Brown Rockfish
Sebastes auriculatus

Physical Description

  • Light brown coloration with dark brown mottling
  • Prominent dark brown spot on opercle (gill cover flap)
  • Rounded bottom fin
  • Fin spines are sharp and mildly venomous
  • Can grow up to 22 inches long
  • Females are larger than males

Range

  • Prince William Sound, northern Gulf of Alaska to Bahia San Hipolito, Central Baja California, Mexico
  • Many juveniles live in San Francisco Bay

Habitat

  • Shallow waters, subtidal (below the low-tide line) areas, bays
  • Found in rocky areas, kelp beds, eelgrass beds, pilings
  • Older brown rockfish move to offshore, deeper waters
  • Found at depths of 0-444 feet, but commonly less than 175 feet

Reproduction

  • Reproduction is oviparous (female lays eggs)
  • Females lay 55,000-339,000 eggs annually

Diet

  • Juvenile brown rockfish feed on small crustaceans, amphipods, and copepods
  • Larger brown rockfish feed on crabs, shrimp, and smaller fish

Predators

  • Lingcod, birds, dolphins, seals, sharks, cabezon, and salmon 

Interesting Facts

  • Often called Chocolate Bass or Bolina, for Bolinas Bay, where they were first caught in large numbers.
  • They rarely move more than a couple of miles from home in their whole lives! 
  • They can live up to 34 years.

Sources: PierFishing.com; Fishbase; Aquafind.com; Mexican-fish.com

Photo: Herb Gruenhagen

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