black-and-yellow rockfish
Sebastes chrysomelas
Black-and-yellow rockfish of holes and crevices in shallow Pacific reefs, reaching 39 cm and mostly staying down to 18 m.
Also called: garoupa-preta-e-amarela, rocote mulato, rocote negro y amarillo, black-and-yellow rockfish
- maximum
- 39 cm
- depth
- 0–18 m
who is the black-and-yellow rockfish
Rockfish of the family Sebastidae, genus Sebastes. It grows to 39 cm. It lives in holes and crevices of rocky areas, including the intertidal zone, down to 37 m and mostly down to 18 m. Its range runs from Eureka, northern California, to central Baja California, Mexico. It is viviparous. The common name refers to the black and yellow colours of the body. It enters commercial fishing and appears in public aquariums. As it lives hidden in shallow crevices, it is a shore fish.
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 black-and-yellow rockfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Individuals up to 22 years old have been recorded.
identification
Rockfish with a black and yellow body, as the common name indicates. It lives hidden in holes and stone crevices, from the intertidal zone down to 37 m. Compare it with the treefish, which also lives in crevices, but is found deeper, 5 to 90 m, and has venomous spines.
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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 Eureka, northern California, to Baja California, Mexico. In Latin America, it occurs only in Mexico.
Habitat: Holes and crevices of rocky reefs, from the intertidal zone to 37 m, mostly down to 18 m.
rules for the black-and-yellow 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 lives in stone holes, so it is usually hooked near the rocks. Remove the hook calmly and release the fish.
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 chrysomelas (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 chrysomelasNames by country and language.
