Some unofficial records —gathered from published reports

Giant (Black) Sea Bass at the Hotel del Coronado Pier

≈ 600 Lbs. — Manhattan Beach Pier, 1929 —Source: Manhattan Beach Historical Society

≈ 500 Lbs — Point Mugu Fish Camp Pier, Frank Kubota, June 19, 1925 — Source: Oxnard Daily Courier, June 19, 1925

453 Lbs. — Stearns Wharf (Santa Barbara), R. A. Hendricks, October 22, 1925 — Source: Santa Barbara Daily News, October 23, 1925

452 Lbs. — Balboa Pier, Carl Sandino, May 12, 1930 — Source: Santa Ana Register, May 13, 1930

435 Lbs. — Newport Pier, 1937 — Source: Personal communication, Patrick Kennedy, Baldy’s Tackle (1990)

428 Lbs. — Manhattan Beach Pier, 1923 —Source: Manhattan Beach Historical Society

427 Lbs. — Hermosa Beach Pier, Texan, May 16, 1921—Source: Newspaper

A 425-pound Giant Sea Bass taken at Catalina from a boat

415 Lbs. — Belmont Pier (Long Beach), Lester Bobb, June 14, 1929—Source: Long Beach Press-Telegram, June 15, 1929

408 Lbs. — Redondo Beach Pier, C. E. Allen, May 19, 1918—Source: Santa Ana Register, May 20, 1918

402 Lbs. — Santa Monica Pier, Jack Racke, July 3, 1923 —Source: Los Angeles Times, July 4, 1923

400 Lbs. — Port Hueneme Wharf, Arthur Kovalovsky, July 1927 —Source: Oxnard Daily Courier, July 25, 1927

A 384-pound Giant Sea Bass taken at Catalina from a boat

≈ 370 Lbs. — Pine Avenue Pier (Long Beach), John Miller, December 29, 1910—Source: Los Angeles Herald, December 29, 1910

365 Lbs. — Pine Avenue Pier (Long Beach), John Leach, June 11, 1914 — Source: Santa Ana Register, June 12, 1914

360 Lbs. — McFadden Wharf (Newport Beach), March 26, 1896—Source: Los Angeles Times, March 26, 1896

356 Lbs. — Hotel Del Coronado Pier, April 1894— Source: New York Times, May 6, 1894

354 Lbs. — Santa Monica Municipal Pier, I. A. Taft, July 5, 1923—Source: Los Angeles Times, July 6, 1923

351 Lbs. —Manhattan Beach Pier, C. C. Campus, May 15, 1922 —Source: Manhattan Beach Historical Society

350 Lbs. — Santa Monica Municipal Pier, F. M. Stites, October 27, 1915—Source: Los Angeles Times, October 27, 1915

320 Lbs. — Newport Pier, June 1902—Source: Los Angeles Times, June 5, 1902

310 Lbs. — Balboa Pier, Lew Williams, June 25, 1933—Source: Santa Ana Daily Register, July 5, 1933

304 Lbs. — Newport Wharf, C. S. Hemstreet, August, 1908 — Source: Santa Ana Register, August 3, 1908

294 Lbs. — Newport Pier, D. C. Winans, August, 1908 — Source: Santa Ana Register, August 3, 1908

260 Lbs. — Newport Wharf, Dave Winans, June 1911 — Source: Santa Ana Register, June 26, 1911

286 Lbs. — Oceanside Pier, 1936—Source: Oceanside Pier Bait Shop

285 Lbs. — Avalon Pleasure Pier, John Kassar, December 9, 1918—Source: Catalina Islander, December 10, 1918

285 Lbs. — Redondo Beach Pier, A. E. Putter, May 19, 1918—Source: Santa Ana Register, May 20, 1918

278 Lbs. — Redondo Beach Pier, C. E. Allen, May 19, 1918— Source: Santa Ana Register, May 20, 1918

275 Lbs. — Redondo Pier No. 3, D. S. Martin, October 1, 1920— Source: Los Angeles Times

260 Lbs. — Newport Wharf, Dave Winans, June 1911—Source: Santa Ana Register, June 26, 1911

250 Lbs. — Stearns Wharf (Santa Barbara), Jo Delaney, 1886 —Source: San Francisco Chronicle, April 22, 1887

240 Lbs. — Redondo Pier No. 3, W. H. Clark, September 30, 1920—Source: Los Angeles Times

228 Lbs. — Redondo Pier No. 2, Carl Ahrens & Ralph Ahrens, May 23, 1909— Source: Los Angeles Times, May 30, 1909

225 Lbs. — Redondo Wharf No. 3, C. A. Ahrens, May 25, 1909—Source: Los Angeles Times, May 26, 1909

225 Lbs. — McFadden Wharf (Newport Beach), Mort Hubbard, July 10, 1889—Source: Santa Ana Weekly Blade, July 11, 1889

223 Lbs. — Redondo Beach Pier, James Helbach, May 19, 1912 — Source: Oakland Tribune, May 20, 1912

221 Lbs. — Long Wharf (Santa Monica), Joseph J. Embold, August 27, 1913—Source: Los Angeles Times, August 27, 1913\

202 Lbs. — Oceanside Pier, Charles Martin, 1933—Source: Los Angeles Times, August 24, 1934

200 Lbs. — Newport Pier, June 1902—Source: Los Angeles Times, June 5, 1902

≈ 200+ Lbs. — Newport Wharf, Frank Duffy, November 12, 1911— Source: Santa Ana Register, November 13, 1911

