Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Saltwater Fish - Macaw Pets store

Yellowfin Mojarra
Gerres cinereus
Mojarra are members of the Gerridae family of tropical and
subtropical saltwater fish. Roughly 40 species are in this
family, some of which also occur in brackish water and a
few rarely in freshwater. They are small and silvery and have
protractile mouths. The upper jaw of the mojarra fits into a
defined slot when the mouth is not extended, or “pursed.”
When feeding, the mouth is protruded and directed downward.
The dorsal and the anal fins have a sheath of scales
along the base, and the gill membranes are not united to
the isthmus. The first, or spiny, dorsal fin is high in front,
sloping into the second, or soft-rayed, dorsal. The tail is
deeply forked.
Most mojarra are less than 10 inches long. They are
important for predator species and are used as bait by some
anglers. Some species are observed in schools on sandy,
shallow flats.
The spotfin mojarra (Eucinostomus argenteus) is abundant
in the western Atlantic off the coast from New Jersey to
Brazil. It occurs in the eastern Pacific along the coast from
Southern California to Peru. The yellowfin mojarra (Gerres
cinereus) is common in Florida and the Caribbean.
Mojarra
Mojarra 135