Side by Side

Black Rockfish Sebastes melanops

Typical: 12–18 in, 1–3 lb

Key field mark: 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.

• 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

Full Black Rockfish guide — season, gear and rules →

Shelf Rockfish Sebastes goodei

Typical: 12–20 in, 1–5 lb

Quickest tell: These are the larger continental-shelf rockfish; key the very long protruding jaw to bocaccio, the pink lateral stripe to chilipepper, and rough red-with-black mottling plus a scaly jaw to vermilion (vermilion's vertical anal-fin edge and gray-less lateral line separate it from canary).

• Larger mid-depth reds: vermilion, bocaccio, chilipepper, yellowtail
• Bocaccio: very long jaw reaching past the eye; brownish-pink
• Vermilion: deep red with black mottling, black fin edges, rough scaly lower jaw
• Chilipepper: pinkish with a distinct pink lateral-line streak and a longer jaw
• All have one dorsal with strong front spines and a large head

Full Shelf Rockfish guide — season, gear and rules →

When Each Is Running July — current month highlighted

Where Black Rockfish and Shelf Rockfish Overlap

Both run in Northern California — that is where telling them apart actually matters.

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