copper-rockfish
Species Facts

Science Name: Sebastes caurinus
Other Names: never die, whitebelly, chucklehead
World Record: 22.5 inches
Environment: Shallow Rocky Environment
Description

The body of the copper rockfish is moderately deep and compressed. The head is large with a slightly curved upper profile; the mouth is large and the lower jaw projects slightly. The color is copper brown to orange tinged with pink. The back two-thirds of the sides are a clear, light pink area; the belly is white.

Maximum length: 22 in (58 cm)
Peritoneum color: light
Maximum depth: 100 fm (183 m)
Shape between eyes: concave
Common depth: <67 fm (<120 m)

The copper rockfish occurs from San Benitos Islands, Baja California, to the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. It is found in shallow rocky and sandy areas, and is generally caught at depths of less than 180 feet; however, some have been taken as deep as 60 feet.

The diet of copper rockfish includes snails, worms, squid, octopus, crabs, shrimps, and fishes. Copper rockfish, like all species in the genus Sebastes, give birth to fully developed embryos. Fertilization and development of the embryo take place in the body of the mother. Upon being expelled from the female, the fully developed embryo is released from the egg.

The copper rockfish is often the last species to die in a bag of rockfish. Some individuals continue to twitch long after members of other species have died.