Side by Side

Shelf Rockfish Sebastes goodei

Typical: 12–20 in, 1–5 lb

Key field mark: 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 →

Yelloweye Rockfish Sebastes ruberrimus

Typical: 20–28 in, 5–12 lb

Key field mark: The glowing yellow iris plus rough raspy bony ridges above the eyes confirm the protected Yelloweye (release required) over the similarly red canary (gray lateral stripe, smooth head) and vermilion (red iris, black-mottled body).

• Bright orange-red to yellow-orange body
• Brilliant YELLOW eye (iris)
• Rough, raspy bony ridges over and between the eyes
• Adults often show a pale lateral stripe; juveniles have two white stripes
• Large, deep body with a single strongly spined dorsal

Full Yelloweye Rockfish guide — season, gear and rules →

When Each Is Running July — current month highlighted

Where Shelf Rockfish and Yelloweye Rockfish Overlap

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

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