Yelloweye rockfish are one of the largest rockfish species. They have red-orange to orange-brown bodies and distinctive bright yellow eyes. They are a long-lived species. Roughly half are mature by about 20 years, and they can live to 147 years. This large, colorful species was a prized catch for both commercial and recreational fishermen, with records of catch going back to the late 19th century. Catch records show the highest catches were from the late 1970s to the late 1990s. Yelloweye rockfish were declared overfished in 2002 so retention of this species is currently prohibited. The stock is starting to show signs of rebounding, but recovery is slow for this long-lived, late-maturing species. They grow up to at least 36 inches long and weigh up to at least 27.8 pounds. Like all rockfish, larvae are released from their mother’s body fully formed. They have internal fertilization. Females release their pelagic larvae from February to September. Little is known about the pelagic juvenile stage. When they are 1 to 4 inches long, they settle to the bottom in high relief rocky habitat. Juvenile yelloweye have two white stripes that run the length of their body, and their dorsal fins may have black or white fringes. Adults eat a variety of fish species, crabs, shrimp, squid, octopus, snails and krill.
Overview
- Species Common Name Yelloweye rockfish
- Species Scientific Name Sebastes ruberrimus
