Differences Between Yellow Croaker and Yellow Fish, and the Price of Wild Yellow Croaker

Yellow croaker and yellow fish differ by only one character, so are they the same? Are they the same kind of fish? How do you identify the difference between the two? How much is wild yellow croaker per jin?

Yellow fish, also called yellow croaker, is the collective name for a genus of yellow croakers in the family Sciaenidae, genus Larimichthys. Yellow fish is divided into large yellow croaker and small yellow croaker. The large yellow croaker is also called large fresh, large yellow flower, osmanthus yellow croaker, yellow croaker, etc., and the small yellow croaker is also called small fresh, small yellow flower, small yellow croaker. Large and small yellow croakers, together with hairtail, are known as China's three major marine products. Around the Dragon Boat Festival in summer is the main fishing season for large yellow croaker, while Qingming to Guyu is the main fishing season for small yellow croaker. At this time the yellow croaker's body is plump and beautiful, with golden scales, and its development reaches its peak, making it the most valuable for eating. 

Therefore, yellow croaker is the large yellow croaker, belonging to a type of yellow fish. Its body is large and bright yellow, its flesh is tender and delicious, it is high in protein and low in cholesterol, and it can treat anemia and nourish the body, making it a treasure among saltwater fish. Yellow croaker has very high economic value; eaten fresh, it can be braised, stewed plain, stir-fried raw, salted, etc., and cooked into dozens of dishes with different flavors. Large yellow croaker also has very high medicinal value: its otolith has the effect of clearing heat and removing blood stasis and promoting urination, its swim bladder has the effect of moistening the lungs and strengthening the spleen and replenishing qi and stopping bleeding, and its gallbladder has the function of clearing heat and detoxifying.

Yellow fish are similar in shape and habits. This type of fish has a laterally compressed, elongated body and is golden yellow. The large yellow croaker has a slender tail stalk, smaller scales, a body length of 40-50 cm, and 25-27 vertebrae; the small yellow croaker has a shorter tail stalk, larger scales, a body length of about 20 cm, and 28-30 vertebrae.

Yellow croaker (large yellow croaker) has an elongated, laterally compressed body, with a body length of about 40-50cm. Golden yellow. Tail stalk slender. Scales relatively small, with 8-9 rows of scales between the origin of the dorsal fin and the lateral line. 25-27 vertebrae. It usually inhabits deeper sea areas, migrates toward coastal waters to spawn from April to June, and after spawning disperses along the coast to feed, eating fish, shrimp, etc. In autumn and winter it migrates again to deeper sea areas.

In addition, besides referring to the large yellow croaker, yellow croaker can also refer to the pond smelt. The pond smelt belongs to Salmoniformes, Osmeridae, Hypomesus. Its body is slender and slightly laterally compressed, the head is small and pointed, and the head length is greater than the body height. The mouth is large and terminal, and the upper and lower jaws and tongue all have villiform teeth. The posterior extension of the maxilla does not reach the lower edge of the center of the eye; the eyes are large. Scales are large, and the lateral line is inconspicuous. The dorsal fin is relatively high, and its height is greater than the body height; the end of the adipose fin is free and shaped like a bent finger; the pectoral fins are small; the tail stalk is very thin, and its height is only equal to the eye diameter; the caudal fin is deeply forked. The back is grass green, slightly tinged with yellow; the sides of the body are silvery white; the edges of the scales have small dark spots; all fins are grayish black.

The pond smelt is distributed in the Heilongjiang River, the lower reaches of the Tumen River, and the middle and lower reaches of the Yalu River. The smelt has a fresh cucumber aroma, so local residents call it yellow croaker.

So, how much is wild yellow croaker per jin?

The average price of farmed large yellow croaker on the market is about 56 yuan/kg, while the price of wild ones fluctuates quite a lot, with many grades by weight. During the May Day period, the prices were roughly: for each fish weighing 2-3 liang, about 150 yuan per jin; for 3-4 liang, about 280 yuan per jin; for 4-5 liang, about 380 yuan per jin; for 5-7 liang, about 550 yuan per jin; for 7-9 liang, about 800 yuan per jin, and so on, the bigger the more expensive! A wild large yellow croaker weighing four or five jin can sell for four to five thousand yuan per jin!