China rockfish (Sebastes nebulosus) is a saltwater species recorded in the United States. It is mainly found over reef, rocky, at depths of 3–128 m.
Scientific name: Sebastes nebulosus · Water: Saltwater
Size: up to 45 cm
The China rockfish (Sebastes nebulosus) is a solitary, territorial rockfish of the eastern Pacific, described by William Orville Ayres in 1854 from Santa Barbara and Monterey in California and best identified by the yellow stripe that runs from the third dorsal spine back along the lateral line like an ice-hockey stick. It lives over reefs from about 3 m down to 128 m — usually shallower than 92 m — rarely moving more than 10 m from its chosen cave or crevice, and it is a long-lived species recorded to 79 years old; the mildly venomous fin spines help it wedge itself into shelter. In the United States it is taken off the Pacific coast from Washington and Oregon down to southern California, most commonly from central British Columbia to central California, by boat anglers drifting or anchoring over rocky structure and by shore anglers around jetties, and it is caught on squid, strip baits and jigs. American anglers also call it the yellowstripe or yellowspotted rockfish, and no distinct fishing season is documented for it.
Caution: has venomous spines. Take great care when unhooking and handling; the sting is extremely painful.
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