vermilion rockfish
Sebastes miniatus
Dark red rockfish from rocky reefs of the North Pacific, which in Mexico appears only in Baja California. It is sold as fillets and is a sport fish.
Also called: garoupa-vermelhão, rocote bermejo, vermilion rockfish
- maximum
- 91 cm
- record/max.
- 6.8 kg
- depth
- 50–274 m
who is the vermilion rockfish
Rockfish of the family Sebastidae, genus Sebastes, living on shallow and deep rocky reefs, from 15 to 467 m, most common between 50 and 274 m. It reaches 91 cm and up to 6.8 kg. Juveniles stay in shallow water. It is viviparous. Adults are more common on shallow reefs than on deep bottoms. The species has little commercial importance and is considered a sport fish. Its range runs from Alaska to central Baja California, Mexico.
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 vermilion rockfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Individuals aged 60 have been recorded.
identification
Dark red rockfish with grayish marbled sides, red mouth and fins, and fins with black edges. It has three faint bands running from each eye, and the lower jaw is rough and scaly. Compare it with the yelloweye rockfish, which has a bright yellow eye and a pale band along the lateral line, and with the flag rockfish, which lives on rocky areas at similar depths.
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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 northeastern Pacific, from Alaska and British Columbia, Canada, to central Baja California, Mexico. In Latin America, it occurs only in Mexico.
Habitat: Shallow and deep rocky reefs, from 15 to 467 m, most common between 50 and 274 m.
rules for the vermilion 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 is not venomous, but it has strong spines. As it lives at depth, it suffers barotrauma if reeled up quickly; release it carefully.
in the kitchen
The flesh is sold as fillets, together with other rockfish.
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 miniatus (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 miniatusNames by country and language.
