Marine Fish Identification Quiz

Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
May 2025

After floating with the prevailing current for about a week, this species emerges from an egg between November and April each year off Southern California, or any time of year off central California. Females release batches of eggs multiple times throughout the spawning season, with larger females spawning more often.

This fish is mature (able to reproduce) by the time it reaches 7½ inches in length and three to four years old. It lives to be at least 12 years old, with the oldest fish living for around 17 years. The largest fish of this species reaches about 16 inches in length.

An identifying characteristic of this fish and others in the same family is the repetitive, deep drumming sound it makes by hitting its abdominal muscle against its swim bladder. It makes this noise to communicate with other fish.

This species is found from Barkley Sound, British Columbia to southern Baja California. It lives mostly near shore, often in bays over muddy seafloors, but has been seen at depths of about 780 ft. Adults prey on small crustaceans and worms such as amphipods, copepods, and polychaete worms. In turn, fish such as sharks, halibut, and lizardfish, birds such as cormorants, and marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and dolphins all prey on this species.

Although it is not the most popular sport fish (it is often released when caught), this species can be fun to catch from wharves and piers along the California coast. It is caught by sport fishermen using hook-and-line gear from land, though it is occasionally caught from boats farther offshore. This species is usually caught along with a suite of other, intentionally targeted species. In 2019, an estimated 45,000 fish were caught in the recreational fishery, and 43,000 fish in commercial fisheries.

Advisories from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment warn people to avoid eating this fish or to limit how much they eat when it’s caught from a handful of specific locations in California. Unfortunately, this species is attracted to certain extremely polluted locations where it is easy to find the worms they like to eat, among other attractions, according to a 2015 study. This fish can spend a lot of time in areas polluted by humans, accumulating toxins in their flesh that may, in turn, harm the people who eat this fish. More information is available on the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment website.

This fish is also unintentionally caught and sometimes landed in California’s commercial fisheries, including the ridgeback prawn, California halibut, and petrale sole fisheries. It has been caught using several different types of commercial gear, including net gears, set longline gear, and hook-and-line gear. It is sold at fresh fish markets in California and Mexico; however, concern regarding toxin levels in this fish’s flesh has limited its marketability. In fact, state law prohibits sale of this species if it is caught in a certain commercial fishing closure area off Los Angeles County.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
February 2025

This fish begins its life journey in early June, when it enters the world as an exact miniature version of its parents. This species bears live young, with smaller females producing fewer offspring than larger females. One study found that the number of offspring a single female produces can range from seven to 54 fish per pregnancy.

This silvery fish’s range extends from Baja California to Cape Flattery, Washington. It’s most commonly found from central Oregon south, with the greatest concentrations along the central California coast. It lives in the surf zone off sandy beaches statewide, though it can also frequent rocky areas or form schools near pier pilings. Large fish of this species are around a foot long and weigh about a pound. The current state record for this fish stands at 2 lb. 4 oz.

Because this fish closely resembles other species in the same taxonomic family, it is easy to misidentify (fair warning!).

This species prefers water depths of 30 ft. or less. It eats a variety of invertebrates such as sand crabs and various shrimp, and even small squid. In turn, these fish are likely prey for a wide variety of other fish, marine mammals, and birds, such as striped bass, California halibut, harbor seals, river otters, great blue herons, and least terns.

Among California anglers, this is a fairly popular sport fish. Anglers historically fish for this species from piers, sandy beaches, and from skiffs. December and January are the best months to fish for this species, and sandy Monterey Bay area beaches are among the most popular fishing locations.

There is a commercial fishery for fish in this family. Although this species is not targeted in the commercial fishery, small numbers of this fish are taken incidentally. The number of commercial fishermen actively participating in this fishery has declined by 90 percent since the 1990s. Overall, populations of this fish appear to be healthy, although no formal stock assessment has yet been conducted for this species.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
August 2018

This fish begins its life journey sometime between late autumn and early spring, when eggs are spawned and hatch off Mexico. Young fish likely drift with the currents into Southern California waters, similar to yellowtail or bonito.

This fish’s range extends from Peru in South America to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, although it is rarely seen north of Monterey, California. You may also see it in the southern portion of the Gulf of California, Mexico. This species often prefers a solitary existence near the rocky reefs and banks close to offshore islands, though it may also be found near kelp beds. Ancient Native American kitchen middens on San Clemente Island contain the otoliths (earbones) of this fish, indicating it has long been an important source of food for people.

Though commonly seen at 90- to 200-ft. depths, this fish can also be found in shallow subtidal areas, or as deep as 450 ft. Adult fish swim a few feet above the sea floor, dropping down occasionally to search for food such as small crabs, shrimp, and other crustaceans, as well as octopus and squid. It will also eat a variety of small fishes. In turn, this fish is preyed upon by larger fish, such as giant sea bass, albacore tuna, and sharks.

This fish can live to around 13 years of age, and reaches a maximum length of around 40 in. A fish this long weighs around 12 lb., however fish weighing more than 10 lb. are rarely seen. The current state record stands at 13 lb. 12 oz.

