Rockfish / Scorpionfish Family

Rockfish / Scorpionfish Family
Idiot Fish [Pacific Rockfish, family Scorpaenidae, family Sebastidae]

Some biologists lump all these fish under Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes) and some assign a number of genera to Sebastidae, a family not recognized at all by the first group. They are mostly venomous (poisoned spines) ranging from extremely to not much. Fortunately those off the Pacific coast of California fall in the "not much" range.

Popularly, rockfish are called names like "Sculpin" and "Rock Cod" but none are members of those families. They are popular eating fish ranging from mid-Baja California to Kodiak Island Alaska, though each species has a more limited range.

More on Varieties of Fish (large page).

This rockfish is found from along the Aleutian Islands of Alaska down to at least the Mexican border. It can grow to nearly 36 inches and 21 pounds, but the photo specimen was 21 inches and 4 pounds, a little larger than average market size. This is a prized eating fish but it's IUCN Red Listed as CE (Critically Endangered) and the catch is restricted in California. Commercially Bococcio fillets are often mixed in with fillets of other rockfish. Details and Cooking.

Commonly called "Sculpin" (which it is not), this fish is found from the central coast of California to the central cost of Baja California and the northern half of the Gulf of California, a rather short range as fish go. It can grow to 17 inches but the photo specimen was 14 inches and weighed just under 2 pounds 2 ounces. Details and Cooking.

Canary Rockfish - [Orange Rockfish, Rockcod, Sebastes pinniger]

One of the many varieties of deep water rockfish caught all along the Pacific coast, Canary Rockfish is found from Baja California to the Gulf of Alaska. They can grow to 29 inches and 10 pounds but the photo specimen is normal market size at 20 inches and 4 pounds. This fish is sometimes more orange than the one in the photo. Prep & Cooking Details.

A variety of Scorpion Fish particularly adapted to the deep "oxygen minimum" layer of the ocean where most fish can not thrive. It has a huge head, both long and wide, housing very large gills. It lives in the North Pacific, some as far south as the Mexican border but mostly Northern California, Washington State, Canada and Russia, but as far south as northern Japan. This fish can grow to 31 inches and 20 pounds but the photo specimen was 21 inches and 4-3/4 pounds, towards the large end of market size.

Living under very sub-optimal conditions the Idiot Fish grows slowly and has a slow propagation rate. The U.S. fishery is tightly regulated under Federal fisheries programs to avoid overfishing, consequently it's not found far from the Pacific coast. Of course it's strange spiny appearance is sort of off-putting for many people anyway, which is just as it should be because there will be more for me. Outside the U.S. Pacific coast regulation may be deficient and the IUCN Red List status is EN (Endangered). Details and Cooking.

This Pacific rockfish is found from the northern tip of Japan all the way around and down to San Diego, California but is most populous along the south coast and islands of Alaska. It can grow to 25 inches and almost 10 pounds, but the photo specimen was 17 inches and 3 pounds. It is sold in Asian groceries in Southern California labeled "Red Bandit". Colors may be lighter than on the photo specimen. A slow growing fish of moderate population, it's mainly an incidental catch and unlikely to be found in markets far from the Pacific Coast. Details and Cooking.

. .This Pacific rockfish is found from the northern tip of Japan all the way around and down to San Diego, California but is most populous along the south coast and islands of Alaska and off the coast of Washington state. It gets its name from a row of tiny spins found right under the eyes. This fish can live for over 140 years and can grow to 38 inches and 19 pounds, but the photo specimen was 19 inches and 3 pounds 4 ounces. It can occasionally be found in Asian groceries in Southern California. Fishing regulations for rockfish are quite strict, limiting supply, so they are unlikely to be found in markets far from the Pacific Coast. Details and Cooking.

Ocean Perch - Other
Besides the Pacific Ocean Perch described below there is an Atlantic Ocean Perch (Golden Redfish, Sebastes marinus) which grows up to 15 pounds and lives across the subarctic Atlantic, and a smaller (to 3 pounds) Australian Ocean Perch (Red Gurnard Perch, Helicolenus percoides alt. Sebastes percoides) which lives on the west and southern coasts of Australia and around New Zealand. Both of these are rockfish closely related to the Pacific Ocean Perch but may vary in culinary details. Spines on the Australian fish are toxic.

This Pacific rockfish, easily recognized by the nubby protrusion on it's lower lip (no, it isn't a cold sore) is found from the northern tip of Japan all the way around and down to San Diego, California but is most populous along the south coast and islands of Alaska and around the Kamchatka Peninsula. This fish can live for about 100 years and can grow to 21 inches and 4.6 pounds, but the photo specimen was 16-1/4 inches and weighed 1 pounds 15 ounces.

This fish can occasionally be found in Asian fish markets in Southern California. As with all rockfish it is wild caught and this fish is currently considered overfished. IUCN Red List status is "Not Evaluated". Details and Cooking.

This rockfish is found from mid British Columbia, Canada south to mid Baja California, Mexico. It can grow to nearly 36 inches and 15 pounds, but the photo specimen was 17-1/2 inches and 3-1/2 pounds, about normal market size. It's a prized eating fish, but, as with other rockfish, the fishery is tightly regulated so it is available mainly along the Pacific coast of the U.S. and Canada. Details and Cooking.

This Pacific rockfish is found all along the Aleutian Island chain down to northern California, living in deep water over rough bottoms. It can live to 100 years and can grow to 22 inches, but the photo specimen was 18-1/2 inches and 3 pounds 6 ounces. This fish is rather rare in the Asian markets here in Southern California. Fishing regulations for rockfish are quite strict, limiting supply, so they are unlikely to be found in markets far from the Pacific Coast. Details and Cooking.