Copper Rockfish
Sebastes caurinus
Copper Rockfish is a long-lived Pacific rockfish common from Alaska to Baja California. It lives near rocky reefs and kelp beds, where it feeds on small fish and crustaceans and is a favorite light-tackle bottom species.
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Identification points
- Copper-red to orange-brown body with a lighter belly
- Pale streaks or mottling on the sides, often with a copper sheen
- Sharp head profile with a relatively deep, stout body and prominent spiny dorsal fin
Habitat
Nearshore rocky reefs, kelp forests, pinnacles, pilings, and mixed rock-sand structure from shallow water to around 300 m, usually close to cover and current-swept edges.
Bait notes
Use cut squid, shrimp, small anchovies, and rock crab pieces; small jigs, swimbaits, and metal lures also work when fish are active. Natural baits fished near bottom usually outfish larger presentations.
Behavior
An ambush predator that holds tight to structure and feeds on crab, shrimp, squid, and small baitfish. It is slow-growing and long-lived, so larger fish are often older and more vulnerable to overharvest.
Caution
Check local rockfish regulations, size, bag limits, and depth restrictions; many areas require immediate descent or venting for release from depth. Like other large rockfish, it can contain elevated mercury, so follow local consumption advisories.
Fishing notes
Fish near bottom with enough weight to stay in contact with structure, but avoid snagging in heavy reef. Slow lifts, drop-back presentations, and keeping baits close to cover are effective; barotrauma-safe release is important for deep-caught fish.