This species is caught by both commercial and recreational fishermen. The commercial catch peaked in 1926, when just over 368,000 lb. was landed. Commercial landings have not approached this level since. A live-fish market began in the late 1980s for this species, primarily because it was caught unintentionally along with target species such as California sheephead, cabezon, and nearshore rockfish. Even though this fish appears in both live and traditional markets, landings and demand have remained low. Commercial landings of this fish totaled less than 10,000 lb. in California for 2017.

Sport fishermen enjoy catching this fish, which is relatively easy to hook and usually provides a challenging fight. Peak recreational landings tend to occur after warm water El Niño events. Recreational landings far exceed commercial landings, with over 230,000 fish kept by California anglers in 2017.

This species is considered a good-eating fish; however, off California, fish that are caught around kelp beds may sometimes have bitter-tasting flesh. The bitterness cannot be removed regardless of the method used to clean, freeze, or cook the fish. This bitterness may be related to the fish’s diet, since it is apparently only present in fish caught around kelp beds, or in shallow water. It may be this unpredictable bitterness that has kept demand low for this fish on the commercial market.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
November 2016

This fish begins its life journey in shallow waters near shore during the spring and early summer months. The young are born live and resemble inch-long miniature versions of their parents. Young fish are often found in shoals in the shallow portions of bays and estuaries, especially around eelgrass beds and the pilings of wharfs and piers. They feed around the clock on tiny animal plankton, whereas older fish feed primarily during daylight hours on plankton, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. They are frequently observed around pier pilings nipping off the appendages of barnacles.

Both young and older fish are tolerant of fresh water, though they generally prefer calm water with a higher salinity content. They have been captured in trawl nets fishing in 350 to 480 feet of water and have been observed by divers at depths as great as 120 feet, but are more numerous in shallow, inshore waters.

Mating usually takes place during the summer months, and the young are born the following spring and summer. During courtship, the male closely follows the female, their movements remarkably well synchronized. The male will leave the female’s side frequently to chase off other fish, many of which are not the least bit attracted to the female. Males are dark gray – almost black – in color (hint, hint) during courtship and breeding, and have a black spot on each side of the snout. Female fish may hold the sperm of several males as the eggs develop within her. The eggs are fertilized in late fall and winter, and the female bears her young four to six months later.

Outside of the mating season, these fish are gray to greenish above with vertical, lemon yellow crossbars in the shape of a "711" and eight horizontal sooty lines along the sides. It is apparently short-lived, as a 6-inch female (large for this species) was aged to just 3 years old. On average, this species lives for just a couple of years in the wild, though some individuals have been reported to live as long as 8 years.

Recreational fishermen catch this fish from shore, docks, piers, rocks, and almost any other fishing area. They are probably the number one fish caught by youngsters along the California coast.

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Marine Management News "Fish" Identification Quiz
February 2015

This crab begins its life journey as an egg carried around on its mother’s abdomen with up to a few million of its brothers and sisters. Females carry the bright orange egg masses until the eggs hatch in six to eight weeks. The tiny free-floating young undergo six developmental molts that involve shedding their shells, growing larger, and changing shape with each molt over about a six month period, until they settle to the sea floor as juvenile crabs.

Once settled, the juvenile crabs continue to grow and molt, less frequently as they get older. Male crabs grow larger than females, reaching up to 8 in. across. Both sexes are thought to live for at least five to six years.

This crustacean is both a predator and a scavenger, feeding on a variety of other invertebrates. Strong, crushing claws allow them to prey on heavy-shelled animals such as snails, clams, abalone, barnacles, and oysters. They have a well-developed sense of smell, which allows them to detect and locate food at a distance. This crab is preyed upon by a variety of other creatures, especially while it is still small. Fishes such as cabezon, barred sand bass and several species of rockfish are known to feed on them. Invertebrates including octopus and certain sea stars also prey on this crustacean.

As it grows, this crab generally becomes less susceptible to predators, except when its shell is soft just after a molt. Sea otters are one of the few effective predators on the more mature, hard-shelled crabs. This species of crab can be found from Kodiak Island, Alaska to central Baja California. It inhabits waters from the low intertidal zone to depths of 300 ft or more.

Although it can be found in all ocean waters off California, it is more abundant in northern California. This crab did not appear in commercial California Department of Fish and Game landing records until 1928, and before 1950 there was no separate market category for reporting landings of this particular species. Annual landings have risen from 20,000 lb. in 1950 to an average of 1.2 million pounds since 1991.

This tasty crustacean is among the more popular species of crab caught by recreational crabbers off California, who enjoy the flavorful meat despite the task of breaking through its very hard shell. Recreational crabbers catch this crab using baited hoop nets, loop traps and crab pots. It is also caught by hand off intertidal rocks at low tide, and at deeper depths by divers.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
October 2014

Biologists have yet to determine where and when this species reproduces, although there are indications that it may spawn in the spring. Very small fish, about one-half inch in length, resemble miniature adults right down to the number of fin rays. Young fish under 8 inches long are believed to be juveniles, although biologists are not sure of their exact size and age at maturity.

This fish is a mid-water predator. As adults, they eat squid, crustaceans, and fishes such as anchovy, lancetfish, and cutlassfish; the diets of newly hatched and juvenile fish are not known. In October 2012, orcas were photographed eating one of these fish at the surface in Monterey Bay, the first documented predation event on this fish (aside from human predation). Whether this fish is frequently hunted by orcas, or was a "meal of opportunity" for them in this instance, is unknown. No other predators have been documented for this species.