≈ 200+ Lbs. — Oceanside Pier, September 2002 (Released)—Source: Oceanside Pier Bait Shop

≈ 200 Lbs. — Oceanside Pier, June 2009 (Released)—Source: Oceanside Pier Bait Shop

≈ 200+ Lbs. — San Clemente Pier, August 2010—Source: PFIC

≈ 200+ Lbs. — San Clemente Pier, September 2015—Source: PFIC

200 Lbs. — Newport Wharf, Frank Duffly, November 1911Source: Santa Ana Register, November 13, 1911

175 Lbs. — Newport Wharf, Chas. Hall, September 1907 — Source: Santa Ana Register, September 10, 1907

35-Pound yellowtail taken from the Balboa Pier by “Aaron”on November 1, 2003

Species: Seriola dorsalis (Valenciennes, 1833); from the Italian word seriola (for amberjack) and dorsalis (the long dorsal fin). Some sources now use Seriola lalandi.

Alternate Names: Yellowtail, amberjack, white salmon, amber fish, forktail, tails, rats (little fish), firecracker  (small fish), mossback (large fish) and cavasina. In Mexico typically called esmedregal or medregal de rabo amarillo.

Yellowtail from Crystal Pier, August 2016

Identification: Typical jack shape with metallic blue to green above, a brassy horizontal band along the sides from eye to tail; silvery below; some fish are olive-brown to brown. Fins and tail are yellowish

Yellowtail caught at Crystal Pier on September 21, 2006 by Montre Somsukcharean; reported at 55 pounds. (Photo courtesy of Peggi Straker)

Size: To 80 pounds and over 5 feet long. Most caught from piers are less than 10 pounds, the small fish called “rats” or “firecrackers.” The California record fish weighed 63 lb 1 oz and was caught at Santa Barbara Island in 2000.

Range: Circumglobal in warmer waters and some temperate waters. In the eastern Pacific from Chile to northern British Columbia. Unverified reports from Gulf of Alaska off Kodiak Island and Cordova. Uncommon north of Point Conception.

48.5-pound yellowtail caught at the Crystal Pier in August 2012 by Tony Troncale

Habitat: Usually found around offshore islands, rocky reefs, or kelp beds. Primarily feeds on squid and fish.

40 Pound yellowtail taken by Angel Hernandez at the Crystal Pier on June 14, 2017

Piers: Most southern California piers located near reefs or kelp will see a few yellowtail caught during the year.  However, they are always a bonus fish and rarely caught in large numbers off of piers. Best bets: Ocean Beach Pier, Crystal, Oceanside Pier, San Clemente Pier, Redondo Beach Pier, and the Hermosa Beach Pier. Cryastal Pier in San Diego is by far the best pier in the state for yellowtail and many fish in the 30-50 pound range have been taken.

42-pound yellowtail caught at Crystal Pier— October 2004

Shoreline: Rarely taken by shore anglers.

Boats: One of the most prized species for boaters in southern California. The traditional “yellowtail grounds” have been at Catalina and the Coronado Islands.

34-Pound yellowtail caught at Crystal Pier in August of 2012 by “Hallman”

Bait and Tackle: If an angler wants to try for yellowtail he should have heavy enough tackle to insure a fair chance of landing the fish. Yellowtail like to head for rocks or kelp as soon as they’re hooked so line should test 20-30 pounds, hooks should be small (size 6 or 4) but strong, and the angler must make sure the fish is played out before it nears the pier and the pilings. Although lures work well on boats, almost all of the pier-caught yellowtail are taken on live bait—especially on small jack mackerel, Pacific mackerel or Pacific sardines.

A small “firecracker-size” yellowtail taken from the Redondo Sportfishing Pier in 2011

Food Value: A fairly good tasting fish that is usually broiled or bar-b-cued.

34 Pound Yellowtail caught by Angel Hernandez at Crystal Pier, August 2016

Comments: One of the favorite southern California sport fish but much more common out in deeper water.

What remains of a 54″, guesstimated 40-pound yellowtail that was hooked and then hit by a sea lion at the Redondo Beach Pier in October 2008

Yellowtail taken at the Manhattan Beach Pier in 2012

46-Pound yellowtail taken at the Crystal Pier by Thomas Shinsato in August 2015

A small “rat-sized” yellowtail caught by Rita Magdamo during the James Liu Memorial Derby at the Cabrillo Mole in Avalon in September 2014

Another small “rat-sized” yellowtail caught in Avalon. The fish was caught at the Green Pleasure Pier in September 2014 although the picture is at the Cabrillo Mole.

