The croaker that thumps a high-low at night when the beach is empty. Yellow fins, a blunt snout, and a drum you can feel in the rod.
Sandy surf, bay mouths, and pier lights after dark from Santa Monica Bay through Long Beach.
No species-specific size. General 20/10 ocean finfish bag. CDFW SoCal beach table lists June–September as the yellowfin window. Night incoming tides at Dockweiler, Santa Monica, and Long Beach with sand crab, ghost shrimp, or mussel on a high-low are the standard.
White croaker have health advisories in some Harbor waters — know which croaker you kept.
CDFW beach fishing — yellowfin croaker peak months →
Independent-site disclaimer: this summary is for orientation only and can change in-season. Confirm with CDFW before you keep a fish. Fish in LA is not affiliated with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
