of the eye pupil, blue upper back, silver-white sides and belly, yellow fins, and distinguishing narrow bronze stripe along the middle of the body that becomes yellow posteriorly.
The Yellowtail is not easily confused with other species.
It is a close relative to the Pacific Amberjack, Seriola rivoliana (less aerodynamic, no body stripe, diagonal stripe through eye), and similar in size and shape to the much smaller Fortune Jack, Seriola peruana (short snout, mouth ending under the pupil, no bars or stripes on head or body, dark fins, and an overall bronze appearance).
The Yellowtail is pelagic and found in all Mexican waters including the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula, the Gulf of California, and along mainland Mexico through to Guatemala. It is usually found in the first 250 feet of the water column.
It is reported to reach a length of 8 feet and up to 110 pounds in the southern hemisphere, although a 50 pounder is very rare in Mexican waters. The Yellowtail is a prime targeted game fish.
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Yellowtail, California Yellowtail, Yellowtail Amberjack, Seriola dorsalis lalandi: Caught with Captain Pata in the panga Salome, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in 73-degree water, midmorning in April 2003, in 100-foot deep water, utilizing a 30-pound test, with a 40-pound two dropper loop rig, with swivel, 6-ounce bank sinker, and Mustad 92553 hooks, size 2/0 on cut clams and a “Maypole” of dead stripped anchovies (it took both baits), 10 miles north of La Playita. Size approximately 40 inches and 25 pounds and provided a horrific fight. A fairly rare catch at Los Cabos, usually caught in April and May and usually when cooler water is present. Viewed by locals as excellent table fare. Description and photos by John Snow.
Yellowtail, California Yellowtail, Yellowtail Amberjack, Seriola dorsalis lalandi: A rare, true 50-pound class Sea of Cortez Yellowtail caught by "San Marcos Mike" Kanzler of Isla San Marcos, Santa Rosalia, Baja California Sur, Mexico: "Here's my best Yellowtail, caught back in 1995. This fish weighed 53 pounds on a good scale (it's in the photo above the fish, Chatillon Brass). The fish had a LENGTH of 60 inches! For reference in this photo, I'm 5 feet, 8 inches." Description and photo courtesy Mike Kanzler.
Yellowtail, California Yellowtail, Yellowtail Amberjack, Seriola dorsalis lalandi: A California Yellowtail caught by Dave Castanon, left, of La Verne, with guide Jose "Bujo", near La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, April 2000. Courtesy Jonathan Roldan, Tail Hunter International. |
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