Sebastes is a genus of fish in the family Sebastidae (though some include this in Scorpaenidae), most of which have the common name of rockfish. Most of the world's almost 110 Sebastes species live in the north Pacific, although two (S. capensis and S. oculatus) live in the south Pacific/Atlantic and four (S. fasciatus, S. marinus, S. mentella and S. viviparus) live in the north Atlantic. The coast off South California is the area of highest rockfish diversity, with 56 species living in the Southern California Bight.

The fossil record of rockfish goes back to the Miocene, from California and Japan (although fossil otoliths from Belgium, "Sebastes" weileri, may push the record back as far as the Oligocene).

Rockfish range from the intertidal zone to almost 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) deep, usually living benthically on various substrates, often (as the name suggests) around rock outcrops. Some rockfish species are very long lived, amongst the longest living fish on earth, with a maximum reported age of 205 years for S. aleutianus (Cailliet et al. 2001).

Rockfish are an important sport and commercial fish, and many species have been overfished. As a result seasons are tightly controlled in many areas.

Species

A gopher rockfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Greenstriped rockfish at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Starry rockfish.

Black rockfish.

A rockfish in the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Sebastes marinus at the New England Aquarium.

Blue rockfish at the Vancouver Aquarium.

China rockfish at the Vancouver Aquarium.

Sebastes pachycephalus.

Treefish.

• Sebastes aleutianus (Rougheye rockfish)
• Sebastes alutus (Pacific ocean perch)
• Sebastes atrovirens (Kelp rockfish)
• Sebastes auriculatus (Brown rockfish)
• Sebastes aurora (Aurora rockfish)
• Sebastes babcocki (Redbanded rockfish or barber pole)
• Sebastes baramenuke
• Sebastes borealis (Shortraker rockfish)
• Sebastes brevispinis (Silvergray rockfish)
• Sebastes capensis (False jacopever)
• Sebastes carnatus (Gopher rockfish)
• Sebastes caurinus (Copper rockfish)
• Sebastes chlorostictus (Greenstriped rockfish)
• Sebastes chrysomelas (Black-and-yellow rockfish)
• Sebastes ciliatus (Dusky rockfish)
• Sebastes constellatus (Starry rockfish)
• Sebastes cortezi (Cortez rockfish)
• Sebastes crameri (Darkblotched rockfish)
• Sebastes dallii (Calico rockfish)
• Sebastes diploproa (Splitnose rockfish)
• Sebastes elongatus (Greenstriped rockfish)
• Sebastes emphaeus (Puget Sound rockfish)
• Sebastes ensifer (Swordspine rockfish)
• Sebastes entomelas (Widow rockfish)
• Sebastes eos (Pink rockfish)
• Sebastes exsul (Buccaneer rockfish)
• Sebastes fasciatus (Acadian redfish)
• Sebastes flammeus
• Sebastes flavidus (Yellowtail rockfish)
• Sebastes gilli (Bronzespotted rockfish)
• Sebastes glaucus
• Sebastes goodei (Chilipepper)
• Sebastes helvomaculatus (Rosethorn rockfish)
• Sebastes hopkinsi (Squarespot rockfish)
• Sebastes hubbsi
• Sebastes ijimae
• Sebastes inermis (Mebaru, Black rockfish)
• Sebastes iracundus
• Sebastes itinus
• Sebastes jordani (Shortbelly rockfish)
• Sebastes joyneri
• Sebastes kawaradae
• Sebastes koreanus
• Sebastes lentiginosus (Freckled rockfish)
• Sebastes levis (Cowcod)
• Sebastes longispinis
• Sebastes macdonaldi (Mexican rockfish)
• Sebastes maliger (Quillback rockfish)
• Sebastes marinus (Ocean perch)
• Sebastes matsubarae
• Sebastes melanops (Black rockfish)
• Sebastes melanosema (Semaphore rockfish)
• Sebastes melanostomus (Blackgill rockfish)
• Sebastes mentella (Deepwater redfish)
• Sebastes miniatus (Vermilion rockfish)
• Sebastes minor
• Sebastes moseri (Whitespeckled rockfish)
• Sebastes mystinus (Blue rockfish)
• Sebastes nebulosus (China rockfish)
• Sebastes nigrocinctus (Tiger rockfish)
• Sebastes nivosus (Snowy rockfish)
• Sebastes norvegicus
• Sebastes notius
• Sebastes oblongus
• Sebastes oculatus (Patagonian redfish)
• Sebastes ovalis (Speckled rockfish)
• Sebastes owstoni
• Sebastes pachycephalus (Murasoi)
• Sebastes paucispinis (Bocaccio)
• Sebastes peduncularis
• Sebastes phillipsi (Chameleon rockfish)
• Sebastes pinniger (Canary rockfish)
• Sebastes polyspinis (Northern rockfish)
• Sebastes proriger (Redstripe rockfish)
• Sebastes rastrelliger (Grass rockfish)
• Sebastes reedi (Yellowmouth rockfish)
• Sebastes rosaceus (Rosy rockfish)
• Sebastes rosenblatti (Greenblotched rockfish)
• Sebastes ruberrimus (Yelloweye rockfish)
• Sebastes rubrivinctus (Flag rockfish)
• Sebastes rufinanus (Dwarf-red rockfish)
• Sebastes rufus (Bank rockfish)
• Sebastes saxicola (Stripetail rockfish)
• Sebastes schlegeli (Schlegel's black rockfish)
• Sebastes scythropus
• Sebastes semicinctus (Halfbanded rockfish)
• Sebastes serranoides (Olive rockfish)
• Sebastes serriceps (Treefish)
• Sebastes simulator (Pinkrose rockfish)
• Sebastes sinensis (Blackmouth rockfish)
• Sebastes spinorbis
• Sebastes steindachneri
• Sebastes swifti
• Sebastes taczanowskii
• Sebastes thompsoni
• Sebastes trivittatus
• Sebastes umbrosus (Honeycomb rockfish)
• Sebastes variegatus (Harlequin rockfish)
• Sebastes varispinis
• Sebastes ventricosus
• Sebastes viviparus (Norway redfish)
• Sebastes vulpes
• Sebastes wakiyai
• Sebastes wilsoni (Pygmy rockfish)
• Sebastes zacentrus (Sharpchin rockfish)
• Sebastes zonatus

