Yelloweye Rockfish
Sebastes ruberrimus
FR Sébaste à œil jaune · ES Rocote ojo amarillo
Also known as: Red SnapperRasphead RockfishTurkey-red RockfishRocote ojo amarilloSébaste à œil jaune
Reef/KelpBoat
DeepwaterReef
Score
—
Prime time
Year-round; daylight structure fishing
Depth
30–180m
Platform
Boat
Season
JanMarJunSepDec
Peak May–AugGood Apr–Sep
Depth range
30–180mDeep
Best fishing techniques
Jigging80%
Bottom Fishing / Ledgering65%
Preferred seabed
RockMixed
Findr bio
Slow-growing giant with blazing orange skin and yellow eyes – hook one from the depths and you might be releasing a fish older than your grandparents.
How to catch
Favourite hangouts
Deep waterWreck reef
Recommended baits
Fish baitsSoft plastics
Diet
Small fishSand eelHerringCrabSquid
Effective techniques
JiggingBottom Fishing
Gear
Best times
Day
I can live past a century – yelloweyes caught off Alaska have been aged over 100 years old by their ear bones.
Field notes
Where to find them
Pacific NW/Alaska deep rocky reef
Where they hang out
Deep rocky reef, well below surface
Prime time
Year-round; daylight structure fishing
Tide game
Moderate
What they're into
Squid strips over deep rocky structure
Temperature vibe
Cold-water species
Fave weather
Calm seas needed to hold position over structure
Fun fact about me
Deep-water elder — some of us are older than the boats fishing for us.
Dinner material?
8/10Solid dinner choice
Play by the rules
Strict size/bag limits, depth closures — check state rulesState fisheries agency (e.g. ADFG, WDFW)
Looking after them
Vulnerable