copper rockfish
Sebastes caurinus
Very common rockfish of shallow, sheltered bays in the North Pacific, sold as fillets or alive in restaurants and fish shops.
Also called: garoupa-cobreada, rocote cobrizo, copper rockfish
- maximum
- 58 cm
- record/max.
- 2.7 kg
- depth
- 10–183 m
who is the copper rockfish
Rockfish of the family Sebastidae, genus Sebastes, very common in shallow, sheltered bays and coves, among rocks and kelp, and also on pilings and breakwaters. It grows to 58 cm and up to 2.7 kg. It feeds mainly on the bottom, but also catches pelagic fish. It is viviparous, with planktonic larvae. Juveniles form loose groups in shallow kelp bays and also appear near piers and floating debris along summer tide lines. It is considered a sport fish and appears in commercial fishing.
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 copper rockfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Individuals 57 years old have been recorded.
identification
Copper rockfish, olive to copper in colour, with pinkish or yellow spots. The sides and belly are white, the back of the lateral line is white, and there are two dark bands running from the eye. The dorsal fin is dark copper to black, with some white, and the caudal fin is rounded. Compare it with the brown rockfish, which has a dark blotch on the gill cover, and with the widow rockfish, which is brownish gold and forms schools.
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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
Lives in the eastern Pacific, from the Kenai Peninsula, in the Gulf of Alaska, to central Baja California, Mexico. In Latin America, it occurs only in Mexico.
Habitat: Shallow, sheltered bays, among rocks and kelp, 10 to 183 m, also on pilings and breakwaters.
rules for the copper rockfish
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, so hold it with a cloth when removing the hook.
in the kitchen
The flesh is firm and tasty, and is sold mainly fresh, as fillets or live.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01, b = 3.09; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). 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: Sebastes caurinus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Sebastes caurinusNames by country and language.
