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Carangidae
California Yellowtail
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Field guide · §4.11

California Yellowtail

⇉
Seriola dorsalis
Carangidae (jacks)
Water
62-68°F
Best time
Dawn
Tide
Slack
Bag 10
Robert's pick

How to catch a california yellowtail

Bait
Flylined sardine (live), live squid (when in)
Rig
Flat-Fall jig 200g vertical drop, slow-roll deep-diver, Tady 4/0 surface iron
Technique
Find the school first (kelp paddies, current breaks), then match the bait. Slow-roll along kelp edges.
When they bite
Tide preference
Slack — schools hold together with no current
Time of day
Dawn strongest; some all-day boils on hot pushes
Pressure
Stable
Sources
  • · CDFW Yellowtail species page
  • · NOAA Highly Migratory Species data
  • · Hyde, J.R. & Vetter, R.D. (2009) — population genetics study
Full citations in SPECIES-EVIDENCE.md §4.11.
← All species·§4.11 in SPECIES-EVIDENCE.md

California Yellowtail

⇉
Seriola dorsalis
Carangidae (jacks)Prefers 62–68°FBag: 10
Habitat & range

Where they live

CA range
Mazatlán → Vancouver Island (warm-water pushes determine the boundary)
Habitat types
Open kelp beds
Water temp
62–68°F preferred
Life history

Biology

Lifespan12+ years
Growth rateFast — first-year fish reach 12"+
SpawningSpring–summer in Mexican waters; some local SoCal spawning
SchoolingSchools of 5–50 fish; larger fish more solitary
DietSquid (primary), sardine, mackerel, anchovy
Behavior

When they bite

Tide preferenceSlack — schools hold together with no current
Time of dayDawn strongest; some all-day boils on hot pushes
Pressure biasStable
Field ID

How to identify

Yellow tail (obviously), green-brown back with a yellow lateral stripe, robust body

Look-alikes

Roosterfish (Mexican waters, distinctive fin); jack crevalle (less yellow, broader profile)

Robert's pick

How to catch

Best baitFlylined sardine (live), live squid (when in)
Best rigFlat-Fall jig 200g vertical drop, slow-roll deep-diver, Tady 4/0 surface iron
TechniqueFind the school first (kelp paddies, current breaks), then match the bait. Slow-roll along kelp edges.
California regulations
Bag limit10
No size minimum in CA

Always verify current regulations on the CDFW site.

Where to fish for California Yellowtail

SoCal hotspots

Top spots from the doc: Point Loma kelp (the consistent shore-accessible spot) · Catalina (boat) · Coronado Islands (Mexican waters — Mexican license required)
All spots in the TideRead catalog that target Yellowtail (1):
Point Loma Kelp Beds
Point Loma · San Diego
Did you know

California yellowtail share a genetic stock with Baja yellowtail — they're the same fish, just on either side of the border. SoCal catches are part of a larger migratory population.

Sources
  • · CDFW Yellowtail species page
  • · NOAA Highly Migratory Species data
  • · Hyde, J.R. & Vetter, R.D. (2009) — population genetics study
Full citations + cross-references in SPECIES-EVIDENCE.md §4.11.