The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Yellowtail Seriola dorsalis
Yellowtail Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 20–32 in, 4–15 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to about 5 ft and 92 lb |
| Lifespan | up to 22 years |
| Range | Eastern Pacific from British Columbia south to Mazatlán and throughout the Gulf of California, with the fishery concentrated from Southern California through Baja. |
| Habitat | Kelp forests, rocky reefs, offshore pinnacles and drifting kelp paddies from the surface down to about 980 ft, with the biggest fish along the outer kelp edge where reef falls into deep water. |
| Diet | Anchovies, sardines, Pacific and jack mackerel, market squid and pelagic red crabs. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Yellowtail
- Iron-blue to green back, silver sides, solid yellow tail
- Brassy-yellow horizontal stripe running along the side from eye to tail
- Streamlined torpedo body with a deeply forked yellow tail
- NO separate finlets between the dorsal/anal fins and the tail
- Pointed snout; small, terminal mouth
Tell it apart: Yellowtail (an amberjack, not a tuna) has a single solid yellow forked tail and a yellow side-stripe but NO finlets, unlike the tuna-like Bonito which has a row of small finlets.
Easily confused with: Bonito
Side by side: Yellowtail vs Bonito
How to Catch Yellowtail
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- Peaks April through September — yo-yo iron deep over hard structure, throw surface iron on boils, or fly-line a live bait when they are up.GearYo-yo iron jigsSurface iron jigsFluorocarbon leader
When & Where Yellowtail Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern California Nearshore |
Yellowtail Regulations
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.