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fishing forecast

bocaccio rockfish

Sebastes paucispinis · Sebastidae · predator

SeaIUCN global: CR · critically endangeredessential profile

Large rockfish, famous as a sport fish in the North Pacific and critically endangered worldwide. In Mexico, it occurs only in Baja California.

Also called: garoupa-boca-grande, rocote bocaccio, bocaccio rockfish

Scientific illustration of Bocaccio rockfish
maximum
91 cm
record/max.
9.6 kg
depth
0–476 m
location

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period

Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…

the species

everything about the bocaccio rockfish

overview

who is the bocaccio rockfish

Rockfish of the family Sebastidae, genus Sebastes, which lives over rocky reefs and also on open bottoms, down to 320 m. It occurs from 0 to 476 m deep. It grows to 91 cm and up to 9.6 kg. Juveniles are pelagic and go to nursery areas near the coast, then move to deeper waters and form schools. It feeds mainly on fish, including other rockfishes. It is ovoviviparous, with planktonic larvae. It is a sport fish famous throughout its range.

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 bocaccio rockfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.

fun facts

  • Individuals 50 years old have been recorded.
how to recognize it

identification

Large rockfish, olive-orange to burnt orange or brown. The lower jaw is long and thick, without a chin projection, and extends beyond the upper jaw. The mouth reaches back behind the eye, and the head ridges are parallel. Compare it with the canary rockfish, which has three orange bands on the head, and with the widow rockfish, which is brownish gold and forms schools in midwater.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Lives in the eastern Pacific, from Stepovak Bay on the Alaska Peninsula to Punta Blanca, Baja California, Mexico. In Latin America, it occurs only in Mexico.

Habitat: Rocky reefs and open bottoms, 0 to 476 m; juveniles live in nursery areas near the coast.

what the law says

rules for the bocaccio 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 and remove the hook carefully. The species is critically endangered worldwide: if you release it, do so carefully and quickly.

in the kitchen

The flesh is of excellent quality when kept well chilled, and it is sold together with other rockfishes.

calculator

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.

  1. scientific FishBase: Sebastes paucispinis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Sebastes paucispinisNames by country and language.
don't confuse

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