Rockfish Sebastes spp.
1 of 18worth the trip today
Best right now at Sitka, Alaska. Water is inside the 45–58° range rockfish like at 9 of the 14 spots with a live reading.
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About rockfish
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.
Sebastes spp., family Sebastidae.
Rockfish, spot by spot
All 15 spots with rockfish in season, scored for rockfish, best first.
68° water · 10 mph wind
67° water · 6 mph wind · incoming tide
55° water · 23 mph wind · incoming tide
15 mph wind · incoming tide
47° water · 5 mph wind · incoming tide
8 mph wind · incoming tide
54° water · 25 mph wind · incoming tide
68° water · 10 mph wind
Not scored today
3 other spots where people fish for rockfish: 3 closed to rockfish or out of season today.
The water they want
Rockfish feed from about 45° to 58°F and best near 52°. Each pin is one spot’s water right now, from NOAA and USGS gauges; 9 of 14 are inside the range.
How they feed
- Water45–58°F, best near 52°
- TideEither, as long as it moves
- MoonEither
- DepthUsually 20–300 ft
- Active monthsApr–Dec
Scored against their own temperature range and tide preference first, then wind, weather and warnings. Solunar periods only break ties. How the score works
Keep or release
- Alaska2 a dayCook Inlet and Kachemak Bay in 2026, by emergency order: pelagic rockfish 2 a day, 4 in possession; nonpelagic 1 a day, 2 in possession, and no yelloweye may be kept April 1–June 30.Pacific waters · verified Oct 18, 2026 · source · 20 days since checked
- California10 a day10/person/day in combination (rockfish, cabezon, greenlings): no more than 1 copper, 2 canary, 2 vermilion/sunset (4 in the Northern area). No quillback, yelloweye, cowcod or bronzespotted at any time. Boats: closed Jan 1–Mar 31; south of Point Conception, all depths Apr–Jun, inside 50 fathoms Jul–Sep, then closures and depth limits through Dec. Shore anglers and spear divers are exempt from the season and depth rules.Pacific waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source · 17 days since checked
- Oregon4 a dayGeneral marine bag 4/day (rockfish, greenling, cabezon and others), with no more than 2 canary. Quillback and yelloweye may not be kept. Cabezon 16" minimum, 1/day from Jul 1 (none Jan 1–Jun 30). Open at all depths year-round.Pacific waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source · 17 days since checked
- Washington7 a day7 rockfish within a 9-fish bottomfish aggregate. Copper, quillback, and vermilion rockfish are closed May–July. Coastal season mid-Mar–mid-Oct.Pacific waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source · 17 days since checked
Rules change, and they differ by state and often by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water. Rockfish are fished at spots in 4 states: Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington.
Waters with their own rules
These waters set limits for rockfish that differ from the rest of their state.
Fished in the same water
Species people target at the same spots as rockfish, and how they’re doing today.
LingcodOphiodon elongatus1 of 15 spots worth the trip
Best now at Sitka, AK88
Bites in 45–58° water
California halibutParalichthys californicus8 of 25 spots worth the trip
Best now at Santa Cruz Main Beach, CA100
Bites in 55–72° water
Redtail surfperchAmphistichus rhodoterus0 of 11 spots worth the trip
Best now at Gold Beach, OR58
Bites in 48–62° water
Coho salmonOncorhynchus kisutch10 of 35 spots worth the trip
Best now at Marquette Park Beach, IN100
Bites in 44–58° water