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Critter of the Month

(Skip down to the Archives)

June 2009

Yellowtail Rockfish by Pete Naylor
photo © 2009 Pete Naylor


Think you know what it is? Click here for the answer and more ID tips!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER!

If you guessed Yellowtail Rockfish, you're right!!
Sebastes flavidus
Scorpionfish Family

Description: Typical rockfish profile - bass-like body shape with large head and eyes, stocky mid section and powerful tail. Body is compressed horizontally - cross-section is tall and narrow rather than rounded or flattened.
Color: Dark brown/green/grey in base with yellow tint especially on fins. Several pale spots in a row below dorsal fin, and dark speckling on sides.
Distribution: Common to occasional Alaska to central California - rare in southern California.
Size: To 26 inches in length.
Hangouts: In open water around rocky structure and walls.
Depth: Surface to 900 ft.
Behavior: Most commonly seen in compact schools mid-column, but occasional individuals are found resting in rocky crevices. At night the resting behavior is more typical. Schools often intermix with (very similar) Black Rockfish. Generally quite wary of divers, and easily spooked - but a quiet diver who makes efforts to mingle with the school can often hang in the current within arms reach.
Spotting Hints: Seek out rocky structure which interrupts flow in heavy current areas (points, reefs, pinnacles etc especially with kelp nearby) and try drifting by the area - be sure to swim up and away from the structure and look behind you - out into the open water. These fish can be difficult to distinguish from Black Rockfish - with a light the yellow tint should be quite visible - but otherwise look at the rear edge of the anal fin, which will be straight-edged (rounded on a Black Rockfish). When seen schooling together, the differences are obvious.

- contributed by Pete Naylor, REEF Level 5

Critter of the Month Archives

2009

  • January - Fish Eating Anemone
  • February - Pile Perch
  • March - Orange Cup Coral
  • April - Saddleback Gunnel
  • May - Spot Prawn

2008

  • January - Longfin Gunnel
  • February - Giant Barnacle
  • March - Yelloweye Rockfish
  • April - White Spotted Anemone
  • May - Decorated Warbonnet
  • June - Orange Sea Pen
  • July - Snake Prickleback
  • August - Red Sea Urchin
  • September - Sailfin Sculpin
  • October - Rock Scallop
  • November - Candy Striped Shrimp
  • December - Red Irish Lord

2007

  • December - Spiny Pink Star
  • November - YOY Rockfish
  • October - Coonstripe Shrimp
  • September - Striped Perch
  • August - Red Rock Crab
  • July - Lewis's Moonsnail
  • June - Shiner Perch
  • May - Longfin Sculpin
  • April - Moon Jelly
  • March - Black Rockfish
  • February-Tube Dwelling Anemone
  • January - Cabezon

2006

  • December - Sunflower Star
  • November - Vermilion Rockfish
  • September/October Plumose Anemone
  • August - Grunt Sculpin
  • March - July - Giant Nudibranch
  • January/February - Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker

 

 

2005

  • December - Penpoint Gunnel
  • November - White Lined Dirona
  • October - Kelp Greenling
  • September - Leather Star
  • August - Tube Snout
  • July - Lion's Mane Jelly and Egg Yolk Jelly
  • May - Buffalo Sculpin
  • April - Northern Kelp Crab
  • March - Brown Rockfish
  • February - GPO vs. Red Octopus
  • January - C-O Sole

2004

  • December - Orange Social Ascidians
  • November - Scalyhead Sculpin
  • October - Yellow Margin Dorid
  • September - Roughback Sculpin
  • August - Fringed Tube Worm
  • July - Pacific Sandlance
  • June - Leafy Hornmouth
  • May - There isn't one! Ooops!
  • April - Oregon Triton
  • March - Painted Greenling vs. Tiger Rockfish
  • February - Dungeness Crab
  • January - Ling Cod

2003

  • December - Slender Legs or Graceful Crab
  • November - Copper Rockfish
  • October - Lacy Bryozoan
  • September - Rock Sole
  • August - Orange Sea Cucumber
  • July - Blackeye Goby
  • June - California Sea Cucumber
  • May - Whitespotted Greenling
  • April - Gumboot Chiton
  • March - Quillback Rockfish
  • February - Shiny Orange Sea Squirt
  • January - English Sole

2002

  • December - Crescent Gunnel