Fish

Black rockfish

Rocote negro

Sebastes melanops

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

2–5 lb.

Depth

Surface to 150 ft.

Best time

Daylight.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Dark gray-black rockfish with a lighter belly, often with darker mottling on the back; large mouth and spiny head.
Typical size: 2–5 lb.
Maximum size: About 2 ft and 11 lb.
Diet: Small fish, crabs, shrimp, squid, octopus and other rockfish.
Behavior: Lives on rocky reefs, pinnacles and kelp; most stay close to the bottom near cover.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Central & Northern California and Oregon & Washington. Rocky reefs, kelp and jetties from Northern California to Alaska; often in schools in the middle of the water.
Habitat: Rocky reefs, kelp and jetties from Northern California to Alaska; often in schools in the middle of the water.
Depth: Surface to 150 ft.
Fishing depth: 20–200 ft on rocky bottom; where depth limits apply you may only fish shallower than the line.
Best season: When the season is open — rockfish and lingcod seasons and depth limits are set each year by each state.
Best time: Daylight.
Best tides: Light current so the boat drifts slowly over the reef.
Best weather / conditions: Calm seas — this is open-ocean fishing on an often rough coast.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Herring strips, squid and shrimp.
Best artificial lures: Shrimp flies, swimbaits, small jigs and even flies and topwater when they're up shallow.
Tackle setup: Medium-heavy 7 ft rod with a conventional or large spinning reel.
Hook size: Shrimp-fly rigs, 2/0–6/0 hooks, and 4–12 oz jigs.
Line: 30–50 lb braid.
Leader: 30–50 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 and jetties from Northern California to Alaska; often in schools in the middle of the water.
Rig up: Medium-heavy 7 ft rod with a conventional or large spinning reel. 30–50 lb mono.
Pick your bait: Herring strips, squid and shrimp. Lures: Shrimp flies, swimbaits, small jigs and even flies and topwater when they're up shallow.
Fish it: Drift over the reef and work a jig with a shrimp-fly dropper; when you find the school, stop the drift and stay on it.
Time it: Daylight. Light current so the boat drifts slowly over the reef.

Fishing techniques: Drift over the reef and work a jig with a shrimp-fly dropper; when you find the school, stop the drift and stay on it.
BigJoe's tip: Black rockfish often come up near the surface — try a swimbait on light gear and get ready for a fight.
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: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Mild white fillets — the classic Northwest fish taco and fish and chips.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Venomous-feeling dorsal spines on rockfish; fish brought up from deep water can get barotrauma — use a descending device to release them.
Regulations: Part of the general rockfish bag in each state, with seasons and depth limits. Check CDFW, ODFW or WDFW. Licenses, size and bag limits and seasons are set by each state — the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (wildlife.ca.gov), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (myodfw.com) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (wdfw.wa.gov) — together with NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Rules change often, and many areas are no-take marine reserves: check before you go.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.

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Sources & photo credits