This type of fish occurs worldwide in temperate and tropical seas. In the eastern Pacific, it can be found from Chile to the Gulf of Alaska. It is most often seen off Southern California during warm water events, such as El Niños. All life stages of this species live in open ocean waters, from the sea surface to a depth of 1,680 feet.

This fish's disc-shaped body lends itself to a variety of traveling modes. It can swim slowly, accelerate quickly, and maintain cruising speeds easily, all of which make it perfectly suited to its deep ocean home. This species reportedly can grow to 72 inches (6 feet) in length. They are known to reach a weight of at least 160 pounds, and may weigh as much as 500 to 600 pounds.

The largest recorded commercial landings in California for this type of fish have historically occurred after El Niño years. For example, over half a million pounds was landed in 1984, and nearly a quarter of a million pounds in 1999 after El Niño events; in contrast, during some colder-water years there were no landings of this species. Nearly all landings were caught incidentally during drift gillnet fishing; no targeted fishery for this species exists in state waters. Longline operations do target this fish on the high seas, outside of the U. S. Exclusive Economic Zone (200-mile limit). About half the California-based commercial landings of this species have occurred in San Diego, although landings have also been recorded as far north as Crescent City near the California-Oregon border. This species is considered a good-eating fish and is marketed fresh and frozen, and prepared as sashimi.

Recreational anglers occasionally catch this species while targeting tuna using live bait or artificial lures. While recreational anglers may catch this fish statewide, catches occur more often from the Channel Islands southward.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
July 2014

These "lowly" fish enter the world during the spawning season between July and September each year. When they first emerge from the egg, the tiny larvae have an eye on each side of the body just like many other fish species. Initially the larvae inhabit surface waters, sometimes many miles from shore. As they grow to between ½ in. and 1½ in. long, the right eye begins to migrate to the left side of the body. With both eyes on the same side of the body, the young fish leave the surface waters to settle on the sea floor as juveniles.

This species hunts its prey, including shrimp, crab, marine worms, squid, octopus, eggs, and small fish, on or near the bottom. Young fish eat small shrimp and worms, while adults prefer squid and krill. In turn, this species is preyed upon by larger fishes, diving birds, and marine mammals.

Prime habitat for this fish includes muddy or sandy sea floor at depths ranging from 30 to 1,800 ft. (they are most often caught at depths shallower than 600 ft.). Their range extends from the Bering Sea southwards to Cape San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

This bottom dweller has a lifespan of around 10 years, and can reach a weight of two pounds. It reaches sexual maturity at around three years of age; females may spawn twice during a single season. The largest specimen on record was 16 in. long, but most measure under 10 in. and weigh no more than half a pound.

The largest recorded commercial landings in California for this type of fish occurred during 1917 when a total of 2.6 million pounds hit the docks. Since then landings have fluctuated, dipping especially low during strong El Niño events, which affect both larvae and adult fish. Most commercial landings are made in northern and central California, with the largest landings coming ashore at Eureka and in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most commercially-landed fish are taken by otter trawls, though some are taken by hook-and-line.

Recreational anglers target this fish with rod and reel, mostly from small vessels. Recreational landings are similarly reduced during El Niño years, but this may be due in part to a shift in fishing effort to more desirable species that accompany warmer El Niño waters.

Marine biologists believe populations of this fish are in good condition, and are reasonably utilized under current management regimes.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
October 2012

Biologists do not know a great deal about this species, but it is believed that their young enter the world in the late fall and winter. Females lay egg "nests" (sticky egg masses secured to suitable rocky habitat) and males are thought to guard the eggs while they develop. Juvenile fish settle into rocky habitat near shore.

This fish feeds on various sea worms, crustaceans, mollusks, fish eggs and small fishes. It ranges from the Bering Sea to Point Conception in Southern California, although it is rarely seen south of San Francisco. This species also occurs in the western Pacific Ocean south to Japan.

Rocky reef areas and kelp forests, especially those located on exposed coastlines, are the preferred habitat for this fish. It is believed that this species lives in relatively shallow waters off California, probably no deeper than 150 ft., guarding territories that are staked out when the fish reaches maturity at around 3 to 4 years of age. Divers have noted this fish may aggressively defend its territory by nipping at an offending diver's fingers.

This species has been aged to a maximum of 8 years (~12 in.) for males and 11 years (~22½ in.) for females. It has been known to reach two feet in length and around 2½ lb. This colorful fish has large skin flaps, known as cirri, over each eye.

Though it is often caught by recreational shore fishermen, sport and commercial landings are comparatively low. Little is known about the status of this species off of California.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
May 2012

This flatfish moves from its shallow water feeding grounds to deeper waters along the continental shelf to spawn between November and March. This migration may happen only every other year in a behavior biologists call "skip spawning." Recently, electronic tags on this species recorded a previously unknown behavior, when fish swam towards the surface then drifted back down to the bottom. Biologists believe this may be similar to "spawning rises" seen in other flatfish, when female and male fish swim vertically in the water column to release and fertilize eggs closer to the currents that disperse them.

