Rockfish, black-blue Sebastes melanops/mystinus

Sebastes melanops Jordan, Gilbert, 1881 and Sebastes mystinus Girard, 1856

SEBASTIDAE FAMILY
black rockfish are Also called black snapper, black bass, nero, cherna, bass rockfish

Two species are being added as one category as they are often confused and they have over-lapping distributions throughout most of their range. The black rockfish range extends farthest north, to the Amchitka and Aleutian Islands. Both can be caught as far south as Baja California, Mexico. Both are shallow water reef-associated species, usually found around kelp beds and rocky areas, but may occur to 300 ft (91 m). They may be found near the surface or on the bottom and form schools, sometimes with other rockfishes.

The coloration is similar in black and blue rockfishes. Black rockfish are dark gray to black becoming lighter ventrally and show some light gray mottling on the back; fins are dark gray. Blue rockfish are blue or black in color with vague striping on the forehead and lighter ventrally. The fins are black. The anal fin is a distinguishing mark…in black rockfish, the anal fin is rounded or has a greater proportion slanting anteriorly. Anal fins in blue rockfish have a vertical profile or slant posteriorly.

They are commonly caught by jigging or with whole or cut bait, trolling and will readily take flies. Offshore and deepwater fish are generally larger than those caught inshore. These rockfish are sometimes caught while trolling for salmon over deeper offshore areas

• Tweet
• Share
• Share
• Share
• Share