The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Black Rockfish Sebastes melanops
Black Rockfish Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 12–18 in, 1–3 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to about 27 in and 11 lb |
| Lifespan | up to about 50 years |
| Range | Pacific coast from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska south through Washington and Oregon to Southern California. |
| Habitat | Rocky reefs, pinnacles, jetties and kelp inside about 180 ft, often schooled well up off the bottom in current. |
| Diet | Herring, sand lance and other small fish plus krill and crab larvae picked out of the water column. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Black Rockfish
- Gray-black to bluish, with a lighter mottled belly
- Black spotting/blotches on the membrane of the spiny dorsal fin
- Rounded snout, jaws roughly even (slight or no underbite)
- Weak, smooth head spines
- Anal fin with a rounded/slanted rear margin; not bright red
Tell it apart: Black blotches on the spiny dorsal-fin membrane plus a rounded/slanted anal-fin margin ID Black Rockfish, versus Widow's clear fin membranes and straighter anal-fin margin.
Easily confused with: Widow / Shortbelly Rock
Side by side: Black Rockfish vs Canary / Vermilion Rock, Black Rockfish vs Shelf Rockfish, Black Rockfish vs Widow / Shortbelly Rock, Black Rockfish vs Yelloweye Rockfish
How to Catch Black Rockfish
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- Available year-round, best June through September — cast leadhead swimbaits and shrimp flies over shallow reef and kelp, working midwater schools.GearLeadhead swimbaitsShrimp fly rigsMedium jigging rod
- Best May through September after the season opens — drop shrimp flies and bait rigs onto shallow reef, or work leadhead swimbaits over hard bottom.GearShrimp fly rigsLeadhead swimbaitsRockfish rod combo
- Best May-September around nearshore pinnacles; cast and jig swimbaits and shrimp flies near the surface and mid-column where schooling rockfish suspend.GearSoft swimbaitsShrimp fly rigsMedium jigging combo
When & Where Black Rockfish Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Northwest Nearshore | ||||||||||||
| Northern California Nearshore | ||||||||||||
| Alaska — Southcentral & Southeast Nearshore |
Black Rockfish Regulations
WashingtonWashington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW)OregonOregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW)NOAA Fisheries (West Coast Region)PFMCCaliforniaCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Marine RegionAlaskaAlaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Division of Sport FishNOAA Fisheries, Alaska Regional OfficeNPFMC
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.