Fish

Gulf corvina

Curvina golfina

Cynoscion othonopterus

SaltwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

2–8 lb.

Depth

5–60 ft over sand and mud bottom.

Best time

Early morning and late afternoon.

Found in

1 area

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Long, silvery weakfish with a yellowish mouth and fins, a forked-looking tail with a pointed middle, and two canine teeth in the upper jaw; no spots.
Typical size: 2–8 lb.
Maximum size: About 3 ft and 20 lb.
Diet: Sardines, anchovies, mullet, small jacks, crabs, shrimp and squid.
Behavior: Lives along rocky points, reefs, islands, sand beaches and mangrove mouths, and ambushes bait near structure.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Baja & Sea of Cortez. Found only in the upper Sea of Cortez: San Felipe, Puerto Peñasco and the Colorado River delta, where it gathers in huge schools to spawn in spring.
Habitat: Found only in the upper Sea of Cortez: San Felipe, Puerto Peñasco and the Colorado River delta, where it gathers in huge schools to spawn in spring.
Depth: 5–60 ft over sand and mud bottom.
Fishing depth: 5–100 ft along rocks, reefs and drop-offs.
Best season: All year; spring through fall is best for most inshore fish in the Sea of Cortez.
Best time: Early morning and late afternoon.
Best tides: Moving water — the first hours of a strong tide around points and island edges.
Best weather / conditions: Calm seas; the Sea of Cortez can blow hard in winter (the 'norte').

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live or fresh sardines, mullet and shrimp.
Best artificial lures: Bucktail jigs, swimbaits and spoons.
Tackle setup: 7 ft medium-heavy rod with a conventional or 6000-size spinning reel.
Hook size: 2/0–5/0 live-bait or circle hooks; 1–3 oz jigs.
Line: 30–50 lb braid or mono.
Leader: 30–60 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: Found only in the upper Sea of Cortez: San Felipe, Puerto Peñasco and the Colorado River delta, where it gathers in huge schools to spawn in spring.
Rig up: 7 ft medium-heavy rod with a conventional or 6000-size spinning reel. 30–60 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live or fresh sardines, mullet and shrimp. Lures: Bucktail jigs, swimbaits and spoons.
Fish it: Fish the moving tide off San Felipe. The tides there run over 20 feet, so the bite comes and goes fast. Jig or soak bait near the bottom in channels and along beaches.
Time it: Early morning and late afternoon. Moving water — the first hours of a strong tide around points and island edges.

Fishing techniques: Fish the moving tide off San Felipe. The tides there run over 20 feet, so the bite comes and goes fast. Jig or soak bait near the bottom in channels and along beaches.
BigJoe's tip: Plan your San Felipe trip around the tide tables. Two hours either side of the change is when the corvina feed.
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, flaky meat; a classic for fried fish, ceviche and fish tacos in San Felipe.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Strong sun and heat — bring water, shade and sunscreen. Hooked fish run straight for the rocks, so fish with a tight drag.
Regulations: The Colorado River delta is a biosphere reserve with no-fishing zones, and the commercial corvina fishery has strict quotas. The vaquita porpoise refuge is closed to all nets. Never keep a totoaba: it's protected, and catching one is a serious crime. Mexico requires a sport fishing license (CONAPESCA) for every person aboard a fishing boat, even those not fishing. The general daily limit is 10 fish per person, no more than 5 of one species, and only 1 billfish (marlin, sailfish or swordfish) or 2 of dorado, roosterfish, tarpon or shark. Billfish, dorado and roosterfish are reserved for sport fishing, and many islands and coasts are parks or biosphere reserves with their own rules.
Conservation: Gulf corvina live nowhere else on Earth and were overfished during their spawning runs. Keep only a few for dinner.

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Sources & photo credits