Species profile
East Pacific Red Octopus
Octopus rubescens
At a glance
East Pacific Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens) is an IUCN Least Concern octopus/squid present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 2,666 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Washington, and British Columbia the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Ranges from Alaska to Baja California, the most common octopus on the U.S. West Coast.
- Bears a distinctive white saddle mark on the back of its mantle, useful for identification.
- Arm span typically reaches about 50 cm (20 inches) in adults.
- Found from rocky tidepools down to depths of around 100 meters.
- Drills through clamshells with its radula to inject venom and extract the soft tissue.
Where East Pacific Red Octopus are seen
Background
Octopus rubescens (Commonly the East Pacific red octopus, also known as the ruby octopus, a preferred common name due to the abundance of octopus species colloquially known as red octopus) is the most commonly occurring shallow-water octopus on much of the North American West Coast, and a ubiquitous benthic predator in these habitats. Its range extends from the southern Gulf of California at…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's East Pacific Red Octopus article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other octopus/squid on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.