california scorpionfish
Scorpaena guttata
Scorpionfish of rocky outcrops and caves of the Pacific, from central California to Mexico. It has venomous spines and is a good fish to eat.
Also called: escorpião-da-califórnia, escorpión californiano, cabracho, california scorpionfish
- maximum
- 43 cm
- depth
- 26–183 m
who is the california scorpionfish
The California scorpionfish is a fish of the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It lives in rocky areas of bays and along the coast, especially in caves and crevices. It occurs between 26 and 183 m deep, but prefers less than 26 m. It grows to 43 cm and can live 21 years. Like other scorpionfishes, it waits motionless on the bottom for prey. It has venomous spines on the dorsal, anal and pelvic fins, so it requires care. As a food fish it is considered excellent, and it is taken in sport fishing and in small commercial catches.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the california scorpionfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It often lives in caves and crevices in rock.
identification
Stout body and large, spiny head, typical of the family. Its colouring serves as camouflage on rocks and in caves. On the Mexican coast live the reddish scorpionfish (Scorpaena russula) and the Sonora scorpionfish (Scorpaena sonorae), but they are much smaller, up to 15 cm, and this species reaches 43 cm and occurs farther north, from California to the northern Gulf of California.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
From California, United States, to Mexico, in Baja California, the northern Gulf of California and Guadalupe Island, on rocky outcrops and in caves.
Habitat: Rocky outcrops and caves in bays, 26 to 183 m deep, preferring less than 26 m.
rules for the california scorpionfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It has venomous spines on the dorsal, anal and pelvic fins. Handle it with pliers or thick gloves and release it carefully, without squeezing the spines.
in the kitchen
It is considered an excellent fish to eat. Remove the spines carefully before preparing it.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.02042, b = 3.06; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Scorpaena guttata (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Scorpaena guttataNames by country and language.
