Fish

Cabezon

Cabezón

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

2–8 lb.

Depth

5–100 ft.

Best time

Daylight.

Found in

3 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Big, heavy sculpin with a huge head, wide mouth, no scales, a fleshy flap over each eye and mottled red, brown or green skin.
Typical size: 2–8 lb.
Maximum size: About 3 ft and 25 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 Southern California, Central & Northern California and Oregon & Washington. Rocky shore, tide pools, jetties and shallow reefs from Baja to Alaska.
Habitat: Rocky shore, tide pools, jetties and shallow reefs from Baja to Alaska.
Depth: 5–100 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: Crabs, shrimp, squid and mussels.
Best artificial lures: Jigs and grubs bounced slowly on the rocks.
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 shore, tide pools, jetties and shallow reefs from Baja to Alaska.
Rig up: Medium-heavy 7 ft rod with a conventional or large spinning reel. 30–50 lb mono.
Pick your bait: Crabs, shrimp, squid and mussels. Lures: Jigs and grubs bounced slowly on the rocks.
Fish it: Fish crab or squid right on the rocky bottom from shore or a boat, and pull it away from the rocks fast.
Time it: Daylight. Light current so the boat drifts slowly over the reef.

Fishing techniques: Fish crab or squid right on the rocky bottom from shore or a boat, and pull it away from the rocks fast.
BigJoe's tip: Never eat cabezon eggs — the roe is poisonous.
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: The meat can look blue-green raw but turns white when cooked; firm and tasty fried or in chowder. Do not eat the roe.

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: Each state sets a size and bag limit and season for cabezon. 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