Gopher Rockfish – Sebastes carnatus. Similar to the species Black and Yellow Rockfish – Sebastes chrysomelas.
Identifying Characteristics and Biology
- Dark or brown in color, with large pinkish or whitish blotches.
- Two lines extend from the eyes, going back.
- They can reach up to 15 1/2 inches in length.
Range and Habitat
- Gopher rockfish are found from Northern California to Central Baja, and are very common from the Mendocino County area to the Santa Monica Bay.
- In the water, they are caught anywhere from the intertidal zone to 264 feet out, and most from 30 to 120 feet out.
- They are solitary fish, and bottom rockfish.
Market Forms
- They are not an important commercial fish, and are often caught by sport fishermen when looking for other rockfish.
Source:
Love, Milton. Probably More Than You Want to Know About the Fishes of the Pacific Coast. Santa Barbara: Really Big Press, 1996. Print.