MINIMUM SIZE
None
Species · Bottom fish
Rockfish fishing in Southern California
Sebastes spp.
The deep-reef workhorses: a whole rainbow family of bottom fish that's all about structure, not temperature.
TYPE
Rockfish (dozens of Sebastes species)
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Sebastes spp.
TYPICAL SIZE
1–5 lb (some much larger)
LIVES ON
Rocky reefs & deep hard bottom
DEPTH
Often 100–400+ ft
rockfish regulations
DAILY BAG
10 in the RCG complex
OPEN SEASON
Apr 1 to Dec 31, by depth
Inside the ten fish, one copper and two vermilion or sunset and two canary. Closed to boats January through March. July through September is inside the fifty-fathom line; October through December the nearshore rockfish close and only the shelf and slope species stay open, outside that line. Cowcod, quillback, yelloweye and bronzespotted may not be kept at all, and a descending device is required.
Southern groundfish summary, as read on October 9, 2026. Limits, seasons and marine protected area boundaries change, so the CDFW southern groundfish regulations are the authority, not this page. Check them before you keep anything.
Meet the rockfish
“Rockfish” isn't one fish. It's a whole family of dozens: vermilion, coppers, chuckleheads, the bright orange “reds,” and more. They come in every color, they live for a very long time, and they're the reliable, tasty fish that fills the cooler when the tuna won't cooperate.
Where rockfish hang out
It's all about structure and depth. Rockfish stack on rocky reefs, pinnacles, and hard bottom, usually well below the surface, often 100 to 400+ feet down. Unlike tuna, they don't chase temperature; find the rocks on your electronics and you've found the fish.
How big rockfish get
Most are a solid 1–5 pounds, but some species get much bigger and shockingly old. A few live over 100 years, so a big one on the reef may be older than your grandparents. That long life is exactly why the seasons are managed carefully.
How to catch rockfish
Drop squid or a shrimp fly rig to the bottom, or bounce a heavy jig on the structure. Because you're pulling fish up from deep, do the right thing on releases: use a descending device to send undersized or out-of-season fish back down safely.
Where to catch rockfish
The grounds that hold rockfish within reach of each home port, south to north. Follow a port through for its season, the rest of the water it reaches, and the rules that apply there.
- Point Loma
- LA JOLLA KELP & CANYON
- Oceanside
- LOCAL HARD BOTTOM
- Dana Point
- LOCAL HARD BOTTOM
- Long Beach
- HORSESHOE KELP
- San Pedro
- HORSESHOE KELP
- Marina del Rey
- HORSESHOE KELP
- Channel Islands Harbor
- SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
- Santa Barbara
- SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
- SANTA ROSA & SAN MIGUEL
- ANACAPA ISLAND
Seasons, depth limits, size and bag limits and marine protected area boundaries are set by CDFW and change from year to year. Check the current rules for the ground you are running to before you keep anything.
🐟 FUN FACT
Rockfish seasons, depth limits, and which species you can keep are set by CDFW and change from year to year, always check the current ocean-fishing regulations before you drop.
More species
Bluefin TunaYellowfin TunaYellowtailDoradoCalico BassMarlinWhite SeabassBarred Sand BassCalifornia HalibutCalifornia BarracudaPacific BonitoLingcodCalifornia SheepheadSculpinOcean WhitefishSpotted Bay BassPacific MackerelAlbacoreShortfin MakoCommon ThresherGiant Sea BassOpahSwordfishSkipjack TunaCabezonPacific Sanddab
From the logbook
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Is it a rockfish day?
Load rockfish into the live Bite Score and see where the water’s worth the run right now.