Rockfish in the open ocean are species specific to all depths of the water column from the surface to extreme depths.  Black rockfish and blue rockfish are the most common rockfish occurring in shallow water.  Yellowtail rockfish and widow rockfish are found offshore suspended at midwater depths over rocky structure in large schools often numbering over a thousand fish.  The largest and most desirable species of adult rockfish common to the continental shelf, bocaccio, canary, yelloweye and vermilion rockfish are typically found at depths that vary by species from a depth of 164 feet to 1300 feet.  For example, adult canary rockfish occur in the greatest numbers over the offshore banks in deep water from a depth of 300 to 650 feet over the rocky structure associated with pinnacles, sharp drop-offs and hard bottoms.  The shortspine thornyhead, one of the best tasting rockfish are common from depths of 328 feet to over 3000 feet on the edge of the continental shelf and the upper portion of the continental slope, but they are rarely caught because they are common to soft bottoms. 

  Most adult rockfish are found at greater depths than juvenile rockfish of the same species.  For example, all age classes of black rockfish occur in shallow water, but during the day adult black rockfish withdraw to deeper water.  In deeper water adult canary rockfish are found at greater depths than juvenile canary rockfish.

  The nearshore reefs and the offshore banks on the continental shelf provide the location of some of the more desirable rockfish species but not all desirable rockfish species associate with the rocky structure of nearshore reefs or the offshore banks.  Some rockfish species suspend at midwater depths while others are found at or near the bottom over the diverse substrates associated with the continental shelf or the upper portion of the continental slope.  The longitude and latitude coordinates listed in this publication provide anglers with some of the more productive locations to fish for rockfish off of the Oregon and Washington Coast. The depths at which rockfish are located limit their accessibility and underscore the importance of marine electronics to the recreational angler.  Use the LCD fish locator to find and observe the school of rockfish as they and the marine organisms move upward toward the surface in response to the Diel Vertical Migration at dawn, sunset or cloud covered days. 

  Some species of rockfish move vertically in the water column in response the dynamics of the Diel Vertical Migration, while other species are either diurnal or nocturnal.  Response to the Diel Vertical Response varies by species.  For example, black rockfish and blue rockfish commonly rise to the surface to feed, while the shortbelly rockfish (A small rockfish that is an important part of the food chain.) rises 30 to 230 feet off of the bottom but usually no closer than 100 feet of the surface.  Black rockfish, blue rockfish, grass rockfish, copper rockfish, yellowtail rockfish, widow rockfish, splitnose rockfish, shortbelly rockfish, Pacific Ocean perch, stripetail rockfish and shortraker rockfish all respond to the dynamics of the Diel Vertical Migration.  In shallow water Quillback rockfish are diurnal often rising 40 feet off of the bottom feeding aggressively at midday. In deepwater Chilipepper rockfish are diurnal feeding actively during the day rising as much as 145 feet in the water column.  In shallow water grass rockfish are nocturnal feeding actively during the night and resting on the bottom in dark recesses during the day.  In deepwater Tiger rockfish are nocturnal resting in caves and dark recesses during the day. 

  Seasonal migrations are a common characteristic for a number of rockfish species moving into deeper water during the winter and into shallower water during the spring and summer. The Pacific Ocean perch and the shortspine thornyhead are notable examples. 

  The length and weight of rockfish is species specific.  Adult rockfish vary in length from 10 to 38 inches and in weigh from 1 to 44 pounds.  Black rockfish grow to 23 inches in length and weigh up to 6 pounds.  Yellowtail rockfish grow to 24 inches in length weighing up to 6 pounds while widow rockfish reach 21 inches in length and weigh up to 4¾ pounds.  Yelloweye rockfish are one of the largest rockfish attaining a length of 38 inches and weighing up to 25 plus pounds but they typically weigh between 8 and 10 pounds.  Rockfish are long lived and it takes from 25 years to 75 years for bocaccio, canary, yelloweye or vermilion rockfish to attain their impressive size.  The rougheye rockfish is the longest lived rockfish living up to 205 years. 

  Handle rockfish with great care.  All species of rockfish have a venomous gland at the base of their dorsal fin spine and some species have venomous glands at the base of their dorsal, anal and pelvic fin spines while a very few species have venomous glands at the base of all of their fin spines.  The venom, while painful, is not dangerous unless it provokes an allergic reaction. 

