Vermilion Rockfish Identification Guide
Recognize a vermilion rockfish by its bright orange-red body, gray mottling, and large dark eyes.
Read the full Vermilion Rockfish encyclopedia entry →
Key identification features
- Bright red to orange-red overall body color, often with gray or olive mottling along the back and sides
- Large, dark eyes on a moderately pointed head
- Red or pinkish fins, sometimes with a dark edge or black blotch near the base of the pectoral fin
- Rows of spines along the dorsal fin typical of rockfish, with a relatively smooth-edged anal fin
- Grows up to about 75 cm (30 in), though most individuals are smaller
Common look-alikes
- Canary rockfish: has an orange lateral line and pale-blotched sides, distinguishing it from the more uniformly red vermilion rockfish
- Yelloweye rockfish: much brighter yellow eyes and a heavier body, with juveniles showing a white stripe down the lateral line
- Bocaccio: has a longer lower jaw that projects noticeably past the upper jaw, unlike the vermilion rockfish's more even jaw line
Where you'll see one
Vermilion rockfish inhabit rocky reefs and high-relief bottom structure along the Pacific coast of North America, from British Columbia to Baja California, typically at moderate to deep offshore depths.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a vermilion rockfish from a canary rockfish?
Look for an orange lateral line and pale blotching on a canary rockfish; a vermilion rockfish lacks these and looks more uniformly red.
How do I separate a vermilion rockfish from a bocaccio?
Check the jaw: bocaccio have a lower jaw that projects noticeably past the upper jaw, while a vermilion rockfish's jaws are more even.