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Exploring the beautiful nature of California


Marine Fish: Yellowtail

Fishes are aquatic vertebrates that have fins, gills and scales. Gills are the part of the respiratory system that provide surface area for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide under water.

Fish are ectotherms, commonly referred to as 'cold-blooded', meaning their temperature is regulated by the temperature of their environment. They have a range of diets, being herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores. Some fish reproduce by laying eggs, while others reproduce by bearing live young.

California fish species reside in freshwater and coastal/marine waters. Coastal, or marine fish are an abundant and valuable resource. However, the ocean's supply is not limitless, and therefore careful planning and education must be undertaken to ensure the sustainability of the world's largest food source.
yellowtail salmon  The body of the yellowtail is elongate, somewhat compressed, tapering to the sharp snout and the slender tail. The head is more or less conical. The color is olive brown to brown above, with a dark streak along the side of the body. The fins are yellowish. Yellowtail are easily distinguished from other fishes by the darker horizontal stripe along the side of the body, as well as a deeply forked yellow tail.

Yellowtail occur from Chile to southern Washington including the Gulf of California, and from the ocean's surface to depths of 228 feet. Most fish landed in California are taken between Point Conception and the Coronado Islands, Baja California.

Yellowtail feed primarily during the day and are opportunistic feeders, eating anything that is abundant in the area. Red crabs, anchovies, squid, and most small fishes are food items. Spawning occurs from June through October.
Many yellowtail are sexually mature in 2 years; all will spawn when 3 years old. A 3 year old female will weigh about 10 pounds and spawn approximately 450,000 eggs; however, a 25 pound female will produce more than 1 million eggs.

Prime yellowtail areas are found around the Coronado Islands, La Jolla Kelp, the area between Oceanside and Dana Point, Horseshoe Kelp, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Santa Catalina Island and San Clemente Island.

Most yellowtail taken by California anglers are landed on boats which anchor at spots where yellowtail are known to aggregate and then chum the fish to the boat with live anchovies. As the fish mill about the boat, anglers then use anchovies, mackerel or squid to catch them. Small boaters may take yellowtail by trolling jigs or feathers in areas where these fish occur.
yelowtail snapper can be found off the coast of California  Yellowtail are the glamour fish of Southern California and Baja. Although yellows typically run 10 to 20 pounds, the IGFA all-tackle record for California yellowtail (Seriola lalandi dorsalis) is a 79-pound, 4-ounce monster taken in 1991 at Alijos Rocks, Baja.

Unpredictable, powerful and great fighters, yellowtail on a line never fail to excite anglers and skippers. Their appeal continues at the boat, with the species' handsome good looks - sporting a bright lemon-yellow stripe running midway down the body from eye to brilliant yellow tail, separating its metallic green dorsal from a white underbelly.

To top off its appeal, the yellowtail offers mild, pinkish fillets, making it popular as a sashimi dish or when cooked traditionally. The California yellowtail is but one of three species. The group includes the much larger southern yellowtail and Asian yellowtail, and the greater amberjack is a close cousin. All are among the largest members of the diverse, worldwide family of jacks
 
 
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