As they develop, the eggs slowly rise towards the surface, drifting with the currents for about two weeks before hatching. After hatching, the young fish swim upright with one eye located on each side of the body. The left eye begins to rotate over the snout to the right side of the body when the fish reaches about one inch in length. By the time both eyes have settled on the right side of the body and the left side pigmentation has faded to white, the young fish are about one and one-third inches long and looking for a home in shallow, nearshore waters, generally between May and September.

Very young fish feed on plankton. As they develop, they shift to feeding primarily on fishes, clam, crab, squid and other invertebrates. As adults, this fish is sometimes eaten by marine mammals, but is rarely preyed upon by other fish.

As they grow, young fish move offshore to deeper, sandy habitat. Females become mature at eight to 16 years of age (average 12), however males mature earlier. A large female of 140 pounds may produce over 2½ million eggs.

This fish ranges from Santa Barbara, California to Nome, Alaska off North America, at depths from 20 to 3,600 feet. Off California, most are found in nearshore areas from Fort Bragg northward.

The fisheries for this species are strictly regulated with gear restrictions, open/closed seasons, area restrictions, and bag limits. The catch in California is dwarfed by much larger catches of this species in northern waters. Commercial landings in California are now negligible, with only a few hundred pounds brought ashore in 2010. Significantly more fish were landed prior to the 1950s, but after 1952 landings rapidly decreased and never recovered. In 2011, recreational fishermen in southern Oregon and northern California landed an estimated 9,648 lb. of this species.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
January 2012

While many fish lay eggs that develop over time and hatch into tiny, free-drifting larvae, this unique fish gives birth to highly developed young – in fact, they look like tiny replicas of their parents – that enter the world ready to swim. Females give birth to an average of 33 young, but this can vary from as few as four to as many as 113. Most enter the world during the spring and summer months. Newborn fish average 2½ inches long at birth, and reach maturity at about 6½ inches long, as 1- to 2-year-olds.

This fish eats mostly sand crabs and other small crabs and crustaceans, as well as bean clams.

This species may be found from Bodega Bay (Sonoma County) to central Baja California, Mexico, from the surface to a depth of around 240 feet. They are usually found in the surf zone along sandy beaches where they seem to congregate in depressions on the bottom. Tagging studies indicate this species tends to stay put, usually traveling less than 2 miles, although movement of up to 31 miles has been recorded.

These fish are relatively short-lived. The oldest males reach about 6 years old and 12 inches long. Females can reach about 9 years old and up to 17 inches long. The state record for this species was a 4 lb., 2 oz. fish caught in 1996 off Southern California.

This species is very popular with sport anglers, who appreciate their readiness to take bait and plastic worms on hook and line. Currently, recreational anglers catch far more of this species than commercial fishermen. The estimated recreational catch during the latter half of the 20th century averaged 739,000 lb. per year, whereas the commercial catch averaged 127,000 lb. per year.

Various life-history traits of this species make it susceptible to overfishing and vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation in marine nearshore areas and estuaries, which it uses as nurseries. Because they produce comparatively few young and are relatively short-lived, impacts to the nearshore environment could make it difficult for this fish to rebound if population numbers fall to low levels.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
October 2011

Unlike most modern bony fishes, this type of fish mates, has internal fertilization of eggs, and bears live young. Larvae of this species are released from the female from October through March, but primarily in December and January, and spend 3 to 5 months drifting with the currents. Young fish (approximately 1.5 inches in length) settle in rocky nearshore habitat from April through June.

Younger fish mainly consume tiny crustaceans drifting with the currents. As they grow, they shift from eating plankton to feeding mostly on gelatinous forms of life such as tunicates and jellyfish, although squid, small rockfishes and even pelagic red crabs can be important prey for this species.

This species' range extends from Sitka Strait in southeast Alaska to Punta Santo Tomas in northern Baja California, but is most commonly found from Oregon to central California, from near the surface to depths of almost 300 feet. The maximum reported length for this type of fish is 21 inches; males have been aged to 44 years, and females to 41 years. Adult fish form schools segregated by size and sex. In central and southern California this fish is often found in association with olive rockfish and blacksmith. This species is primarily residential; tagging studies have shown movement of up to 27 miles, but most recaptured, tagged fish traveled very little, if at all.

This species was of relatively little importance in California's commercial fishery throughout most of the twentieth century; however, it now makes up a significant portion of the live-fish fishery. For recreational anglers, this species is one of the most important in California. It is usually the most frequently caught fish of this genus north of Point Conception for anglers fishing from skiffs and party/charter boats. It is also an important species for skin and scuba divers using spears, and is occasionally caught by anglers fishing from shore.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
May 2011

This fish begins life in California waters with many thousands of its fellow larvae in the fall and early winter. The silvery young fish drift with the currents for three to four months after hatching, sometimes hiding below mats of loose, floating kelp.

By early summer, the young fish reach about 1 1/2 inches in length and begin to seek out shallow nearshore habitat such as rocky tidepools and kelp canopies. Around this time, they lose their silvery coloration and take on a mottled red, green, or bronze tone. Some anecdotal evidence suggests this fish can change color to match its surroundings.

