Treefish
Sebastes serriceps

Physical Description

• Fish with a short and compressed body and short thick dorsal (back) fin spines.
• Yellowish to olive coloration on body with thick black vertical stripes on sides.
• Pink, red, or orange lips and two black bands radiating from the eyes.
• Juvenile treefish have white-edged fins.

Range

• San Francisco to central Baja California, Mexico.
• Rare north of Santa Barbara.

Habitat

• They are primarily shallow water fish, but can be down to 100 feet in depth.
• Adults live in crevices, rocky areas, and caves.
• Juveniles are found in drifting mats of kelp and in areas of high rocky relief.

Reproduction

• Treefish are thought to spawn once annually in late winter.
• Each female releases 50,000-100,000 pelagic eggs annually.

Diet

• Shrimp, spider crabs, cancer crabs, small fish, octopus.

Predators

• Juveniles are eaten by rockfishes, lingcod, cabezon, salmon, birds, porpoises, and least terns.
• Adults are eaten by sharks, dolphins, and seals.

Interesting Facts

• Treefish are also called convict fish, lipstick fish, lipstick bass, and barber pole, all due to their distinctive coloration..
• They rarely travel far from home and are highly territorial. Their pink lips may be to warn off other fish.
• Like all rockfish, they have venomous spines.
• Treefish can live for 25 years.

Sources: Pierfishing.com; Milton Love; California Department of Fish and Game; AquaFind; Mexican-Fish.com

Photo: Rocio Gajon Bunker