Rockfish

Rockfish are sought by both recreational and commercial fishermen. There are 55 species which fall into the rockfish category, and many have common names:

• blue rockfish
• boccacio (salmon grouper)
• cabezon
• canary rockfish
• chilipepper
• chucklehards
• cowcod
• lingcod
• olive rockfish
• Pacific ocean perch
• red rockfish
• sculpin
• vermilion rockfish
• widow rockfish
• yellow tail rockfish

Within California three species are formally considered by the Federal Government to be over fished: lingcod, boccacio and Pacific ocean perch. They are considered bottom fish which in the past have been easy to catch on hook and line and are a good supply of meat.