Species
Rockfish Fishing Charters
On the Pacific coast, rockfish are a large family of reef-dwelling bottom fish; in the Chesapeake region the name means striped bass. 84 captains and guides in 13 towns list rockfish. Here is where, and the months it is in season where we have a published calendar.
Key facts
About the rockfish
Pacific coast rockfish (genus Sebastes) are spiny-finned bottom fish in many colors, from black and blue to red, orange, and yellow. Black rockfish have black spots on the dorsal fin; blue and deacon rockfish lack them (deacons have an underbite); vermilion are deep red mottled with gray; yelloweye are orange-red with bright yellow eyes.
- Also called
- Black rockfish, blue rockfish, vermilion rockfish, canary rockfish, yelloweye rockfish
- Family
- Rockfish family (Sebastidae)
- How big they get
- Varies by species: black rockfish grow to 25 inches, vermilion and canary to 30 inches; yelloweye reach up to 40 pounds and 3.5 feet
- Where they live
- US Pacific coast waters off California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, where they are fished under West Coast and Alaska management plans; Oregon anglers commonly catch more than 25 species
- Habitat
- Rocky reefs, pinnacles, kelp beds, and jetties. Black rockfish are mostly shallower than 180 feet; blue and deacon rockfish often school off the bottom; many species and larger adults live deeper, some below 500 feet.
- Diet
- Squid, octopus, krill, bottom-dwelling invertebrates, and small fish, including other rockfish
- Lifespan
- Many live for decades: canary rockfish up to 75 years and yelloweye up to 150 years
- On the table
- NOAA describes canary rockfish as delicate, nutty, and sweet, with lean, medium-firm meat and a fine flake that turns white when cooked; ODFW notes canary have very firm, desirable meat.
Where
Where to catch rockfish with a charter
| Town | Captains listing it | Main months | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 13 | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec | Report |
| Homer, AK | 12 | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Report |
| Ketchikan, AK | 9 | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Report |
| Westport, WA | 8 | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct | Report |
| Seward, AK | 8 | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct | Report |
| Monterey, CA | 7 | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec | Report |
| Newport, OR | 7 | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct | Report |
| Sitka, AK | 5 | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Report |
| Bodega Bay, CA | 4 | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec | Report |
| Dana Point, CA | 3 | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec | Report |
| Astoria, OR | 3 | May, Jun, Jul | Report |
| Soldotna, AK | 3 | — | Report |
| San Diego, CA | 2 | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec | Report |
Counts are captains who list rockfish, as of October 2026. Months come from the state wildlife agency or local captains’ published calendars where we have one; seasons and limits change, so check current rules.
Before you go
What to know about rockfish fishing
Things to know
- Yelloweye rockfish retention is prohibited in Oregon; any caught outside the 30-fathom line must be returned to depth right away. Avoid them by staying off rocky bottom deeper than 150 feet.
- The Puget Sound/Georgia Basin yelloweye population is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act; fishing for or keeping any rockfish is closed in Washington marine areas 6 through 13.
- Rockfish brought up from deep water suffer barotrauma (swelling from expanding gas). A descending device returns released fish to depth; Washington requires a rigged descending device on board when bottomfishing.
- Rockfish give birth to live young, which is unusual among bony fish, and many species are slow to mature.
- Many species look alike and rules differ by species and area, so check the state agency (WDFW, ODFW, CDFW, ADF&G) before a trip.
How charters catch them
- Rubber-tailed lead-head jigs and metal jigs over rocky reefs
- Shrimp flies, with smaller jigs for small-mouthed blue and deacon rockfish
- Baited hooks fished near the bottom
- Working jigs through schools suspended over offshore reefs
Related fish
Fish caught on the same kind of trip
Questions
Rockfish questions
Can I keep yelloweye rockfish?
Not in Oregon, where retention is prohibited, and the Puget Sound population is federally threatened. Rules differ by state, so check before you go, and release them at depth with a descending device.
What is a descending device?
It is a weighted tool that carries a rockfish back to the depth it was caught so it can recover from barotrauma. WDFW recommends one that weighs at least 3 pounds.
How long do rockfish live?
Many live for decades. Canary rockfish can reach 75 years and yelloweye up to 150 years.
Facts on this page come from official fisheries and wildlife sources, checked October 2026:
Size and bag limits and seasons change and differ by state. Check the state agency before you keep a fish.
For captains and guides
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