Rockfish

Last updated July 06, 2025

Rockfish is a common term for several species of fish, referring to their tendency to hide among rocks.

The name rockfish is used for many kinds of fish used for food.^[1] This common name belongs to several groups that are not closely related, and can be arbitrary.^[2]

Specific examples of fish termed rockfish include:

The family Sebastidae, marine fishes that inhabit oceans around the world. They may be included in the family Scorpaenidae.^[3]
- Sebastes ,^[4] a commercially important genus of fish in the Sebastidae inhabiting mainly the North Pacific, but with a few species in the North Atlantic and southern oceans
- In Washington State, many species of Sebastes and a few of Sebastolobus are called rockfish.^[5]
Acanthoclinus , a genus of fish from New Zealand
Bull huss or bull huss (Scyliorhinus stellaris), a shark known as rock salmon when used in cuisine
Hexagrammos , a genus of greenling from the North Pacific
Hypoplectrodes , a genus of fish in the family Serranidae
Salvelinus , a genus of fish in the salmon family
The stonefishes (genus Synanceia), venomous fishes from the Indo-Pacific
Striped bass (Morone saxatilis), called rockfish on the Atlantic coast of North America from New Jersey south^[6]
Groupers, fish in the subfamily Epinephelinae
Certain fish of genus Scorpaena , such as the Madeira rockfish (S. maderensis), a common Mediterranean species
Myliobatis goodei , which is sometimes called "rockfish"

References

↑ Rockfish Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch.
↑ Leschin-Hoar, C. Do Fish Names Encourage Fishy Business? National Public Radio. 30 July 2015.
↑ List of Rockfish (Scorpaenidae) Species. AFSC Guide to Rockfishes. Alaska Fisheries Science Center. NOAA.
↑ Rockfish (Sebastes spp.). Monterey Bay Aquarium.
↑ "Rockfish | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife". wdfw.wa.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
↑ Davidson, Alan (2003). North Atlantic Seafood: A Comprehensive Guide with Recipes (2nd ed.). Ten Speed Press (published 1979). p. 86. ISBN 978-1-58008-450-5.

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[1] Rockfish Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch.

[2] Leschin-Hoar, C. Do Fish Names Encourage Fishy Business? National Public Radio. 30 July 2015.

[3] List of Rockfish (Scorpaenidae) Species. AFSC Guide to Rockfishes. Alaska Fisheries Science Center. NOAA.

[4] Rockfish (Sebastes spp.). Monterey Bay Aquarium.

[5] "Rockfish | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife". wdfw.wa.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-22.

[6] Davidson, Alan (2003). North Atlantic Seafood: A Comprehensive Guide with Recipes (2nd ed.). Ten Speed Press (published 1979). p. 86. ISBN 978-1-58008-450-5.

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