Fish

Vermilion rockfish

Rocote bermellón

Sebastes miniatus

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

2–8 lb.

Depth

150–600 ft for the big ones; juveniles shallower.

Best time

Daylight.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Bright red to orange-red rockfish with gray mottling, red fins edged in black, and rough scales on the lower jaw.
Typical size: 2–8 lb.
Maximum size: About 30 in and 15 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 and Central & Northern California. Deep rocky reefs and pinnacles from Baja to Oregon.
Habitat: Deep rocky reefs and pinnacles from Baja to Oregon.
Depth: 150–600 ft for the big ones; juveniles shallower.
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: Squid strips and cut mackerel on a shrimp-fly or dropper rig.
Best artificial lures: Heavy metal jigs and leadheads with a grub.
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: Deep rocky reefs and pinnacles from Baja to Oregon.
Rig up: Medium-heavy 7 ft rod with a conventional or large spinning reel. 30–50 lb mono.
Pick your bait: Squid strips and cut mackerel on a shrimp-fly or dropper rig. Lures: Heavy metal jigs and leadheads with a grub.
Fish it: Drop to the bottom over deep rock, reel up a few turns and hold the bait just above the rocks.
Time it: Daylight. Light current so the boat drifts slowly over the reef.

Fishing techniques: Drop to the bottom over deep rock, reel up a few turns and hold the bait just above the rocks.
BigJoe's tip: Fish brought up from deep water bloat — if you release one, send it back down with a descending device.
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: One of the best-eating rockfish: fry, bake whole or steam Chinese-style.

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 rockfish bag; depth limits often keep anglers out of the deep water where big vermilions live. Check CDFW. 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