Species profile
Dusky Rockfish
Sebastes variabilis
Identify Dusky Rockfish (Sebastes variabilis) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
At a glance
Dusky Rockfish (Sebastes variabilis) is a bony-fish species with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 56 research-grade iNaturalist observations across the species' range.
Notable details
- One of the most commercially harvested rockfish species in the Gulf of Alaska.
- Can reach about 21 inches (53 cm) in length and live more than 50 years.
- Its coloration is highly variable, ranging from olive-brown to gray, hence the name.
- Often caught alongside Pacific cod in trawl fisheries throughout Alaskan waters.
- Releases live larvae into the water column after internal fertilization, like all Sebastes.
Where Dusky Rockfish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Dusky Rockfish
Background
Dusky Rockfish. To 59 cm (23.2 in) FL; 60.9 cm (24 in) TL based on conversion factor provided by James Orr. Hokkaido, Japan and eastern Kamchatka to about 60 ° N in the Bering Sea and along the Aleutian Islands to Johnstone Strait, British Columbia; one record from Oregon (44 ° 24 ’ N, 124 ° 47 ’ W) (Love et al. 2005). Depth: 6 – 675 m (20 – 2,214 ft). All in Orr and Blackburn (2004) except the…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Dusky Rockfish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Dusky Rockfish?
Dusky Rockfish (Sebastes variabilis) is a bony-fish species with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Dusky Rockfish?
Dusky Rockfish is Sebastes variabilis.
Is Dusky Rockfish regulated for fishing?
Yes — Dusky Rockfish has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Dusky Rockfish?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — on-device identification recognizes Dusky 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.