Flag Rockfish
Rocote Bandera
(Sebastes rebrivinctus)

Flag Rockfish, Sebastes rebrivinctus: The Flag Rockfish is one of the most elegant of the rockfishes and is believed by many to have the best coloration of all of the coastal fishes.

The Flag Rockfish is easy to identify. It is white with four wide vertical red or orange bands. It also has two bands on the head, one extending down from the eye and the other running toward the upper jaw. The red caudal fin is straight with a white border.

This fish species has a thin head and narrow snout. It is a solitary fish living on the ocean floor and reaching 17 inches in length, and is found between 100 and 1,400 feet deep in the water column over boulders and other high-relief rock substrate.

It feeds on shrimps, fishes, copepods, krill and crabs. Very little is known about the life history of this species.

It can be confused with the Redbanded Rockfish, Sebastes babcoki (tail is white), the Tiger Rockfish, Sebastes nigrocinctus (five wide black stripes), and the Treefish, Sebastes serriceps (five or six dark vertical bars on the sides).

Distribution in Mexico fishing areas

The Flag Rockfish has a limited distribution, being found along the Pacific Coast from Oregon to north central Baja California at the Arrecife Sacramento Reef, 29.40 degrees north, 115.47 degrees west.

This is a modest component of the southern California commercial fishery, with most taken via gill nets, and also a modest component of the recreational fishery.

The Flag Rockfish is a member of the Scorpaenidae Family and Sebastes Genus which in Mexican fishing areas are known as rocotes.

Flag Rockfish picture 1

Flag Rockfish, Sebastes rebrivinctus: Pictured fish was a living resident of the Birch Aquarium, La Jolla, Calif., in January 2008. Size: approximately 13 inches. Several productive discussions related to rockfishes with Dr. Milton Love, University of California, Santa Barbara acknowledged. Description an photo courtesy of John Snow.

Flag Rockfish picture 2

Flag Rockfish picture 3

Flag Rockfish, Sebastes rebrivinctus: Caught while fishing out of 600-foot deep water at the 9.5-mile bank off Point Loma, Calif., in April 2008, by Eddie Kisfaludy, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif.  Size 14 cm. Description and photos courtesy of John Snow.

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