Bocaccio Rockfish (Sebastes paucispinis)

Physical description

Bocaccio are a large, elongate, and laterally compressed rockfish species. They have distinctively large mouths in which the posterior end of the jaw extends back past the eye, and the lower jaw has a symphyseal knob that extends forward past the upper jaw. The body coloration is dark grayish brown along the dorsal surface fading to pink on the stomach. Young fish are generally golden brown, with some saddles, bars, or spots. As Bocaccio age, their color generally becomes darker and the saddles and bars fade into vague mottling. 

Bocaccio may be confused with Silvergray Rockfish. As their name suggests, Silvergray Rockfish are more gray in color, and they often have a larger symphyseal knob than Bocaccio.

Bocaccio can grow up to 98.1 cm (39 in) in length, and 10.7 kg (23.6 lb) in weight. The maximum age is at least 58 years old.

Geographic range

Bocaccio are found from the western Gulf of Alaska and Alaska Peninsula to Punta Blanca, central Baja California. They have been found at water depths ranging from 20 to 475 m (66 to 1,578 ft), but tend to be most abundant from 95 to 225 m (312 to 738 ft) in depth.

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