Mexican Rockfish
Rocote Mexicano
(Sebastes macdonaldi)

Mexican Rockfish, Sebastes macdonaldi: The Mexican Rockfish has a moderately deep body with a black-red back that transitions to reddish on the sides and head.

A key to identification of the Mexican Rockfish is the pink-red lateral line. The Mexican Rockfish has black caudal and pelvic fins, and the dorsal, anal and pelvic fins contain lesser amounts of black pigmentation. The caudal fin is concave.

This fish species reaches 26 inches in length and is found between 250 and 800 feet deep in the water column.

Very little is known about the life history of this fish species. It can be confused with the Bocaccio, Sebastes paucispinis, which lacks the pink lateral line.

Distribution in Mexico fishing areas

Along the Pacific Coast the Mexican Rockfish ranges from Central California to southern Baja California at 23.40 degrees north, and it is also found in the central part of the Sea of Cortez and in the Guaymas area along the coast of the Mexican mainland.

The Mexican Rockfish is one of the few rockfishes found south of central Baja California. It is a minor component of the Southern California commercial fishery, with most taken via gillnets. A handful are caught each year by recreational anglers. The Mexican Rockfish will be found for sale in the fish markets of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

The Mexican Rockfish is a member of the Scorpionfish Family.

Mexican Rockfish picture 1

Mexican Rockfish picture 2

Mexican Rockfish, Sebastes macdonaldi: Donated to Mexfish.com during fishing by the commercial Mexican panguero fishermen of Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, March 2008. Size 16 inches. Fish identification courtesy of H.J. Walker, Jr., Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.

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