Fish

Copper rockfish

Rocote cobrizo (rockfish cobrizo)

Sebastes caurinus

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–3 lb.

Depth

10–600 ft.

Best time

Daytime.

Found in

5 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Stocky rockfish, copper-orange to olive-brown with pale blotches, two orange-copper bands radiating back from the eye, and a pale, whitish lateral line on the rear two-thirds of the body.
Typical size: 1–3 lb.
Maximum size: About 22 in.
Diet: Crabs, shrimp, squid and small fish.
Behavior: Lives on rocky reefs close to the bottom and stays near one spot for years.

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, kelp beds and jetties from Alaska to Baja California.
Habitat: Rocky reefs, kelp beds and jetties from Alaska to Baja California.
Depth: 10–600 ft.
Fishing depth: 30–150 ft.
Best season: When the groundfish season is open (varies by area).
Best time: Daytime.
Best tides: Slack or light tide.
Best weather / conditions: Calm seas.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Squid strips, shrimp and herring.
Best artificial lures: Swimbaits on a jig head, shrimp flies and metal jigs.
Tackle setup: Medium rod with a conventional or spinning reel.
Hook size: 2/0–4/0.
Line: 20–40 lb braid.
Leader: 30–40 lb mono.

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, kelp beds and jetties from Alaska to Baja California.
Rig up: Medium rod with a conventional or spinning reel. 30–40 lb mono.
Pick your bait: Squid strips, shrimp and herring. Lures: Swimbaits on a jig head, shrimp flies and metal jigs.
Fish it: Drift over rocky reefs and bounce a swimbait or shrimp fly just off the bottom.
Time it: Daytime. Slack or light tide.

Fishing techniques: Drift over rocky reefs and bounce a swimbait or shrimp fly just off the bottom.
BigJoe's tip: Rockfish get barotrauma — a descending device sends them back down alive.
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 in fish tacos or fried.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Venomous dorsal, anal and pelvic spines — handle with gloves.
Regulations: California has sharply cut copper rockfish limits in recent years, and Puget Sound is closed to rockfish retention; use a descending device for fish you release. 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: Slow-growing and long-lived; overfished in some areas.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits