Species profile
Harlequin Rockfish
Sebastes variegatus
Identify Harlequin Rockfish (Sebastes variegatus) 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
Harlequin Rockfish (Sebastes variegatus) is a bony-fish species regulated in 2 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Confirmed by 6 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in Alaska.
Notable details
- Named for its vivid, irregular color patches resembling a classic harlequin costume.
- Its species name 'variegatus' is Latin for variegated, describing its multicolored pattern.
- Found in the Gulf of Alaska and surrounding North Pacific waters below 100 meters depth.
- One of the least-studied West Coast rockfish species due to its deep, offshore habitat.
- Like all scorpionfish relatives, it has sharp dorsal spines capable of painful punctures.
Where Harlequin Rockfish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Harlequin Rockfish
Background
Harlequin Rockfish. To 38 cm (15 in) TL (Kramer and O’Connell 1995). Bering Sea (to 60 ° 08 ’ N, 178 ° 52 ’ W), and west of Buldir Island, western Aleutian Islands (Maslenikov et al. 2013), to 95 km (59 mi) southwest of Newport, Oregon (44 ° 32 ’ N, 124 ° 39 ’ W) (Orr and Baker 1996). Benthic; depth: 6 – 558 m (20 – 1,831 ft). The 6 m record is from a juvenile; the shallowest adult record is 49 m…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Harlequin Rockfish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Harlequin Rockfish?
Harlequin Rockfish (Sebastes variegatus) is a bony-fish species regulated in 2 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Harlequin Rockfish?
Harlequin Rockfish is Sebastes variegatus.
Is Harlequin Rockfish regulated for fishing?
Yes — Harlequin 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 Harlequin Rockfish?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — on-device identification recognizes Harlequin 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.