| Canary Rockfish | |
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Family: |
Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfish) |
Genus and Species: |
Sebastes pinniger |
Description: |
The body of the canary rockfish is elongate, moderately deep and compressed. The head is large with an upper profile that is somewhat curved. The color is yellow orange with gray mottling on the back and paler, near white, below. The fins are also yellow orange. The middle of the sides are in a clear, gray zone. There is often a black spot near the back of the first dorsal fin in fish shorter than 14 inches. Although the canary rockfish resembles the vermilion rock fish superficially, the two are easily separated. The underside of the lower jaw of the canary rockfish has no scales and feels smooth to the touch when rubbed from back to front. The vermilion rockfish has scales on the underside of its lower jaw so that it feels rough when rubbed forward. |
Range: |
Canary rockfish occur from Cape Colnett, Baja California, to Cape San Bartolome, Alaska. Canary rockfish are usually caught at depths of 50 to 300 feet, although juveniles have been taken at the surface and adults have been taken from depths as great as 900 feet. They are found around reefs and over soft bottoms. |
Natural History: |
Adult canary rockfish feed on small crustaceans as well as anchovies, sanddabs, and other small fishes. The canary rockfish, like all members of the genus Sebastes, produces live young. Fertilization and embryo development take place within the body of the mother. The number of eggs increases from 260,000 in a19 inch female to about 1,900,000 in a female 26 inches long. About 50 percent of canary rockfish are mature at a length of 14 inches, or when they are 5 to 6 years old. They may live to be at least 22 years old. |
Fishing Information: |
The typical rockfish rig and bait may be used for canary rockfish (see bocaccio). This species contributes to the recreational marine anglers mixed rockfish bag. |
Other Common Names: |
red snapper, fantail, canary, orange rockfish. |
Largest Recorded: |
30 inches; no weight recorded; however, a 24 inch canary rockfish weighs about 7 pounds. |
Habitat: |
Deep Rocky Environment |
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