Brown Rockfish
Sebastes auriculatus

Physical Description

• Light brown coloration with dark brown mottling.
• Prominent dark brown spot on opercle (gill cover flap).
• Rounded bottom fin.
• Fin spines are sharp and mildly venomous.
• Can grow up to 22 inches long.
• Females are larger than males.

Range

• Prince William Sound, northern Gulf of Alaska to Bahia San Hipolito, Central Baja California, Mexico.
• Many juveniles live in San Francisco Bay.

Habitat

• Live in shallow waters, subtidal (below the low-tide line) areas, bays.
• Found in rocky areas, kelp beds, eelgrass beds, pilings.
• Older brown rockfish move to offshore, deeper waters.
• Found at depths of 0-444 feet, but commonly less than 175 feet.

Reproduction

• Reproduction is oviparous (female lays eggs).
• Females lay 55,000-339,000 eggs annually.

Diet

• Juvenile brown rockfish feed on small crustaceans, amphipods, and copepods.
• Larger brown rockfish feed on crabs, shrimp, and smaller fish.

Predators

• Lingcod, birds, dolphins, seals, sharks, cabezon, and salmon.

Interesting Facts

• Often called chocolate bass or bolina, for Bolinas Bay, where they were first caught in large numbers.
• They rarely move more than a couple of miles from home in their whole lives! 
• They can live up to 34 years.

Sources: PierFishing.com; Fishbase; Aquafind.com; Mexican-fish.com

Photo: Herb Gruenhagen