This fish moves into deeper water as it matures, though it may return to tide pools during high tides to feed. Adult fish may be found from shallow tidepools to 300 ft. depths in rocky habitat, however most of the commercial and recreational catch is taken in less than 120 ft. of water.

Young fish eat small crustaceans, such as shrimp and small crab, while adults consume abalone, small lobster, squid, octopus, and larger crab. In turn, this fish is preyed upon by rockfishes, lingcod, sculpins, seals and sea lions.

Both males and females of this species mature by the time they reach 18 inches in length and 7 years of age. In the fall and early winter, females lay sticky egg masses, called "nests", in rocky depressions on exposed reefs, sometimes several times per season. Males then fertilize and fiercely guard the nests for two to three weeks while the eggs develop and hatch.

This fish can reach more than three feet in length. The current California recreational hook-and-line record is 23 lb. 4 oz. - a record that has stood since 1958. Biologists believe this fish may live for 20 years or more.

This species' range extends from Sitka, Alaska in the north to Point Abreojos, Baja California in the south, but it is most common between Washington state and southern California.

Records show that recreational fishermen began seriously targeting this fish in the late 1930s; it remains a popular sport fish today. Anglers in private boats take the lion's share of the recreational catch, but this nearshore species is also popular with shore-based anglers and spear fishermen. Current recreational fishing regulations for this species, which is part of the RCG Complex, seem to be keeping the recreational harvest at a sustainable level.

There was little impetus to target this species commercially until the early 1990s, when the "live-fish" fishery had firmly established itself in the fish markets. In the live-fish fishery, fish are carefully handled when caught and later sold from seawater tanks while still alive. In 1987, landings of this fish totaled only 8,800 lb; by 1998 landings had increased to nearly 373,000 lb due to live fish market demand. The price paid to fishermen also increased, from $0.36 per lb in 1987 to nearly $3 per pound in 1998 (this fish commands considerably more nowadays on the live fish market).

Currently, harvest limits on the commercial catch have reduced landings, yet this fish remains one of the most highly prized in the live-fish fishery, ranking behind only rockfish, greenlings, and flatfish in price paid per pound. In 2006, nearly 90 percent of the 62,900 lb commercial catch went to live-fish markets.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
October 2010

This species of fish hatches from a clutch of around 4,000 eggs after an incubation period of four to five weeks. The newly hatched young, which measure about one-third of an inch long, may spend up to a year drifting with ocean currents and feeding on tiny crustaceans such as copepods before settling to the bottom near shore.

Both males and females measure around seven inches long by the time they reach three years of age, but thereafter males grow more slowly. Both sexes reach their maximum size by age 12. This species generally reaches a length of around 18 inches, but individuals 24 inches long have been reported.

The two sexes were thought to be different species of fish for over 70 years, until it was discovered that males and females exhibit different coloration (its mostly a matter of spots - and yes, that's a hint!).

Females are sexually mature by four years of age. During the spawning season, which most biologists believe to occur between September and December off California, females lay golf- to tennis-ball sized egg masses at nesting sites chosen by the males. These sites may be established in a variety of locations, from kelp to rocky reefs, and are aggressively guarded by the males. Spawning females produce at least three egg clutches per season, and multiple females may contribute to a single nest.

Adult fish of this species eat a wide variety of food including crabs and other crustaceans, worms, and juvenile fishes. The primary predators of this fish (other than fishermen) are lingcod and harbor seals.

This species is abundant from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, to central California but is occasionally seen as far south as La Jolla, in southern California. It inhabits kelp beds and rocky reefs but is also known to frequent sandy bottom areas. It is a near shore species found in depths shallower than 150 feet.

This fish is popular with recreational anglers, especially in the northern part of the state. Until the late 1990s, this species was only caught incidentally by commercial fishermen, and landings of sport-caught fish far exceeded any commercial catch. However, in 1997 the emergence of the commercial "live-fish" fishery, where fish are carefully handled when caught and later sold from seawater tanks while still alive, saw commercial landings skyrocket past the recreational catch.

The commercial fishery peaked in 2000 when landings reached 52,000 pounds, compared to a high of 5,700 pounds prior to the inception of the live-fish fishery. In 1999 the recreational bag limit was reduced to 10 fish, followed by further size and bag limit reductions in subsequent years. In the commercial fishery, the catch limit was set at 19,400 pounds in 2001. The total catch limit was reduced again in 2002, and in 2003 access to the commercial fishery was restricted to a certain number of permit holders. Currently, landings of this species both in the recreational and commercial fisheries are much reduced as a result of regulatory action.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
May 2010

This fish hatches from free-drifting eggs after an incubation period of around two to three days. Females may spawn year-round; most eggs are found in water less than 250 feet deep and within four miles of shore. The newly hatched young drift with the currents for less than a month, after which they begin to settle on the bottom and move closer to shore.

The young of this species start life with one eye on each side of the body, the same as many other fishes. Their bodies begin to change shape as they migrate closer to shore, becoming flatter and broader. During this morphing period, one eye also begins to migrate to either the right or left side of the body to join the other eye. Young fish prefer shallow, plant-free bays, however fluctuations in nearshore currents may sweep them to the open coast and other habitats.

