Fish

Kelp greenling

Greenling de kelp

Hexagrammos decagrammus

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–2 lb.

Depth

5–60 ft.

Best time

Daylight.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Slim fish with a long dorsal fin. Males are gray-brown with bright blue spots on the head and front of the body; females are lighter with small reddish-brown or golden spots.
Typical size: 1–2 lb.
Maximum size: About 2 ft and 4.5 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. Kelp, rocky shore and jetties from Central California to Alaska.
Habitat: Kelp, rocky shore and jetties from Central California to Alaska.
Depth: 5–60 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: Shrimp, sand worms, mussels and squid.
Best artificial lures: Small grubs and jigs.
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: Kelp, rocky shore and jetties from Central California to Alaska.
Rig up: Medium-heavy 7 ft rod with a conventional or large spinning reel. 30–50 lb mono.
Pick your bait: Shrimp, sand worms, mussels and squid. Lures: Small grubs and jigs.
Fish it: Fish small baits on the rocks from jetties and rocky points.
Time it: Daylight. Light current so the boat drifts slowly over the reef.

Fishing techniques: Fish small baits on the rocks from jetties and rocky points.
BigJoe's tip: A classic catch for shore anglers on Northwest jetties — and good lingcod bait where legal.
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 meat (sometimes blue-green raw, white when cooked).

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 size and bag 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