Species Gallery - All
SIZE: 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 in. max. 3 in.
Harlequin Bass
Serranus tigrinusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Dark, tiger-like bars.
DESCRIPTION:
Upper body has whitish undercolor; lower body pale yellow. Series of dark dots form diffuse horizontal lines on body. Head more pointed than that of other family members.
SIZE: 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 in. max. 3 in.
Fairy Basslet
Gramma loretoDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Bicolored – purple to violet front and yellow to gold rear. 2. Dark spot on dorsal fin.
DESCRIPTION:
Several streaks on head run across eye.
SIZE: 1 - 1 1/2 ft. max. 2 ft.
Stoplight Parrotfish
Sparisoma virideDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Bright yellow spot at upper corner of gill cover. 2. Yellow area at base of tail. 3. Salmon to yellow crescent on tail.
DESCRIPTION:
Emerald green. Salmon to yellow markings on head and fins. Tail is crescent-shaped.
SIZE: 6-10 in. max. 11 in.
Redband Parrotfish
Sparisoma aurofrenatumDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Small yellow blotch with two or more small black spots on upper forebody. 2. Usually salmon to orange or yellow band from corner of mouth to below eye.
DESCRIPTION:
Greenish overall, underside lighter; anal fin usually reddish. Outer tips of tail black. Tail square-cut.
SIZE: 5-6 in. max 8 in.
Yellowhead Wrasse
Halichoeres garnotiDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Yellow head and forebody. 2. Dark midbody bar.
DESCRIPTION:
Head and forebody vary from bright yellow to yellowish or greenish tan; dark blue to green rear body and tail. Dark midbody bar continues as a wide border along back to tail.
SIZE: 4-5 in. max 6 in.
Bluehead
Thalassoma bifasciatumDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Blue head. 2. Two dark bars behind head, separated by white bar.
DESCRIPTION:
Rear body is green to blue-green.
SIZE: 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 ft. max. 3 ft.
Trumpetfish
Aulostomus maculatusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Long, thin body. 1. Trumpet-like mouth.
DESCRIPTION:
Adept at color change. Most common phase is brown to reddish brown; can be blue-gray, bright yellow or many shades between. Have pale lines, scattered small black spots, and a black streak on upper jaw.
SIZE: 5-8 in. max 11 in.
Spotted Goatfish
Pseudupeneus maculatusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. A row of three dark, rectangular body blotches is normally visible when fish are active (when resting, change to blotched or mottled reddish brown). 2. Two barbels under tip of chin.
DESCRIPTION:
Rapidly and dramatically change color from white to blotched and mottled red to reddish brown when becoming inactive. Light bluish lines often on head and, occasionally, upper body.
SIZE: 6-12 in. max. 15 1/2 in.
Yellow Goatfish
Mulloidichthys martinicusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Yellow tail and midbody stripe. 2. Two barbels under tip of chin.
DESCRIPTION:
White; upper body may have shadings ranging from blue to olive or red. Fins, other than tail, may be white or yellowish.
SIZE: 2-24 in. max 28 1/2 in
Kelp Bass
Paralabrax clathratusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Large, pale oval to rectangular blotches on back. 2. First two spines of foredorsal fin short, spines three to five are of nearly equal length.
DESCRIPTION:
Back and sides mottled in solid shades of brown, belly pale. Tail square-cut. Common to occasional S. California, rare to the north.
SIZE: 8-14 in. max. 17 in.
China Rockfish
Sebastes neblosusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Yellow speckles on head and body. 2. Yellow stripe from foredorsal fin curves to run length of lateral line.
DESCRIPTION:
Bluish black to black with yellow spots and blotches. Common SE Alaska through Oregon on exposed coasts. Occasional to rare N. California.
SIZE: 6-12 in. max. 15 1/4 in.
Black-And-Yellow Rockfish
Sebastes chrysomelasDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Bright yellow spots and blotches over black undercolor. 2. Yellow membrane between third and fourth dorsal fin spines.
DESCRIPTION:
Two dark diagonal bands extend from lower eye. Common central and southern California.
SIZE: 6-18 in. max. 2 ft.
Quillback Rockfish
Sebastes maligerDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. High spinous dorsal fin with deep notches between spines. 2. Large areas or blotches of white to yellow on and below spinous dorsal fin on front half of body.
DESCRIPTION:
Orangish brown to dark brown; often pale area between eye and pectoral fin. Common SE Alaska to N. California; uncommon central California.
SIZE: 10-16 in. max. 22 1/2 in.
Copper Rockfish
Sebastes caurinusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Wide, whitish stripe runs along rear half of lateral line. 2. Prominent dark bands slopes downward from eye.
DESCRIPTION:
Patches of copper to yellow, orange, pink, brown, greenish brown over pale undercolor; belly white; fins pale. Common South. B.C. to S. California.
SIZE: 3-6 in. max. 7 in.
Puget Sound Rockfish
Sebastes emphaeusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brownish orange to reddish brown. 1. Often dusky stripe runs from above pectoral fin down side toward base of tail 2. Thin, pale lateral line.
DESCRIPTION:
Pinkish to white underside. Center of tail dusky. Common southern half of BC and Puget Sound.
SIZE: 8-18 in. max. 21 1/2 in.
Brown Rockfish
Sebastes auriculatusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Vague dusky to dark blotch on rear gill cover.
DESCRIPTION:
Mottled and blotched shades of tan to coral to brown; pectoral and foredorsal fins usually pale coral to tan. common to occasional Puget Sound to southern California.
SIZE: 6-14 in. max. 16 3/4 in.
Kelp Rockfish
Sebastes atrovirensDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: No distinctive markings.
DESCRIPTION:
Mottled shades of tan to brown to greenish brown, occasionally with pinkish tints; can change color. Common southern and central California; occasional to uncommon northern California.
SIZE: 8-18 in. max. 2 ft.
Black Rockfish
Sebastes melanopsDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Mottled and blotched with black to blue-black and gray. 1. Small knob at tip of slightly projecting lower jaw that extends to or past eye. 2. Rear edge of anal fin rounded.
DESCRIPTION:
Back generally dark, often lighter shades below lateral line. Forehead profile convex. Often gather in large schools with other rockfish. Abundant to occasional Alaska to S. California.
SIZE: 8-18 in. max 21 in.
Blue Rockfish
Sebastes mystinusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Mottled blue-black to bright blue. 1. Two to four bands curve around front of head. 2. Sloping band from the eye toward the pectoral fin with a smaller band below. 3. Rear edge of anal fin strait and slanted.
DESCRIPTION:
Back dark, generally paler below; fins blackish. Slightly projecting jaw extends only to midpoint of eye. Often gather in large schools with other rockfish. Common central California north to central BC; uncommon S. California.
SIZE: 6-14 in. max 16 in.
Treefish
Sebastes serricepsDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Bright to dusky yellow. 1. Five to six wide black to dark olive body bars across back and base of tail.
DESCRIPTION:
Two dark bands angle from eye toward pectoral fin. Pink lips. Common to occasional S. California, uncommon to rare north to San Francisco.