Yellowtail Rockfish

Yellowtail Rockfish (Sebastes flavidus) Fish Description

The Yellowtail Rockfish (Sebastes flavidus) is a type of rockfish found near the coasts of the North-eastern Pacific—from Alaska to Southern California. Through the name alone, one can easily surmise that the fish’s caudal or tail fin is yellow. Its other fins may have the same yellowish tint but tend to be a bit darker. Its long dorsal fin that stretches from the base of the head to the tail base has two sections with the front part being spiny, while the back part a bit roundish. Its fusiform body is elongated and compressed with the top part greenish-brown in color, which gradually fades to white as it reaches the belly. There’s also a visible lateral line from the head to the tail and some dull yellow blotches on the top part of its body.

The Yellowtail Rockfish is viviparous, which means its offspring develops inside the female and gives birth to love ones. Their young are pelagic, often feeding on planktons and other microorganisms living in the pelagic zone. As they reach their juvenile stage, they would then settle to the bottom of the water, typically near shore or in estuaries, from which they would stay until they reach adulthood in about three to five years.

The Yellowtail Rockfish is a carnivore and mainly eats small crustaceans, small squids, and small fishes. Although they often hunt in the water column, they would also occasionally go deeper onto the seabed to forage for food. Another unique thing about this fish is that, unlike other rockfish species that suffer barotrauma, the Yellowtail can release gas from their swim bladders, thus, they can handle the sudden pressure change when they are brought or when they swim closer to the surface.

Interesting Facts about the Yellowtail Rockfish

• Yellowtail Rockfish can only grow as much as a little more than two feet long, weighing at nine pounds at a maximum.
• They can live up to sixty-four years in the wild.
• They fertilize their eggs internally and give birth to live ones.
• Females produce around 50,000 to 600,000 eggs during mating season.
• They tend to be more active during the day and have been observed to be inactive near or on the seabed at night.
• Unlike other rockfishes, they don’t suffer from barotrauma when rapidly brought to the surface as they can easily release gas from their swim bladders.
• Commercial fishers and recreational anglers usually target Yellowtail Rockfish for its tasty meat.
• Its meat is flaky and has a mild, slightly sweet flavor.
• From its scientific name, Sebastes flavidus, the first word came from the fish family it belongs to, and flavidus is the Latin word for yellow.

Size and Swimming Speed

Like most rockfishes, the Yellowtail Rockfish isn’t known to be a fast swimmer. They are often observed to be quite sluggish, especially in their natural habitats. Average sizes tend to be just around eleven to thirteen inches long, with some known to reach up to twenty-five inches long, though quite rare. 

Habitat and Distribution

Yellowtail Rockfish can be found throughout the coast of North America—from Kodiak Island in Alaska to Baja California Mexico. Fishing hotspots are said to be off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, as well as in northern to central California.

The Yellowtail Rockfish is known to be a schooling fish, often found in numbers over boulders and rock walls underneath the water as well as in reefs and sometimes even in muddy bottoms. They may also dwell in depths of over 1,800 feet but can also wander in shallow waters and near the surface. 

Fishing Tips

Fishing for Yellowtail Rockfish doesn’t require any specialized gear or setup. A conventional long leader tackle with a minimum of 30 feet of line and a non-compressible float above the top hook would be enough. A variety of lures and flies will also work well for catching this fish.