Species profile
California Sheephead
Bodianus pulcher
At a glance
California Sheephead (Bodianus pulcher) is an IUCN Vulnerable bony-fish species with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 1,337 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in California.
Notable details
- Can live up to 50 years, one of the longest-lived wrasses in Pacific kelp forests.
- Every individual is born female; larger fish eventually transition into males.
- Males develop a striking pattern: black head and tail, red mid-body, and a white chin patch.
- Stout jaws can crush sea urchins whole, helping maintain healthy kelp forest ecosystems.
- Found in kelp beds from Monterey Bay, California, south through Baja California, Mexico.
Where California Sheephead are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for California Sheephead
Background
The California sheephead (Bodianus (formerly Semicossyphus) pulcher) is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its range is from Monterey Bay, California, to the Gulf of California, Mexico. It can live for up to 20 years in favorable conditions and can reach a size of up to 91 cm (3 ft) and a weight of 16 kg (35 lb). It is carnivorous, living in rocky reef and kelp bed habitats,…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's California Sheephead 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.