Silver Croaker (Pennahia argentata)
The silver croaker or Pennahia argentata I avidly found in the Northwest Pacific region from Japan, Hong Kong to North Korea and Yellow sea. Its length at maturity remains around 14 cm but there have been instances where fishes of high length like 40 cm have also been found. With regards to its dorsal rays, they are around 11 in number while dorsal soft rays can be anywhere from 25-28.
The Silver croaker has 2 anal spines and 7-8 anal soft rays with close to 25 vertebrae to give support to the body. Posterior end of its pectoral fin extends along the posterior end of its spinous dorsal fin and is a remarkable feature of its body. There are no markings seen inside the lower jaw teeth and the length of its second anal spine is almost equal to the diameter of its eye.
Silver Croaker is mostly seen in muddy and shallow waters and you have to delve deep to bring them out. Mostly you find these little fish preying and eating other small fishes and invertebrates that they find easily available. When it comes to marketing the Silver Croaker they are used fresh and dried and are quite tasty to consume.
Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys polyactis)
A native of the western Pacific region Yellow croaker is often seen inhabiting temperate waters like those of yellow sea and the East China Sea. Usually, the yellow croaker is found eating zooplankton, small fishes and shrimps etc. Mostly you would find this fish in shallow water conditions but they try to avoid brackish conditions as much as they can. An average male, in this case, reaches a height of 42 cm though the average height still remains around 30 cm.
With red lips, gold body and belly and light yellow fins these fish have an almost rectangular shape. Insides of the mouth are white in colour and its gill slits would be black. Their head has two hard bones which give balance to the fish while swimming. These bones are used for medicinal purposes as well. Another habit of theirs which makes them distinct is that they love to jump over water.
It was once an abundant fish in the Chinese and Japanese waters but in the 1970s over usage led to its population coming down. However, they have again become prominent and are consumed salted and fried which is highly prized in those areas. The breeding season of the Yellow croaker is from March to June and they spawn between 30000-70000 eggs at a time.