In bay nursery areas, young fish feed upon the abundant food sources there, beginning with small shrimp-like crustaceans. When the young fish reach about 2½ inches long, they graduate to eating small fishes such as gobies. As they grow and migrate into open coastal waters, their diet begins to include a greater percentage of fish. When fully grown, these ambush predators prefer squid, Pacific sardine, northern anchovy, and other nearshore fish species that swim in the water column.

This species ranges from Washington state to southern Baja California. Adults of this species inhabit soft-bottom habitats in coastal waters generally less than 300 feet deep, most often at depths of less than 100 feet. They may live to 30 years and reach 60 in. long, with a maximum recorded weight of 72 pounds. Males mature at two to three years and 8 to 9 inches long, whereas females mature at four to five years and 15 to 17 inches long. Females reach the minimum recreational size limit at five to six years of age, about a year before males.

Both commercial and recreational fisheries exist for this fish. Commercial fishing gear for this species has included trawl and set nets and, to a lesser extent, hook-and line gear. The largest recorded commercial catch was 4.7 million pounds in 1919. Landings have averaged a little more than 1 million pounds annually since 1980. Estimates of recreational landings since 1980, by anglers using hook-and-line gear, have approached commercial landings with an annual average of 976,000 pounds. A stock assessment is currently being conducted for the first time for this species.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
January 2010

This fish hatches from an egg about the size of a BB pellet along with hundreds of its siblings after an incubation period of around two weeks. Females may spawn several times from October through April, using long, sticky filaments to attach large egg masses to eelgrass and shallow-water algae. Once hatched, the young swim near the surface in harbors, along sandy beaches, and in the kelp canopy, often mixing with young topsmelt.

The range of this species stretches from Santa Maria Bay, Baja California, to Yaquina, Oregon. Off California, they are found in bays and inshore waters throughout the year. They often form large, dense schools in water less than 100 ft deep, and are most common in 5- to 50-ft depths.

This fish may attain a maximum length of 22 in., with 17-in. fish commonly taken. It grows relatively fast, reaching maturity at two to three years when about 8 in. long. One 16-in. male was aged to 11 years, the oldest fish ever aged for this species.

This fish is targeted by commercial and recreational fisheries for human consumption and for bait. Historically, commercial fishermen have used a variety of nets and setlines to catch this fish. Commercial landing totals have varied sharply, driven by demand: in 1945 more than two million pounds were taken, while in 1999 only 2,530 pounds were taken. Principal commercial fishing areas include bays and harbors such as San Pedro, Monterey, San Francisco, Tomales, and Humboldt.

This species is frequently taken by recreational anglers fishing in the surf and from piers and skiffs. It was the fourth most commonly occurring fish in the California recreational catch during 2007 according to California Recreational Fisheries Survey data. Bright red artificial flies or small hooks baited with shrimp or squid are effective terminal tackle for this species. Larger fish are quite game, and will take a small spinner or lure cast out and retrieved with a series of quick jerks.

Currently, this species' population status is not known. Because this fish occurs in inshore waters, however, it runs the risk of being affected by pollutants and loss of habitat through development.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
October 2009

In mid- to late summer, large groups of this fish may be found close to the sea floor, hovering over egg-filled nests built in shallow depressions and surrounded by small stones. Females guard the nests until the young hatch, at which time the tiny fish drift with the currents.

This species ranges from Point St. George in Del Norte County, California to Chile, South America, including the Galapagos Islands. It is considered rare off California, especially north of Point Conception, and is most abundant in the upper and central portions of the Gulf of California.

This fish can be found in just about any habitat. Adult fish tend to live close to the bottom near shore, where they seem to prefer the protection of reefs and boulder-strewn slopes. They generally hide during the day by wedging themselves into rocky crevices, although they have been seen venturing onto adjacent areas of sand. At night they tend to disperse a bit. Younger fish are found more frequently over sand, hiding wherever drifting debris provides cover.

This species has been caught at depths ranging from close to the surface to 1,680 ft, and can grow to 2½ feet long. It eats just about anything, from algae growing on rock surfaces and mollusks such as clams, to sea urchins and a variety of crustaceans including crabs, crunching through the tough shells with very strong teeth and jaws. They have also been observed "blowing" jets of water into the sandy sea floor to uncover polychaete worms and other burrowing prey, and feeding on venomous species that most other predators avoid.

This species has not occurred in great enough numbers off California to attract the attention of commercial fishermen over the years; still, the fish arrives in California waters with warm water influxes often enough to delight recreational fishermen who enjoy their feisty, hard-fighting nature.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
May 2009

Although there are no published scientific studies that provide detailed information about the habits of this fish, biologists believe it migrates to specific areas to spawn each year from July through September. Females are capable of producing millions of eggs annually. The eggs float at the sea surface for 24 to 36 hours before hatching; afterwards, the tiny hatchlings drift with the currents for about a month before settling to the bottom as young fish.

This species ranges from the tip of Baja California, Mexico to Humboldt Bay in northern California although it is rare north of Point Conception. It may also be found in the northern half of the Gulf of California. Adults prefer to live near the edges of shallow (35 to 130 ft.) nearshore rocky reefs, while young fish may be found in a variety of habitats. Young fish have been caught over sandy bottom, sand-mud bottom, and over rocks and deep ridges by anglers targeting rockfish, at depths from 20 to 265 ft.

