Yellow fin mojarra (Gerres cinereus) is a saltwater, freshwater, brackish species recorded in the United States. It is mainly found over reef, at depths of 1–15 m.
Scientific name: Gerres cinereus · Water: Saltwater, Freshwater, Brackish
Size: up to 41 cm
The yellow fin mojarra is a gerreid that inhabits shallow coastal waters in open sandy and surf areas, seagrass beds, near reefs and in mangrove channels, and it enters brackish water and sometimes even fresh water; it is recorded from 1 to 15 m. It may occur in small aggregations, and it feeds on benthic invertebrates such as worms, clams and crustaceans as well as on insects, often feeding in sand patches among reefs by thrusting its mouth into the sediment and expelling sand from the gill openings. It is easily approached, and it is marketed fresh though not highly esteemed and is also processed into fishmeal. Its range is the western Atlantic, from Bermuda and Florida to the Bahamas, the northern Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean including the Antilles, and the South American coast to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Maximum length is about 41 cm total length, commonly about 30 cm, and it matures at about 20 cm. It is a minor commercial species, a gamefish and an occasional bait species, with a medium price category. Fishing vulnerability is low at 24 of 100 and resilience medium. IUCN lists it as least concern.
Caution: large individuals carry a ciguatera risk. Heat, cold and marinating do not remove the toxin, which concentrates in the liver, roe and head, so avoid eating those parts. Seek medical help if numbness, tingling or a reversed sense of hot and cold follows a meal.
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