Vermilion rockfish (Sebastes miniatus)

Physical description

The body of the vermilion rockfish is moderately deep and compressed. The head is somewhat curved with a lower jaw that is slightly projecting. Vermilion have a large mouth and a scaly lower jaw. Underwater the adult color ranges from brown, to dark yellow, lemon yellow, red, orange or black-red, usually with some gray or black mottling on the sides. They also exhibit prominent white markings, particularly along the lateral line and across the head behind the eyes and at the base of the third and fourth dorsal spine. These markings are usually not present after death. They have three obscure orange stripes radiating from the eyes. On fish shorter than 12 inches, the mottling is much more apparent and the fins are often edged with black. Underwater vermilion rockfish are often confused with canary rockfish and can be distinguished by their more intense red coloration and by an anal fin whose trailing edge is vertically truncated (it is diagonal in canary rockfish). Yelloweye and canary rockfishes are similar in appearance to the vermilion, but the bottom of the yelloweye and canary's lower jaws are scaleless and feel smooth to the touch. Vermilion rockfish have scales on the bottom of the lower jaw, which makes it rough to the touch.

Vermilion rockfish can grow up to 76 cm (30 in) in length, and 6.8 kg (15 lbs) in weight. Maximum age is at least 60 years old.

Geographic range

Vermilion rockfish range from Zaikof Bay, Montague Island, Prince William Sound, Alaska, to San Benito Islands, Baja California. Adults are found at water depths from 6 to 436 m (20-1,440 ft) and are most common between 50 and 150 m (165-495 ft). Sub-adult and adult vermillion rockfish aggregate on high relief rocky bottoms.

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