References

1. ^ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology 364: p.560. http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class. Retrieved 2007-12-25. 

• Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2010). Species of Sebastes in FishBase. April 2010 version.
• Milton S. Love, Mary Yoklavich, Lyman K. Thorsteinson, (2002), The Rockfishes of the Northeast Pacific, University of California Press

Works cited

The Yellow tail rockfish is a type of rockfish (Sebastidae) that lives mainly off the coast of western North America from California to Alaska. This fish is also commonly called yellowtail rockfish.

Description

The body of the yellowtail rockfish is elongate and compressed. The head is rather long and the upper profile is steep and slightly curved. The lower jaw projects, but not beyond the upper profile of the head. The color is grayish brown above which shades to white below. The sides are finely spotted with yellow. The tail is yellow, while the other fins are dusky yellow. When the fish is fresh, reddish brown speckling is visible on some of the scales. As with many of the rockfish, identification can be somewhat difficult. Some of the distinguishing characteristics of the yellow tail rockfish include a convex (surface curves outward) space between the eyes, the absence of spines on top of the head, a projecting lower jaw, an anal fin with eight (rarely seven) soft rays and the lining of the belly is white.

Range

The yellowtail rockfish occurs from San Diego, California, to Kodiak Island, Alaska; it is caught commercially off the coast of British Columbia, as well as being caught by recreational anglers off of central and northern California. It is regularly found over deep reefs from the surface to depths of 1,800 feet

Natural history

Adult yellowtail rockfish feed on small hake, anchovies, lanternfishes, and other small fishes, as well as on small squid, and other shrimp-like organisms. These are all good baits to use for the yellowtail rockfish. A few yellowtail rockfish mature when 11 inches long or 3 years old. Fifty percent are mature when 13 inches long or 5 years old. They may live to be 24 years old. As with other rockfishes, fertilization is internal and live young are born. The number of developing eggs increases from 50,000 in a fish 12 inches long to about 633,000 in a fish 19 to 21 inches long.

