Saltwater · Year-round; best in spring and summer in bays and surf

White Croaker

Genyonemus lineatus

A small, abundant California croaker that is locally called 'kingfish' and 'tomcod' — misleading names, because it is neither a kingfish nor a cod, but a true croaker. It schools over sand in bays, surf and from piers, and in contaminated bays it carries a real consumption warning.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

White Croaker — AI-generated image — AI-generated image — no verified freely-licensed photo of this species was available

Identifying features

Silvery-white body with faint dark lines along the scale rows
Small mouth set low, with no stout chin barbel
Yellowish wash on the fins, especially the tail
No black spot at the base of the pectoral fin
Slender croaker body, usually under a foot long

Habits

Schools over sand and mud in bays, surf and off piers
Feeds on shrimp, squid, worms and small clams on the bottom
Often called 'kingfish' or 'tomcod' locally — neither name is accurate
Accumulates pollutants in dirty bays, so local advisories matter
Croaks in spawning groups, mainly in spring and summer

Distribution

San Francisco, CA · California★ Primary

San Diego, CA · California★ Primary

Portland, OR · OregonCommon

Where to find them

California piers and harbour edges over sand
Sandy bays and estuary mouths
Surf and small-boat bottom spots over sand

Where they live

Sandy bays, harbours and estuary mouthsSurf zone over sand and mudOpen coast bottom over sand in 20-100 ft (6-30 m)

How to catch them

Pier and bay fishing with small baits Shore

Rig: Light spinning tackle, small two-hook bottom rig with size 6-8 hooks over sand or mud

Bait/lure: Shrimp or squid pieces

Key tip: Keep baits small and on the bottom in bays and off piers — schools move through and bites come in flurries.

Surf and boat bottom fishing over sand Boat

Rig: Light surf or boat rod, Carolina or dropper rig with a 1-2 oz (28-57 g) sinker over open sand

Bait/lure: Squid strips or bloodworms

Key tip: Anchor or drift slowly over sand patches and re-bait often — small mouths strip soft baits quickly.

Best baits & lures

Shrimp piecesSquid stripsBloodworm and clam pieces

Techniques for White Croaker →

Baseline setup

Rod: Light 7-8 ft (2.1-2.4 m) spinning rod
Line: 6-10 lb (2.7-4.5 kg) mono
Terminal: Two-hook bottom rigs, size 6-8 hooks, 1-2 oz (28-57 g) sinkers

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

9' 5-weight fly rod outfit

≈ US$180-260

Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.

Flies · Budget

Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)

≈ US$25-40

Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.

Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.

Typical size

Common 8-12 in (20-30 cm); large fish to about 16 in (41 cm)

On the table

Caution — on do-not-eat lists in contaminated Los Angeles and Orange County bays; elsewhere eat only occasionally and follow local consumption advisories.

Similar species

QueenfishQueenfish is deeper-bodied with a strongly forked tail and a larger, upturned mouth; white croaker is slimmer, fainter-lined and has a smaller low mouth

Yellowfin CroakerYellowfin croaker has bold yellow fins and a small chin barbel; white croaker is paler, has no stout barbel and no bold yellow fins

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

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