Pacific Ocean Perch

Body and head generally compressed. Head not completely covered with bony plates, but armed with various spines and ridges; no lachrymal and 3rd infraorbital spines on the lower margin of the orbit, the lower jaw more projecting than the upper, the tooth pach on the tip of the lower jaw exposed in front of the upper, and distance between tips of both jaws much more than 1/3 of orbit diameter. Dorsal fin with 13 spines and 13-15 soft rays; originating far behind eye. Anal fin with 3 spines and 8-9 soft rays. Pectoral with 18 rays, without a notch. Colour light red above; whitish below. Usually has dark saddles along back; often a large olive-green are below soft dorsal fin.

Northeastern Japan, through the Bering Sea to southern California.

Attains about 51 cm.

Abundant in offshore water; on bottom at 180-640 m; adults usually below 122 m.Preyed upon by halibut and albacore tuna.Grows slowly; probably lives for 30 years.

Most important commercial rockfish in the northeastern Pacific. The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 30 768 t. The countries with the largest catches were USA (2 616 t) and Canada (6 900 t). Marketed as fillets. Utilized fresh and frozen; eaten fried, microwaved and baked.