California Corbina

Unlike most drums and croakers, the California corbina has no air bladder and is unable to make croaking sounds.

Region

West

Catch Ease

Medium

Habitat

Ocean

How to identify a California Corbina

The California corbina body is elongate and more slender than other croakers. The head is long and the mouth small with a blunt snout projecting beyond the mouth. The color is gray to steel blue with a silvery luster on the back paling to white below. Sometimes wavy diagonal lines are on the sides of the species. The California corbina and the yellowfin croaker are the only two coastal croakers in California waters that have a single short, stiff, chin barbel. The California corbina usually has only one weak spine at the front of the anal fin, while the yellowfin croaker has two strong spines.

Where to catch California Corbina

The California corbina is an eastern Pacific species and is found from Point Conception in California, south to Peru. It occurs along sandy shores and in bays, usually in sandy surf of exposed outer coast. They are usually found in small groups with larger fish becoming more solitary. The following list includes additional details on where to catch this fish:

Breakers

Jetties and Breakwaters

Piers, Docks and Pilings

Shore Points

how to catch California Corbina

This species is normally taken throughout the year by surf and nearshore anglers although the best fishing is from July to October. They are very wary and difficult to hook as many an avid surf fisherman can affirm. This is due to the fact that these fish prefer to mouth and chew their food instead of striking solidly like other fish. Cut crabs are the preferred bait, though some anglers swear by mussels, clams, pileworms and ghost shrimp.A determined fighter, these fish can be taken from shore while surf fishing and spin casting. They can also be caught from a boat while drifting near to the shoreline. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish: