Species
Rockfish
Sebastes spp. · family Sebastidae
Live · updated
The Pacific “RCG complex” — dozens of Sebastes species worked over rocky reefs, kelp, and structure from jetties to offshore banks. The backbone of West Coast bottom fishing; dropped baits and shrimp flies take them.
Preferred conditions
- Water temp
- 45–58°F (ideal 52°F)
- Tide
- either
- Moon
- either
- Depth
- 20–300 ft
- Active months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Best rockfish conditions today
Nehalem Bay State Park
Sitka
Avila Beach
Cayucos State Beach
Ocean Shores
Westport Light State Park
Twin Harbors State Park
Santa Cruz Main Beach
Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park
Yachats State Recreation Area
Gold Beach (South Beach Park)
Pacific City Beach (Cape Kiwanda)
Newport Beach
Huntington Beach (Surf City USA)
Seal Beach
Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach)
Half Moon Bay State Beach
San Francisco Bay
Homer / Kachemak Bay
Pismo Beach
Pacific Beach
Oceanside Beach
San Clemente State Beach
Doheny State Beach
Santa Monica State Beach
Zuma Beach
Ocean Beach (San Diego)
San Onofre State Beach
Redondo Beach
Mission Bay (San Diego)
First Beach (La Push)
Puget Sound (Seattle)
Pacific Beach State Park
Imperial Beach
Monterey Bay
No locations match that filter.
Regulations by jurisdiction
CA
pacific
- Creel
- 10
10 fish/day in combination (rockfish, cabezon, greenlings), with species sub-limits (e.g. 1 copper, 2 canary). Boat-based season is typically Apr 1–Dec 31; shore fishing is open year-round.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
OR
pacific
- Min size
- 16"
- Creel
- 4
General marine fish: 4/day (2-fish canary sub-limit), 16" minimum. An Ocean Endorsement is required.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
WA
pacific
- Creel
- 7
7 rockfish within a 9-fish bottomfish aggregate. Copper, quillback, and vermilion rockfish are closed May–July. Coastal season mid-Mar–mid-Oct.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
AK
pacific
- Creel
- 5
Southeast: pelagic rockfish commonly 5/day for residents, 3/day for nonresidents, within a combined rockfish limit; non-pelagic (yelloweye) are tightly capped. Confirm the area.
Source · verified 2026-06-03