Fish Gallery - West Coast

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Large, pale oval to rectangular blotches on back. 2. First two spines of foredorsal fin short, spines three to five are of nearly equal length.

DESCRIPTION:

Back and sides mottled in solid shades of brown, belly pale. Tail square-cut. Common to occasional S. California, rare to the north.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Yellow speckles on head and body. 2. Yellow stripe from foredorsal fin curves to run length of lateral line.

DESCRIPTION:

Bluish black to black with yellow spots and blotches. Common SE Alaska through Oregon on exposed coasts. Occasional to rare N. California.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Bright yellow spots and blotches over black undercolor. 2. Yellow membrane between third and fourth dorsal fin spines.

DESCRIPTION:

Two dark diagonal bands extend from lower eye. Common central and southern California.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. High spinous dorsal fin with deep notches between spines. 2. Large areas or blotches of white to yellow on and below spinous dorsal fin on front half of body.

DESCRIPTION:

Orangish brown to dark brown; often pale area between eye and pectoral fin. Common SE Alaska to N. California; uncommon central California.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Wide, whitish stripe runs along rear half of lateral line. 2. Prominent dark bands slopes downward from eye.

DESCRIPTION:

Patches of copper to yellow, orange, pink, brown, greenish brown over pale undercolor; belly white; fins pale. Common South. B.C. to S. California.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brownish orange to reddish brown. 1. Often dusky stripe runs from above pectoral fin down side toward base of tail 2. Thin, pale lateral line.

DESCRIPTION:

Pinkish to white underside. Center of tail dusky. Common southern half of BC and Puget Sound.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Vague dusky to dark blotch on rear gill cover.

DESCRIPTION:

Mottled and blotched shades of tan to coral to brown; pectoral and foredorsal fins usually pale coral to tan. common to occasional Puget Sound to southern California.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: No distinctive markings.

DESCRIPTION:

Mottled shades of tan to brown to greenish brown, occasionally with pinkish tints; can change color. Common southern and central California; occasional to uncommon northern California.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Mottled and blotched with black to blue-black and gray. 1. Small knob at tip of slightly projecting lower jaw that extends to or past eye. 2. Rear edge of anal fin rounded.

DESCRIPTION:

Back generally dark, often lighter shades below lateral line. Forehead profile convex. Often gather in large schools with other rockfish. Abundant to occasional Alaska to S. California.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Mottled blue-black to bright blue. 1. Two to four bands curve around front of head. 2. Sloping band from the eye toward the pectoral fin with a smaller band below. 3. Rear edge of anal fin strait and slanted.

DESCRIPTION:

Back dark, generally paler below; fins blackish. Slightly projecting jaw extends only to midpoint of eye. Often gather in large schools with other rockfish. Common central California north to central BC; uncommon S. California.