Small Yellow Croaker

About this species

A small, golden croaker of the Yellow Sea, one of Korea's most culturally important food fish, dried as gulbi. It forms schools over soft bottoms, drumming with its swim bladder. Mostly netted commercially, it is occasionally taken on baited bottom rigs.

Season

Depth

10 – 80 m

Habitat Spots

Fishing Methods

Bait & Rig

Baited bottom rigs with shrimp or squid strip over sandy and muddy grounds; dropper rigs with multiple hooks or sabiki rigs are used from boats.

Edibility & Taste

A defining flavor of Korean cuisine; the sweet, fine-textured flesh is prized fresh, salted as gulbi, dried, or braised in soy sauce.

Similar Species

Large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) is bigger with a larger mouth and more robust build, reaching 80 cm; both species have the distinctive drumming swim bladder.

Record Weight

0.8 kg