Species profile
Cabezon
Scorpaenichthys marmoratus
At a glance
Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) is a bony-fish species regulated in 3 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Washington); the most generous is 10 (California).
Confirmed by 2,259 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, British Columbia, and Oregon the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- The largest sculpin in North America, reaching up to 39 inches and 25 pounds.
- Its roe are toxic to humans, cats, and dogs and should never be eaten.
- Flesh is naturally blue-green in color due to a pigment called biliverdin.
- Males guard and fan egg masses on rocky reefs for several weeks.
- Ranges from Alaska to Baja California in rocky intertidal and subtidal habitats.
Where Cabezon are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Cabezon
Background
The cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) is a large species of sculpin native to the Pacific coast of North America. Although the genus name translates literally as "scorpion fish", true scorpionfish (such as lionfish) belong to the related family Scorpaenidae. The cabezon is the only known member of its genus.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Cabezon article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.