Marine Life

Rockfish
(Sebastes)
Courtesy of Tom Haight

(Brown Rockfish)

(Copper Rockfish)

There are about 60 different species of rockfish along this coastline with at least 30 being found frequently in Southern California. Their Latin name Sebastodes means magnificent and probably refers to their sometimes gaudy appearance. Like other members of the scorpionfish family they all possess venomous spines around their bodies. They tend to have somewhat bass-shaped bodies with large mouths and prominent lips. When disturbed they will often flare their venomous dorsal spines. Rockfish tend to hang around reef areas, in and around crevices and caves, but some species will form schools in open water. They can be found in shallow offshore reef areas to depths as great as 1500 feet. They are active predators and will usually lie in wait for their dinner. Some rockfish can grow to several feet but most are around in one to one and a half foot range.