Fish

California corbina

Corvina de California (berrugata)

Menticirrhus undulatus

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–3 lb.

Depth

1–20 ft.

Best time

Early morning and evening.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Long, slim, gray to bluish-gray croaker with wavy lines on the sides, a single short barbel on the chin and an underslung mouth. It has no swim bladder, so it doesn't croak.
Typical size: 1–3 lb.
Maximum size: About 28 in and around 8 lb.
Diet: Sand crabs, clams and worms dug from the sand.
Behavior: Cruises in very shallow water right at the edge of the waves, often with its back out of the water, digging for sand crabs.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Southern California and Baja & Sea of Cortez. Sandy beaches and bays from Point Conception, California, to the Gulf of California.
Habitat: Sandy beaches and bays from Point Conception, California, to the Gulf of California.
Depth: 1–20 ft.
Fishing depth: In the wash, 1–5 ft.
Best season: Summer and early fall.
Best time: Early morning and evening.
Best tides: The incoming tide, especially in the first hours.
Best weather / conditions: Small, clean surf.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live sand crabs (soft-shell best), ghost shrimp, mussels and bloodworms.
Best artificial lures: Small soft plastics like sand-crab imitations; sight-fishing flies.
Tackle setup: Light surf or spinning rod.
Hook size: Size 4–1.
Line: 6–10 lb.
Leader: 4–8 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Sandy beaches and bays from Point Conception, California, to the Gulf of California.
Rig up: Light surf or spinning rod. 4–8 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live sand crabs (soft-shell best), ghost shrimp, mussels and bloodworms. Lures: Small soft plastics like sand-crab imitations; sight-fishing flies.
Fish it: Fish a live sand crab on a light Carolina rig in the first trough, close to the wet sand.
Time it: Early morning and evening. The incoming tide, especially in the first hours.

Fishing techniques: Fish a live sand crab on a light Carolina rig in the first trough, close to the wet sand.
BigJoe's tip: Look for corbina 'tailing' in inches of water along the beach on calm summer mornings.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Mild, white and flaky; good fried or baked.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Watch for stingrays in the surf — shuffle your feet.
Regulations: California prohibits selling corbina and sets bag limits; check local rules. Licenses, size and bag limits and seasons are set by each state — the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (wildlife.ca.gov), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (myodfw.com) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (wdfw.wa.gov) — together with NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Rules change often, and many areas are no-take marine reserves: check before you go.
Conservation: A wary, popular sport fish; many surf anglers release them.

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Sources & photo credits