California Yellowtail are found and caught commercially off
California and Baja California, Mexico. They reach sexual
maturity at an early age, but are relatively slow growing and
known to form spawning aggregations, making them vulnerable to
fishing pressure. Catches of California Yellowtail have
fluctuated greatly over the years, tending to be greater during
El Nino events when waters are warmer and much less during cool,
La Nina events. Abundance levels of California Yellowtail
populations are not known, but catches in recent years have been
low. California Yellowtail are captured with both set and drift
gillnets and hook-and-line. Drift gillnets and hook-and-line
cause minimal habitat damage while set gillnets may cause
moderate habitat damage. Bycatch in these fisheries is likely
moderate. Some management regulations are in place for the
California fisheries, such as a minimum size limit and
restricted fishing areas, but regulations are not in place for
Mexico fisheries.