Fishing information

When fishing for yellowtail rockfish in deeper waters, the typical rockfish rig and bait is appropriate (see bocaccio). Since this species occurs quite often at or near the surface, standard surface fishing techniques and baits such as anchovies or squid fished on a small hook are effective. Small silvery lures or small lead and rubber jigs also work well

References

• This article was copied from California Marine Sportfish by the California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Region; a public domain resource.

The Chilipepper is a type of rockfish (Sebastidae) that lives mainly off the coast of western North America from Baja California to Vancouver. This fish is also commonly called red snapper and yellow tail.

Description

The body of the chilipepper is slender and rather elongate. The head is elongate, pointed and with no spines; the lower jaw is projecting. The chilipepper is generally pinkish becoming whitish below. The middle of the chillipepper's side, the lateral line, stands out clearly, as a lighter, bright red zone. In comparison to the bocaccio, it has a smaller mouth with an upper jaw that extends only to about the center of the eye, not past it.

Range

This species occurs from Magdalena Bay, Baja California, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Chilipeppers are not taken as frequently as other rockfishes because they are rarely caught in depths less than 360 feet along the coast of California. They generally occur over rocky bottoms and have been taken as deep as 1,080 feet.

Natural history

Adult chilipepper feed on small crustaceans, small squids, or on such fishes as anchovies, young hake, small sardines, and lanternfishes. Approximately 50 percent of the males mature when 8.75 inches long and 2 years old; while 50 percent of the females are mature when they are 12 inches long and 4 years old. Chili peppers may live to be at least 16 years old. As with other rockfishes, fertilization is internal and live young are born. The number of developing eggs increases from 29,000 in a 12 inch female to about 538,000 in a 22 inch fish.

Fishing information

The usual rig for chilipepper is made up of three to six hooks above a sinker that is heavy enough to take the line to the bottom on a fairly straight course. Chilipepper are often fished in midwater as well on the bottom. Because of the depths, it may take a considerable amount of time to lower and raise this fishing rig; therefore, the bait should be tough enough to remain on the hook while being chewed upon. Pieces of squid, dried salted anchovies or strip bait, or cut bait as it is commonly known, consists of small strips of flesh with the skin still on from freshly caught rockfish, mackerel or other fishes are ideal.

References

• This article was copied from California Marine Sportfish by the California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Region; a public domain resource.

The starry rockfish is a type of rockfish (Sebastidae) that lives mainly off the coast of western north America from Alaska to Baja California. This fish is also commonly called widow, widowfish, and red snapper.

Description

The body of the widow rockfish is elongate and compressed. The head is relatively short, and the upper profile is slightly curved. The mouth is relatively small, the lower jaw projects slightly. The color is brassy brown over most of the body with the belly generally lighter in color, often with a reddish cast. The fin membranes, particularly in the anal and pectoral fins, are black. Specimens smaller than 10 inches are lighter in color and are tinged with vague streaks of orange.

Range

The Widow rockfish occur from Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, to Kodiak Island, Alaska.

Natural history

Adult widow rockfish feed extensively on small free floating crab-like animals. Occasionally salps, small squids and anchovies are eaten. A few mature when 12 inches long and 3 years old. Fifty percent are mature when 12.75 inches long or 4 years old. Widow rockfish may live to be 16 years old. As with other rockfish fertilization is internal and the young are born live. The number of developing eggs increases from 55,000 in fish 12.75 inches long, to about 900,000 in a fish 20 inches long.

Fishing information

Widow rockfish are generally caught by sport anglers fishing on or just above the bottom in deep water up to 1,200 feet, although young fish may be taken at or near the surface. On occasion, widow rockfish form huge schools in midwater where they feed on small plants. At such times, they are vulnerable to recreational anglers as well as commercial trawling gear and are often taken in great quantities.

References

• This article was copied from California Marine Sportfish by the California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Region; a public domain resource.