(Seriola dorsalis)
The yellow-tail belongs to the family =Carangidae=, the same to which
belong the pompanos, and is one of the gamiest of sea fishes. In fact,
it is generally said by experts who have fished for all varieties and
in all waters, both salt and fresh, that the yellow-tail of Catalina
is the gamiest fish, pound for pound, that swims. Whether this be true
or not, it is certainly one of the hardest and most persistent
fighters found anywhere and furnishes the angler with rod and reel
from an hour to two hours of lively sport before he can bring it to
gaff. One well-known writer on angling subjects says: "It never knows
when it is dead." While the average catch will run from ten to thirty
pounds, specimens have been taken weighing sixty-five pounds. It is
occasionally met with in Monterey bay, but its range is from the Santa
Barbara channel south, where it is caught the larger portion of the
year.
Grayish blue on the back; sides, a dull silver, with a yellowish buff
stripe along the lateral line; fins, green, with a strong yellowish
tinge; tail, yellowish buff. Scales small, with the head bare, except
a small patch on the cheeks. Pectoral fin on a level with the eye and
small; ventral under the center of the pectoral; caudal, slim and
forked. The dorsal fin is double, the front being very small with
spines and the second half more than twice as high; dorsal and anal
fins continue in a low membrane to very near the tail. Body,
elliptical and very small at the base of the caudal fin.
=Tackle and Lure=--Same as for salmon or albacore.
Order, ACANTHROPTERI.