  Once the rockfish are on deck immediately cut through the gillrakers to bleed them – then ice them to ensure fillets of optimum quality.  The table quality of most species of rockfish ranges from very good to excellent.  The angler is in store for an adventure in dining every time a different species of rockfish is caught. However, most anglers limit their fishing effort to nearshore areas of the rocky coast up to depths of 90 feet fishing for the following nearshore rockfish species: Black Rockfish and Blue Rockfish, Black and Yellow Rockfish, Brown Rockfish, China Rockfish, Copper Rockfish, Grass Rockfish and Quillback Rockfish.

  Rockfish are taken with a variety of natural baits such as herring, greenling, small black rockfish, anchovies, crabs, shrimp or market squid.  Live bait is always the first choice followed by fresh dead or frozen herring.  Market squid or shrimp in the shell are effective when baited to a gangion and jigged next to the bottom.  Market squid is most commonly used as strip bait to enhance the effectiveness of leadhead jigs.  Large shore crabs or sandworms are effective when fished on the bottom in the shallow water over rocky structure especially for cabezon, lingcod and rockfish.

  Because of the limited availability of live baitfish for sale along the Oregon Coast, frozen herring is the most effective bait used to catch rockfish.  To bait the gangion with frozen whole herring, insert the hook into the side of the herring just above the lateral line behind the dorsal fin.  Lace the hook through the herring several times from the dorsal fin forward with the hook exiting just behind the head pointing toward the tail.  Baiting the gangion with chunks of herring, shrimp or market squid is an effective alternative to using whole herring.  Lower the gangion into the water allowing it to free–fall to the bottom keeping control of the falling bait by exerting pressure on the spool with your thumb to avoid a backlash when the sinker hits the bottom.  Fish the gangion with a subtle jigging motion just off of the bottom occasionally bouncing the sinker on the bottom to attract the rockfish.  When a strike is detected allow the rockfish time to take the bait by lowering the tip of the rod before setting the hook.  Raise the rod setting the hook by firmly lifting the rod.  Keep tension on the line at all times.  The struggling rockfish will attract other rockfish to the gangion.  Try to hook an additional rockfish before reeling the rockfish to the surface.  Do not try to horse a hooked rockfish to the surface; instead, take the time to pump the fish to the surface maintaining tension on the line at all times.  The struggling rockfish will often attract lingcod.  The opportunistic lingcod will seize the rockfish swallowing it usually without hooking itself.  When a lingcod is being brought to the surface, gaff or net the lingcod before bringing it to the surface.  

  The most desirable rockfish are found offshore over the continental shelf and the upper portion of the continental slope.  The most common species of rockfish found over the rocky structure of the nearshore reefs and the offshore banks on the continental shelf in water from 90 feet deep to a depth of 650 plus feet include: bocaccio rockfish, canary rockfish, chilipepper rockfish, greenspotted rockfish, greenstriped rockfish, redstripe rockfish, rosey rockfish, rosethorn rockfish, shortbelly rockfish, Speckled rockfish, Silvergray rockfish, tiger rockfish, widow rockfish, Yelloweye rockfish, yellowtail rockfish and vermilion rockfish.

  Recreational anglers rarely fish for the rockfish species common to the outer edge of the continental shelf and the upper portion of the continental slope.  The size and table quality of the rockfish species found there rival canary and yelloweye rockfish.   The most common species of rockfish found offshore over the outer edge of the continental shelf and the upper portion of the continental slope in deepwater from a depth of 300 feet to extreme depths include: aurora rockfish, bank rockfish, blackgill rockfish, darkblotched rockfish, redbanded rockfish, rougheye rockfish, Pacific Ocean perch, sharpchin rockfish, stripetail rockfish, shortraker rockfish. splitnose rockfish, yellowmouth rockfish, and the sebastolobus, shortspine thornyhead. 

The variety of rockfish species found in Oregon's coastal waters fulfills the expectations of all recreational anglers regardless the level of their expertise.  Remember that conservation is the key that will assure good fishing into the future.  Only take enough fish to fulfill your immediate needs.

OREGON'S FLATFISH

*Pacific Halibut:

*Arrowtooth flounder:

*Dover sole:

*English sole:

*Pacific sanddabs:

*Petrale sole:

*Rex sole:

*Other flatfish:

OREGON'S OTHER COASTAL FISH SPECIES

*Lingcod:

*Pacific Cod:

Pacific Herring:

Salmon:

Striped Bass:

Ocean Perch:

White and Green Sturgeon:

Fishing in Oregon's Bays

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