This species can reach over 500 lb. and 7 ft. in length; adults are nearly as big around as they are long. Males reach sexual maturity at around 40 lb., while females reach maturity at 50 to 60 lb. Young fish are perch-shaped, orange, with large pelvic fins and big black spots. As they grow they become bass-shaped with large tail fins; young adults are bronzy-purple to brown with large black spots, and adults are dark brown, black, or gray, with white bellies. Some researchers believe this species has the ability to change color patterns at will; the large black spots may be present at any age. Biologists estimate this fish takes six years to reach 30 lb., 10 years to reach 100 lb., and 15 years to reach 150 lb.

For the majority of its life, this fish lives close to the bottom and consumes mostly bottom-dwelling fish and shellfish including rays, skates, crabs, shrimps, and squid. When young, it is eaten by many marine mammals and fish.

Both commercial and sport fisheries existed for this species in California, but because it grows slowly and matures at a relatively old age, it is easily overfished. Off California, commercial landings peaked near 200,000 lb. in 1932 before declining. The later-developing California recreational fishery for this fish peaked in 1973 after which landings also declined, partly because fishing excursions often targeted spawning aggregations.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
January 2009

This fish is unusual in that it is born fully formed and functional- a miniature of its parents- with up to 45 siblings during the birthing period from spring through early fall in California waters. Pregnant females seek out sheltered estuaries and protected embayments to give birth to an average of 27 young.

This species is predominantly a surf-dweller off sandy beaches, but has also been taken in rocky areas adjacent to sandy beaches and off the mouths of rivers and streams entering the sea. It is also commonly found in protected nearshore areas during the spawning season.

The preferred depth range for this fish is from the surface to 60 ft. Its geographic range extends from Vancouver Island, Canada to Avila Beach, California (San Luis Obispo County), but it is most abundant from Monterey Bay northward. It is the only marine species in this family group whose range does not extend southward into Baja California.

Males of this species are sexually mature at two years of age, while females reach maturity at four years. Mating takes place during the fall and winter months, and females may store sperm for up to three months before fertilization takes place. This species reaches a maximum length of just over 17 inches. Anglers often land fish weighing 1½ to 2 lb., and 3 lb. fish are not uncommon.

Both commercial and sport fisheries exist for this species in California. Landings in both fisheries have declined over the years, and regulations have been enacted to help stabilize populations.

The commercial fishery for this species, which is centered around the Crescent City/Eureka area, regularly closes from May 1 through July 15 each year- during the birthing season- and has done so since 1913.

This is the only species in this family group with a minimum size limit for the recreational fishery. The 10½ in. minimum size limit has been in place since 2002. In San Francisco and San Pablo bays, recreational take of this species and others in the family group is specially regulated by a reduced daily bag limit. The fishery for this group is also closed within the bays between April 1 and July 31 each year (except for one small, "shiny" exception).

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
December 2007

This fish begins life during the March through July spawning period off California along with one to two million of its siblings. Exactly how it spends the first year of its life is a bit of a mystery, although young fish have been observed hanging around vertical walls and oil platforms at depths as shallow as 36 ft. It is generally a bottom dweller, preferring to live a solitary life around rocky crags, caves, and overhangs, although small groups have been observed. Adults are most commonly found at depths between 150 and 1,200 ft.

This species' range extends from the Aleutian Islands of western Alaska in the north, to Ensenada (northern Baja California), Mexico in the south. However, it is not frequently seen in southern California. Adults feed primarily on other rockfishes, herring, sand lance, crab, and shrimp.

This fish has one of the slowest growth rates of all rockfishes off the California coast. It matures late in life, at around 22 years of age (18 in. long), and lives to at least 118 years old. This species reaches a maximum size of around 36 inches in length.

Because they are residential in nature (they don't migrate or travel much) and have been highly prized over the years by both commercial and sport fishermen, this species of fish is very vulnerable to overfishing. In fact, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), which manages this and other groundfish species off the California coast, has designated it an "overfished" species. California sport fishermen have not been able to legally keep this fish since 2003, and regulations enacted by the PFMC restrict the type of gear used by commercial fishermen to reduce the amount of this species taken in bycatch. Federal rebuilding analyses estimate that it will take nearly 100 years for this fish to shed its "overfished" designation.

Sport anglers who catch this fish are encouraged to pull anchor and go elsewhere to fish, to reduce incidental catch and to allow the population to rebuild. Anglers fishing in northern California, where this species is most abundant, need to be especially careful about identifying and releasing this species.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
May 2007

This fish begins life in California waters with many thousands- sometimes over a million- of its fellow larvae during the January through May spawning period. Young fish begin moving inshore to intertidal and estuarine habitats at around 4 to 6 months old and 1 to 2 inches in length, although some may choose to stay near drifting algae and seagrass. As it matures, this fish moves into deeper water. It frequently forms loose schools 10 to 20 ft. above shallow (to 120 ft.) rocky reefs, but may also be observed as individual fish resting on rocky bottom, or schooling in midwater over deeper (to 240 ft.) reefs. Adults are most commonly found in water less than 55 ft. deep, but they have been found down to 1,200 ft.

