Selected Nearshore Fishes of California

The Species Pursuant to Regulation Section 1.90

Pale blotches 1st Gill Arch Light brown to greenish-
Long gill rakers brown mottling
Dark brown to
orange-red White band

GOPHER ROCKFISH Sebastes carnatus

Range: Northern CA to central Baja CA KELP ROCKFISH Sebastes atrovirens
Depth: Shallow water to 180 ft. Range: Northern CA to central Baja CA
Grows to: 16.7 in. Depth: Shallow water to 150 ft.
COPPER ROCKFISH Sebastes caurinus
Grows to: 16.7 in.
Range: Alaska to central Baja CA
Yellow blotches Depth: Shallow water to 600 ft.
Grows to: 22.9 in. 1st Gill Arch
Short gill rakers

Bluish-white speckles

BLACK-AND-YELLOW ROCKFISH Sebastes chrysomelas

Range: Northern CA to central Baja CA
Depth: Intertidal to 50 ft. GRASS ROCKFISH Sebastes rastrelliger
Grows to: 15.25 in. Range: Oregon to central Baja CA
CHINA ROCKFISH Sebastes nebulosus Depth: Intertidal to 150 ft.
Dark bars on body Range: Alaska to southern CA Grows to: 22 in.
Pink lips Depth: 10 - 420 ft.
Grows to: 17 in.
Dark spot on
gill cover
Large mottled Tall spines
TREEFISH Sebastes serriceps orange area
Range: Central CA to central Baja CA
Depth: Shallow water to 150 ft.
Grows to: 16 in.
BROWN ROCKFISH Sebastes auriculatus
Diagonal Range: Alaska to central Baja CA
bands Depth: Shallow water to 420 ft.
Grows to: 21.5 in.
QUILLBACK ROCKFISH Sebastes maliger
Range: Alaska to central CA
Depth: Shallow water to 900 ft. Additional Identification References:
Grows to: 24 in. -DFG Fish Bulletin 157: Miller & Lea, 1972
CALICO ROCKFISH Sebastes dallii -Petersen Field Guide Series #28,
Range: Central CA to central Baja CA Eschmeyer et al., 1983
Contact Information:
Depth: 60 - 840 ft. All Anglers: Limits, minimum sizes, and other regulations exist for various species.
-Web site www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/
Grows to: 10 in. Please check the California Fishing Regulations for specifics. These 19 species are
Groundfish hotline (831) 649-2801
subject to change.
 Selected Nearshore Fishes of California
The Species Pursuant to Regulation Section 1.90

Female Red flecking

Brownish red to rose, sometimes very
Female dark or with irregular bars

Upper jaw extends Squared

to middle of eye anal fin

Male Male BLUE ROCKFISH Sebastes mystinus

Blue spots Gray to brown Sometimes Range: Alaska to northern Baja CA
with a fleshy Depth: Shallow water to 1800 ft.
lump on Grows to: 21 in.
head

KELP GREENLING Hexagrammos decagrammus CALIFORNIA SHEEPHEAD Semicossyphus pulcher

Range: Alaska to southern CA Range: Central CA to Gulf of CA
Depth: Shallow water to 150 ft. Depth: Shallow water to 180 ft.
Grows to: 21 in. Grows to: 36 in. Upper jaw extends to
or past rear of eye Rounded anal fin
Greenish to brown with darker mottling Red, brown or green
and often red blotches Cirrus mottling BLACK ROCKFISH Sebastes melanops
Cirrus on head and sides Nasal Range: Alaska to southern CA
flap
Depth: Shallow water to 1200 ft.
Grows to: 25.5 in.

Whitish blotches
CABEZON Scorpaenichthys marmoratus on back
ROCK GREENLING Hexagrammos lagocephalus
Range: Alaska to central Baja CA
Range: Bering Sea to central CA
Depth: Intertidal and shallow rocky areas Depth: Intertidal to 250 ft. Olive
Grows to: 24 in. Grows to: 39 in.

Lumpy ridge Black, olive or gray with rusty OLIVE ROCKFISH Sebastes serranoides
on head Red to brown
blotches along the body Range: Northern CA to central Baja CA
Depth: Shallow water to 480 ft.
Grows to: 24 in.

MONKEYFACE PRICKLEBACK Cebidichthys violaceus CALIFORNIA SCORPIONFISH Scorpaena guttata Layout & Design by: Briana C. Brady
Range: Southern Oregon to north-central Baja CA Pictures from: DFG Fish Bulletin 157
Range: Central CA to Gulf of CA
Depth: Shallow water to 80 ft. Artwork by: Lorraine Sinclair
Grows to: 30 in. Depth: Shallow water to 600 ft. Date Created: May 2001
Grows to: 17 in.