Fish

Canary rockfish

Rocote canario

Sebastes pinniger

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

2–5 lb.

Depth

150–800 ft.

Best time

Daytime.

Found in

5 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Bright orange rockfish with gray mottling on the body, three orange stripes across the head, orange fins and a pale gray lateral line; young fish have a black spot on the dorsal fin.
Typical size: 2–5 lb.
Maximum size: About 30 in.
Diet: Krill, small fish and squid.
Behavior: Schools over rocky high spots and pinnacles, often well off the bottom.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Alaska, British Columbia, Oregon & Washington, Central & Northern California and Southern California. Rocky reefs and pinnacles from Alaska to Baja California, most common off Oregon and Washington.
Habitat: Rocky reefs and pinnacles from Alaska to Baja California, most common off Oregon and Washington.
Depth: 150–800 ft.
Fishing depth: 150–300 ft (within legal depth limits).
Best season: Where groundfish seasons are open.
Best time: Daytime.
Best tides: Slack or light tide.
Best weather / conditions: Calm seas.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Rocky reefs and pinnacles from Alaska to Baja California, most common off Oregon and Washington.
Rig up: Medium-heavy bottom rod. 40 lb mono.
Pick your bait: Squid and herring. Lures: Shrimp flies and metal jigs.
Fish it: Drop shrimp-fly rigs over rocky pinnacles and reel up a few turns to fish above the bottom.
Time it: Daytime. Slack or light tide.

Fishing techniques: Drop shrimp-fly rigs over rocky pinnacles and reel up a few turns to fish above the bottom.
BigJoe's tip: Use a descending device for fish you release.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Firm, white and mild; great fried or baked.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Venomous spines — handle with gloves.
Regulations: Overfished in the 1990s and declared rebuilt in 2015; limits are set by area. Check local rules. Rules are set by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (a tidal waters sport fishing licence in British Columbia), and the Washington, Oregon and California wildlife agencies with NOAA Fisheries. Groundfish seasons, depth limits and closed areas change often — check before you go.
Conservation: A conservation success story after strict limits.

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Sources & photo credits