Scorpionfish and Rockfish Family
(Scorpaenidae)

Scorpionfish Family, (Scorpaenidae): The fish species of the Scorpaenidae Family, in general have large, bulbous heads with numerous spines, skin flaps, and large protruding eyes. Family members have venomous spines in their foredorsal, ventral, and anal fins. Puncture wounds from these spines are painful but seldom life threatening.

Scorpionfish are masters at camouflage and can change color and shape to blend into the background. Concealed, they rest motionless on the bottom, waiting for the unsuspecting prey.

Note: Although we have no personal experience with being gaffed by a scorpionfish we are aware that they can inflict instant major pain with significant swelling. Medical reports indicate that these wounds are non-life threatening and medical treatment involved soaking the affected area for 30 to 90 minutes in water that is between 110 and 112 degrees.

The scorpion toxins are peptides that are broken down by native enzymes found in the human body to non-toxic fragments with the process significantly enhanced by heat.

Although their spine wounds sometimes cause no complications at all, scorpionfish, should be treated as “extremely hazardous” and released as soon as possible, being careful not to allow poisonous spines to penetrate the skin. Medical treatment should be sought for any scorpionfish wounds that do cause significant pain or other symptoms.

The Scorpaenidae Family includes the large genus Sebastes, composed of rockcods, rockfishes (at least a zillion), and rosefishes. These species are characterized by very highly varied coloration, generally bass-shaped bodies, large heads, strong head spines, and preference for deep water and cool water temperatures, when compared to most other fish found in Mexican waters.

Distribution in Mexico fishing areas

The many Sebastes species caught in Mexican fishing waters are most commonly found north of Punta Eugenia on the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula, and generally from about 50 to about 300 feet deep, although they are present from the surface down to over 2,000 feet deep. They prefer rocky or weedy habitat, and are generally excellent table fare and very easy to catch with lures or bait. In many areas, they are seriously overfished and depleted, due to their relatively slow replacement rate.

Members of the Scorpionfish Family found in Mexico fishing waters and represented in the fish identification section of this website include:

Bandfin Scorpionfish, Scorpaena histrio.
Blackgill Rockfish, Sebastes melanostomus.
Blue Rockfish, Sebastes mystinus.
Cabezon, Scorpaenichthys marmaratus.
California Scorpionfish, Scorpaena guttata.
Canary Rockfish, Sebastes pinniger.
Copper Rockfish, Sebastes caurinus.
Flag Rockfish, Sebastes rebrivinctus.
Gopher Rockfish, Sebastes carnatus.
Greenblotched Rockfish, Sebastes rosenblatti.
Greenspotted Rockfish, Sebastes chlorostictus.
Greenstriped Rockfish, Sebastes elongatus.
Halfbanded Rockfish, Sebastes semicinctus.
Mexican Rockfish, Sebastes macdonaldi.
Olive Rockfish, Sebastes serranoides.
Pacific Spotted Scorpionfish, Scorpaena mystes.
Peruvian Scorpionfish, Scorpaena afuerae.
Red Scorpionfish, Pontinus furcirhinus.
Rosy Scorpionfish, Pontinus Species A.
Shortbelly Rockfish, Sebastes jordani.
Sonora Scorpionfish, Scorpaena sonorae.
Speckled Scorpionfish, Pontinus sierra.
Spotback Scorpionfish, Pontinus vaughani.
Starry Rockfish, Sebastes constellatus.
Stripetail Rockfish, Sebastes saxicola.
Vermilion Rock Fish, Sebastes miniatus.

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