Small yellow croaker
Temperate western Pacific croaker with red lips and gold belly
The small yellow croaker is a temperate fish native to the western Pacific. It lives in shallow seas off China, Korea and Japan. Overfishing caused a population crash in the 1970s, but catches have since recovered. It is valued as food, especially when dried in Korean cuisine.
- Males reach a maximum length of 42 cm
- Population collapsed in 1970s due to overfishing
- Dried form known as gulbi is a Korean delicacy
- Uses air bladder to make noise and stay grouped
- Spawns 30,000 to 70,000 eggs from March to June
What it is
This species is a croaker with a nearly rectangular body shape. It displays a grey-gold body, a gold belly and light yellow fins. The most distinct feature is its red lips. Inside the mouth is white, while the gill slit appears black. Two hard, pale bones in the head help maintain balance during swimming. Males grow up to 42 cm, though 30 cm is more typical. They produce noise using their air bladder to stay together in groups.
Where it lives
The fish inhabits temperate waters of the western Pacific. Its primary range includes the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. It stays in shallow areas where the depth does not exceed 120 metres. The preferred sea floor consists of sand or mud. This species avoids brackish conditions found in estuaries. During winter months, it migrates towards warmer waters to survive the cold temperatures.
How it lives
These fish are benthopelagic feeders, meaning they hunt near the bottom and in mid-water. Their diet consists mainly of shrimp, zooplankton and occasionally small fishes. They exhibit a habit of leaping above the sea surface. To prevent the school from scattering, they use their air bladder to make sounds. This acoustic communication helps maintain group cohesion while feeding or moving through their habitat.
Breeding and life cycle
The breeding season occurs between March and June. During this period, females release a large number of eggs. A single spawning event typically produces between 30,000 and 70,000 eggs. This high fecundity helps the population recover from heavy fishing pressure. The young develop in the shallow coastal waters where the adults reside.
Fish and people
It was once an abundant commercial catch off China, Korea and Japan. Heavy fishing caused the population to collapse in the 1970s. Catches later rebounded, reaching over 388,000 tonnes in 2008. In Korea, the salted and dried fish is called gulbi. Yeonggwang gulbi is a prized delicacy that can sell for over $100 per bunch. The hard head bones are also used as a material in traditional medicine.
Status and threats
The population suffered a severe collapse in the 1970s due to overfishing. Global catch volumes eventually recovered in the following decades. By 2008, landings had risen significantly. The species remains a target for commercial fisheries in East Asia. Management efforts have allowed stocks to rebuild after the earlier decline.
Questions people ask about Small yellow croaker
What does the small yellow croaker look like?
It has a rectangular body with a grey-gold back and gold belly. The fins are light yellow. Its most notable features are red lips, a white mouth interior and a black gill slit.
Why did the population drop in the 1970s?
The population collapsed due to intense overfishing. It was once an abundant commercial fish off the coasts of China, Korea and Japan before stocks were depleted by heavy harvest rates.
How is this fish used in Korean cuisine?
It is salted and dried to make a product called gulbi. Yeonggwang gulbi is considered a prized delicacy and can sell for over $100 for a single bunch in markets.
Where does this fish live?
It lives in temperate shallow waters of the western Pacific, such as the East China Sea and Yellow Sea. It prefers sandy or muddy sea floors above 120 metres depth.
Good reading and sources
- Larimichthys polyactis on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Larimichthys polyactis", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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