Gopher Rockfish
Rocote Amarillo
(Sebastes carnatus)

Gopher Rockfish, Sebastes carnatus: The Gopher Rockfish has five dark brown oblique bars separated by lighter areas with three or more light patches on the upper body that extend into the dorsal fin and light patches along the lateral line from mid-body to the base of the tail.

The markings of the Gopher Rockfish are identical to those of the Black-and-Gold Rockfish, Sebastes chrysomelas, with species differentiation made by color (brown and creamy white versus black and yellow).

They lack the complete white band along the lateral line that is found in the similar appearing Copper and China Rockfishes, Sebastes caurinus, and Sebastes nebulosus.

The caudal fin of the Gopher Rockfish is straight to slightly concave. It reaches 17 inches in length and is found on the sea bottom in very shallow waters between 40 and 240 feet deep in the water column, in and around kelp forests.

Distribution in Mexico fishing areas

Along the Pacific Coast of North America the Gopher Rockfish ranges from Oregon to Punta San Roque (27.18 degrees north, 114.43 degrees west), in central Baja California.

The Gopher Rockfish is inactive during the day time and becomes a nighttime predator consuming benthic crabs, shrimps and fishes. The Gopher Rockfish is important to the commercial fishery off central California. It is also caught by recreational anglers from shore, skiffs, and party boats.

This fish species is a member of the Scorpaenidae Family and Sebastes Genus which in Mexican fishing areas are known as rocotes.

Gopher Rockfish picture

Gopher Rockfish, Sebastes carnatus: The pictured fish is was a living resident of the Birch Aquarium, La Jolla, Calif., in January 2008. Size approximately 15 inches. Several productive discussions related to rockfishes with Dr. Milton Love, University of California, Santa Barbara acknowledged. Description and photo courtes of John Snow.

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