This species ranges from the Aleutian Islands of western Alaska in the north to Huntington Beach, California in the south, but it is not frequently seen south of Pt. Conception.

This fish has a relatively fast growth rate. First year growth is usually 3½ to 4 inches; by age five, growth rate for females surpasses that of males, and by age 15, females may average about 2½ inches longer than males. This species reaches a maximum size of around 27 inches long and 10 lb., and can live to be 50 years old.

Recreational anglers often catch this fish, particularly in northern California. It is taken mostly incidentally in the commercial fishery, although increased landings have been seen for the live-fish fishery, primarily from Morro Bay north to Fort Bragg. The federal government has reported that the number of fish greater than two years old underwent a 62 percent decline between 1945 and 1986; however since then, especially in 1994 and 1995, large numbers of new, younger fish have bolstered the population off northern California and Oregon.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
May 2007

This fish begins life in California waters with many thousands- sometimes over a million- of its fellow larvae during the January through May spawning period. Young fish begin moving inshore to intertidal and estuarine habitats at around 4 to 6 months old and 1 to 2 inches in length, although some may choose to stay near drifting algae and seagrass. As it matures, this fish moves into deeper water. It frequently forms loose schools 10 to 20 ft. above shallow (to 120 ft.) rocky reefs, but may also be observed as individual fish resting on rocky bottom, or schooling in midwater over deeper (to 240 ft.) reefs. Adults are most commonly found in water less than 55 ft. deep, but they have been found down to 1,200 ft.

This species ranges from the Aleutian Islands of western Alaska in the north to Huntington Beach, California in the south, but it is not frequently seen south of Pt. Conception.

This fish has a relatively fast growth rate. First year growth is usually 3½ to 4 inches; by age five, growth rate for females surpasses that of males, and by age 15, females may average about 2½ inches longer than males. This species reaches a maximum size of around 27 inches long and 10 lb., and can live to be 50 years old.

Recreational anglers often catch this fish, particularly in northern California. It is taken mostly incidentally in the commercial fishery, although increased landings have been seen for the live-fish fishery, primarily from Morro Bay north to Fort Bragg. The federal government has reported that the number of fish greater than two years old underwent a 62 percent decline between 1945 and 1986; however since then, especially in 1994 and 1995, large numbers of new, younger fish have bolstered the population off northern California and Oregon.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
September 2005

This fish begins life in California waters with many thousands - sometimes millions - of its fellow hatchlings, during spawning periods from December through March each year. The tiny young fish, only a fraction of an inch long, are first seen in tide pools and nearshore kelp beds in April. As they mature, the young fish move to deeper, rocky bottom habitat (often where rock meets sand). Adults of this species are found most commonly in waters between 300 and 500 ft. deep.

Just like people, males and females of this species mature at different ages and sizes. Off California, many reach maturity by 13 years of age, when they measure between 16 and 21 inches in length. This slow-growing species can live to be more than 80 years old. The largest specimen on record was close to 30 inches long.

The first record of commercial use for this species extends back to the early 1880s when it was caught off San Francisco, dried, and salted for food. Over the years, this species has been plentiful in commercial trawl and hook-and-line landings in northern and central California, and has also been a staple of the recreational fishery. A recent stock assessment has shown that the current population has been reduced substantially from historical levels, leading to fishing restrictions intended to rebuild the stock.

This species ranges from the Gulf of Alaska to northern Baja California, although it is found less frequently south of the Santa Barbara Channel.

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Marine Management News Fish Identification Quiz
June 2005

Mystery Fish 1: This fish is something of a celebrity. Caught on April 3, 2003 near Carrington Point at Santa Rosa Island, it was tagged, released, and then recaptured over a year and a half later at the same location! Biologists call this tendency to stay in one area "residential" behavior. This species is thought to stake out a home territory of about 110 square feet on rocky sea floor, although this can vary in different areas. The color of the fish in this photograph is a bit unusual, but don't let that fool you. What species of rockfish is it?

Mystery Fish 2: This fish was taken in 190 ft. of water at Short Bank in Santa Monica Bay. This dwarf species (yes, that's a hint!) of rockfish is a common sight for recreational fishermen in southern California, and has also made inroads into the area's live fish markets. What species of rockfish is it?

Mystery Fish 3: This fish, another dwarf species that nibbles on recreational fishermen's hooks, was taken off Santa Barbara. Due to its very small size, it's often discarded by recreational fishermen and is not even found in live fish markets. What species of rockfish is it?

Mystery Fish 4: This fish, although small, is not a dwarf: it's a young rockfish, taken off Goleta Pier in southern California. Its grown-up counterparts are much sought-after by both recreational and commercial fishermen. In 2005, adults of this species had a recreational daily bag limit of two fish and a minimum size limit of 10 inches total length (that's a BIG hint! But, then, immature rockfishes aren't exactly easy to identify!). What species of rockfish is it?

Mystery Fish 5: And finally this fish, taken off Santa Rosa Island in approximately 120 ft of water. It has been very popular with recreational fishermen. Catch rates plummeted between 1980 and 1996 due to fishing pressure and oceanographic changes that did not favor the survival of young fish. What species of rockfish is it?

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