A pretty-colored yellowtail taken at the Crystal Pier in August 2016

Tony Troncale’s 48.5-pound yellowtail from Crystal Pier, August 2012

Hard to believe, but a yellowtail taken from Monterey’s Wharf #2 in 2012.

36-Pound yellowtail caught at Crystal Pier in August 2016 by Studman 

53.46-pound yellowtail taken by Big Angel at the Crystal Pier in August 2019

Yellowtail taken by Angel at the Crystal Pier in August 2019

Yellowtail taken by Angel at the Crystal Pier in August 2019

53.46-pound yellowtail taken by Angel at the Crystal Pier in August 2019

My very first yellowtail. Taken in San Diego many, many years ago.

Aaron leaving the Balboa Pier with a 35-pound yellowtail in 2003

Some large yellowtai caught from piers

55 Lbs. — Crystal Pier (San Diego), Montre Somsukcharean, September 21,                      2006—Source: Source: James Barrick, Crystal Pier Bait Shop & Peggi Straker

53.46 Lbs. — Crystal Pier (San Diego), Angel, August 12, 2019—Source Pam, Crystal Pier Bait Shop

52 ½ Lbs. — Pine Ave. Pier (Long Beach), D. W. Fletcher, September 19, 1896—Source: Los Angeles Herald, September 19, 1896

50 Lbs. — Pine Ave. Pier (Long Beach), Al Decker, July 1894—Source: Los Angeles Herald, July 3, 1894

48.5 Lbs. — Crystal Pier (San Diego), Tony Troncale, August 6, 2012—Source: James Barrick, Crystal Pier Bait Shop & Tony Troncale

46 Lbs. — Crystal Pier (San Diego), Thomas Shinsato, August 2015—Source: Source: Crystal Pier Bait Shop & Thomas Shinsato

42 Lb. 1 oz. — Oceanside Pier, Elmo Nealoff, July 1955—Source: Oceanside Pier Bait Shop

42 Lbs. — Crystal Pier (San Diego), October 2004—Source: James Barrick, Crystal Pier Bait Shop

40 Lb. — Crystal Pier (San Diego), Angel Hernandez, June 14, 1917 —  Source: Personal communication

≈ 40 Lbs. — Redondo Beach Pier, October 2008 — Source: bloodydecks.com

40 Lbs. — Avalon wharf, W. M. LeFavor, May 21, 1908—Source: Los Angeles Herald, May 22, 1908

40 Lbs. — Wharf No. 3, Redondo Beach, Japanese fisherman, August 1907—Source: Los Angeles Times, August 18, 1907

40 Lbs. — Avalon wharf, Mrs. Boyce, June 9, 1897—Source: Los Angeles Herald, June 10, 1897

≈ 40 Lbs. — Redondo Beach Pier, October 2008—Source: bloodydecks.com

≈ 40 Lbs. — Hotel del Coronado Pier, September 21, 1899—Source: Los Angeles Times, September 22, 1899

40 Lbs. — Wharf No. 1 (Redondo Beach), Seth Owens, August 22, 1897 — Source: Los Angeles Herald, August 22, 1897

40 Lbs. — Avalon wharf, Mrs. Boyce, June 9, 1897 — Source: Los Angeles Herald, June 10, 1897

36 Lbs. — Crystal Pier (San Diego), August 2016—Source: Crystal Pier Bait Shop

35 Lbs. — Crystal Pier (San Diego), August 2012—Source: James Barrick, Crystal Pier Bait Shop

35 Lbs. — Balboa Pier, Aaron, November 1, 2003—Source: PFIC

34 Lbs. — Crystal Pier (San Diego), Hallman, August 2012 —Source: James Barrick, Crystal Pier Bait Shop

34 Lbs. — Crystal Pier (San Diego), Angel Hernandez, August 2016—Source: Angel Hernandez

34 Lbs. — Wharf No. 3 (Redondo Beach), William Codie, September 26, 1910 — Source: The Redondo Reflex, September 29, 1910

34 Lbs. — Avalon Wharf, Al Delaney, August 17, 1908 — Source: Los Angeles Times, August 16, 1908

33 ½ Lbs. — Wharf #3 (Redondo Beach), August 24, 1910—Source: Santa Ana Register, August 25, 1910

33 Lbs. — Newport Wharf, E. P. Deffley, May 1909—Source: Los Angeles Herald, May 22, 1909

32 ½ Lbs. — Redondo Wharf, August 23, 1891—Source: Los Angeles Herald, August 24, 1891

32 ½ Lbs. — Avalon Wharf, W. M. LeFavor, May 20, 1908—Source: Los Angeles Herald, May 22, 1908

30 Lbs. — Huntington Beach Pier, Earl Nelson, May 7, 1934—Source: Santa Ana Register, May 8, 1934

30 Lbs.— Hotel del Coronado Pier, Joe Larnel, August 31, 1898—Source: Los Angeles Times, September 1, 1898