Vermilion Rockfish
Rocote Bermejo
(Sebastes miniatus)

Vermilion Rock Fish, Sebastes miniatus: The Vermilion Rockfish is a rocky reef fish that varies in color from bright red to orange red with some fish being dark red to almost black. The fins of the Vermilion Rockfish are generally a deep red and the ventral side is gray.

The Vermilion Rockfish has a thick body and a head covered with spines. Colors vary with the age of the fish and and depths of the collections with juvenile fish being less colored, fish found in very deep water being red, and fish in shallow water being reddish brown.

Keys to identification of the Vermilion Rockfish are a dark black edge on the soft dorsal, pectoral, pelvic, and caudal fins; the anal, pectoral, and pelvic fins are rounded; and there is a thin pale stripe that runs along the lateral line from mid-body to the tail. There are also two bands, one wide and one narrow, sloping downward from the eye toward the pectoral fin.

The Vermilion Rockfish ranges in size from 10 to 30 inches and up to 15 pounds. Females are larger than males. It matures in 4 to 9 years and has a life span of approximately 22 years. The Vermilion Rockfish is found on or near the bottom in large schools over rocks, along drop-offs, and over hard bottoms between 40 and 900 feet deep in the water column.

The Vermilion Rockfish feeds on fish, squid, krill, octopi, and a variety of other small marine life. The Vermilion Rockfish is very similar to the Canary Rockfish, Sebastes pinniger (lack dark edges on fins; fins are pointed; a thin white bar commences at the gill cover and runs to the base of the tail).

Distribution in Mexico fishing areas

The Vermilion Rockfish ranges from southern Alaska to Guerrero Negro along the Pacific coast of Mexico's Baja California peninsula. The Vermilion Rockfish is a major component of the Southern California and northern Baja sportfishing industries, representing 2 to 4 percent of the average marine catch. It can also be caught from piers north of Santa Barbara. The Vermilion Rockfish is a targeted commercial species which is caught via hook and line or with gill nets and it brings high prices. It is sold whole in several ethnic markets and has a short shelf life when frozen.

The Vermilion Rockfish is a member of the Scorpaenidae Family, which are known in Mexico as escorpiones and rocotes.

Fish Photo 1

Vermilion Rockfish, Sebastes miniatus: Pictured fish currently a living resident of the Birch Aquarium, La Jolla, Calif. Photo taken in January 2008. Size approximately 14 inches. The same species is sold on a regular basis by the Ranch 99 Market in San Diego as "Rockcod." Several productive discussions related to rockfishes with Dr. Milton Love, University of California, Santa Barbara acknowledged. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.

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