California Yellowtail
Seriola dorsalis
Also called yellowtail, mossback, homeguard
A popular gamefish in the jack family known for its yellowish tail fin and strong fighting ability. Highly prized by recreational anglers for its speed and acrobatic jumps when hooked.
California Yellowtail at a glance
- Scientific name
- Seriola dorsalis
- Typical size
- 24-42 inches
- IGFA world record
- 80 lbs 15 oz
- Water
- Saltwater
- Habitat
- Offshore
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Rare
Habitat
Kelp beds, islands, and offshore structure. Hard-fighting gamefish. Popular in southern California.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a california yellowtail through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksWhat to throw for california yellowtail
The lure classes that produce for california yellowtail, drawn from the same species map Cobia reasons about. Each one opens a full page on what it is, when it works and how to fish it.
Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the water in front of you today. That part is the app.
California Yellowtail questions people ask
California Yellowtail is Seriola dorsalis. Anglers also call it yellowtail, mossback, homeguard.
A typical california yellowtail runs 24-42 inches. The IGFA all tackle world record stands at 80 lbs 15 oz. Cobia records the length and weight of every california yellowtail you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Kelp beds, islands, and offshore structure. Hard-fighting gamefish. Popular in southern California. It is a salt water species, filed under offshore in the Fishdex.
The IGFA all tackle world record california yellowtail weighed 80 lbs 15 oz.
Soft swimbaits and paddletails, spoons, jerkbaits and topwater poppers all produce. Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the season, the water temperature and the tide on the day, which is the part Cobia works out against the lures you already own.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.