Puget Sound Rockfish

Head spines strong to moderate - nasal, preocular, postocular, tympanic and parietal spines present, supraocular, coronal and nuchal spines absent; anal fin rounded (Ref. 27437). Caudal fin weakly forked (Ref. 6885). Reddish brown to copper with dark blotches dorsally, fading to white, often with a dark stripe ventrally; red mouth; fins transparent, tinged with pink (Ref. 27437).

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7

Inhabits reefs and rocky shorelines and found in loose congregations hovering above the bottom or resting among caves and crevices (Ref. 27436). Seeks shelter in areas of strong current (Ref. 2850). Viviparous (Ref. 34817). Flesh is tasty and flaky, but since it is rarely caught, it is seldom used as a food fish (Ref. 2850, 27436). May be used as bait for large rockfish, lingcod or cabezon (Ref. 27436).

aquarium: public aquariums; bait: occasionally