Species profile
Black Rockfish
Sebastes melanops
Identify Black Rockfish (Sebastes melanops) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 5 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Black Rockfish (Sebastes melanops) is a bony-fish species regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Washington); the most generous is 10 (Alaska).
Confirmed by 929 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, British Columbia, and Alaska the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Black rockfish can live up to 50 years and grow to about 25 inches long.
- They are among the most pelagic rockfish, often schooling in open water above rocky reefs.
- Their dark navy to black coloring makes them easy to identify among other rockfish.
- They are one of the top targets for recreational anglers along the Pacific Coast.
- Like all Pacific rockfish, females give birth to live larvae rather than laying eggs.
Where Black Rockfish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Black Rockfish
Background
The black rockfish (Sebastes melanops), also known variously as the black seaperch, black bass, black rock cod, sea bass, black snapper and Pacific Ocean perch, is a rockfish of the genus Sebastes. It is sometimes misidentified as the "red snapper."
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Black Rockfish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Black Rockfish?
Black Rockfish (Sebastes melanops) is a bony-fish species regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Black Rockfish?
Black Rockfish is Sebastes melanops.
Is Black Rockfish regulated for fishing?
Yes — Black Rockfish has fishing regulations in 5 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Black Rockfish?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Black Rockfish along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.