Saltwater · Year-round in surf and shallow bays from the southeastern Gulf of California to Peru.

Paita Kingcroaker

Menticirrhus paitensis

The smallest kingcroaker, named for Paita Bay in Peru, living in surf and shallow coastal bays from the southeastern Gulf of California to Peru and feeding on bottom invertebrates.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Identifying features

Single stout barbel on the chin — the kingcroaker trademark
Smallest Menticirrhus, maximum only about 40 cm
Silvery-grey body, slightly upturned mouth suited to bottom feeding
Pectoral fins relatively short compared with Pacific kingcroaker
No scales on the soft dorsal fin; body deepest well forward

Habits

Lives in coastal bays and surf over sand
Feeds on worms, small crustaceans and molluscs sifted from sand
Mostly taken incidentally and by shore fishers
Range confirmed by IUCN from Mexico to Peru including Panama and Costa Rica

Distribution

Mazatlán & the Mainland Pacific Coast · Sinaloa to OaxacaCommon

Pacific Coast, Guatemala · GuatemalaCommon

Pacific Coast, Costa Rica · Costa RicaCommon

Panama — Pacific, Canal & Caribbean · PanamaCommon

Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) · Baja California Sur, Sonora & SinaloaOccasional

Where to find them

Surf beaches and shallow bays of Pacific Mexico and Central America
Bay shores in Costa Rica and Panama
Paita Bay, Peru (type locality, outside our regions)

Where they live

Coastal bays and surf zoneSand bottoms at 1-20 m

How to catch them

Surfcasting Shore

Rig: Long surf rod with fish-finder rig and pyramid sinker

Bait/lure: Fresh shrimp or sand crab

Key tip: Cast into the trough behind the breakers and move along the beach until you find fish.

Bottom fishing with natural bait Shore

Rig: Two-hook paternoster or Carolina rig with 1-3 oz sinker

Bait/lure: Live or fresh shrimp

Key tip: Keep the bait on the bottom over sand or mud and wait for the soft, tapping bite.

Best baits & lures

Sand crab / mole crabFresh shrimp piecesMarine worms

Techniques for Paita Kingcroaker →

Baseline setup

Rod: Surf rod 10-12 ft
Line: 20-30 lb main line with shock leader
Terminal: Fish-finder rig, pyramid sinker, size 1-2/0 hooks

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

7'6" medium-heavy jigging rod

≈ US$110-170

Works 2-6 oz jigs over rock and reef and still has the backbone to lift a halibut off the bottom.

Line · Budget

50 lb braid with 40 lb leader (200 yd)

≈ US$25-40

Thin braid cuts the current so jigs stay vertical; the leader shrugs off rock and teeth.

Terminal · Budget

Leadhead jigs, swimbaits and two-hook bottom rigs

≈ US$25-40

A leadhead with a swimbait tail is the universal bottom-fish catcher, from rockfish to cod to flounder.

Picks are never paid placements. Prices are guides; price links are coming soon and none is an affiliate link yet.

Typical size

Maximum about 40 cm; the smallest kingcroaker.

On the table

Edible and eaten fresh or in soups; also used as bait when small.

Similar species

Sand DrumSand drum is an Atlantic species without a single stout chin barbel of this form and has faint dark bars when young.

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

Plan a trip for Paita Kingcroaker

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⚠ Heads-up: Paita Kingcroaker doesn't occur around Vancouver, BC (or is very rare there), so it's not a sensible local target. Your plan stays in Vancouver, BC and is built around the fish that actually live there.