China rockfish
📖 Overview
A territorial species occurring on the open coast, among rocks and reefs . Has mildly venomous spines . Viviparous . One of the tastiest rockfishes but rarely found in markets because it is rarely caught .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 6 - 8. Head spines strong - nasal, preocular, postocular, tympanic and parietal spines present, supraocular, coronal and nuchal spines absent . Parietal ridges very high and thick . Mouth small . Caudal fin rounded . Body blue or black, mottled with yellow; some individuals white ventrally; a broad yellow stripe from about the 3rd dorsal spine runs into or along the lateral line . Pelvic, anal and caudal fins are dark .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for China rockfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Viviparous .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 128 m , usually ? - 92 m . Temperate; 4°C - 8°C ; 60°N - 32°N, 155°W - 117°W southeast Alaska to Redondo Beach and San Miguel Island, southern California, USA.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | China rockfish |
| 🇫🇷French | sébaste à bandes jaunes · sébaste à rayures jaunes |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sebastodes nebulosus | Ayres | 1854 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 5 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for China rockfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.