White croaker is a silvery coastal fish of the northwestern Pacific. The dark mark high on its gill cover helps distinguish it from the U.S. West Coast white croaker, which usually has a small dark spot at the base of its pectoral fin. It is also called silver croaker.
The California fish usually has a small dark spot where its pectoral fin meets the body. This species has a dark mark higher on the gill cover; the coast where it was found is also a strong clue.
Why they get mixed upThey share the English name “white croaker.”