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Identification
White croaker averages 15 inches in size, although smaller and larger fish exist. Depending on the specific fish, their backs range in color from silvery grey to a brassy color. The silver color extends to the belly, but becomes lighter, sometimes even white. The fins take on a yellow hue. They also have an identifying mark, a black dot, found on the pectoral fin. They are long fish with rounded heads and mouths situated underneath the head. The mouth location helps identify the croaker. In California, only five species of fish have their mouths located at that position. The other telling feature that helps set them apart is the 12 to 15 barbs located on the foremost dorsal fin.
Habitat
Although most commonly found in the waters south of San Francisco, the white croaker ventures as far north as Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Traveling south, white croakers make their way to Magdalena Bay, Baja California. These fish prefer to dwell at the bottom in loose schools. Although you may find the schools in the surf around shallow lagoons, they tend to stay in shallower waters ranging from 10 to 100 feet. When the fish stay along the sandy bottom, they can go as deep as 600 feet.
Lifestyle
These bottom-dwelling fish are not fussy eaters. They eat everything from squid to other fish to worms to clams. It does not matter to the white croaker if the food source is living or dead, making them true ocean scavengers. The exact life span of white croakers is unknown; however, it is believed they live on average of 15 years, spawning for the first time around the age of 2 or 3.
Catching and Eating
If you wish to catch a white croaker, any animal-based bait will do because croakers are scavenger fish. However, if you seek to catch them exclusively, use heartier bait, such as squid. Fish for them around sandy or muddy-bottomed areas. Hooked white croaker rarely fight, making them an easy catch. The flavor of flesh is mild, letting you add flavor through spices. However, because they feed on the bottom and often stay around sewer dumping sites, the fish may be toxic. Certain areas in California, such as bay areas, have higher concentrations of toxins in the fish. If you wish to catch fish for consumption, stick to central California, fishing off piers.