Shortjaw leatherjacket (Oligoplites spp.; usually referring to Oligoplites refulgens) are found in Eastern Pacific from Baja California, Mexico to Ecuador. Also reported from Paita, Peru. Adults are found in littoral waters, tolerate low salinities and may temporarily penetrate estuarine waters. 

Sardines are the most important pelagic species exploited in the Gulf of California. This fishery consists of small epipelagic species: the Monterrey sardine (Sardinops sagax caerulea); the thread herring (Opisthonema libertate and 0. bulleri); the Japanese sardine (Etrumeus teres); mackerel (Scomber japonicus) ; the anchoveta (Cetengraulis mysticetus); the pineapple sardine (Oligoplites spp.); and the Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus spp.).

The small pelagic fishery in Mexico is a multispecific fishery where Oligoplites spp. constitutes a residual component in total catches (circa 0.5% between 2006 and 2013, SAGARPA 2006 and 2014). In mexico this species is part of a group of passively managed small pelagic resources since 2012, according with the Fisheries Management Plan for this group in the Gulf of California (SCS 2016, SAGARPA 2014).