rockCod
(Sebastes …)
Season: April 1st to December 31st
Length
12″-36″
Weight
1-15lbs
Fishing style and Depth
Drifting/Jigging in 10′-1000′
Rockfish inhabit rocky terrain from the shoreline to 1500′ depth. There are more than 100 species and many different shapes, sizes, color patterns and flavors. Colors vary from black and drab green to bright orange and red, and some rockfishes wear stripes or splotches. New regulation requires us to target rockfish in 300′ of depth During April, October, And December. We are required to fish less than 120′ depths for May though September, and November. The quality of fish collected during in the deeper waters will be much larger than typically harvested in shallower waters, but the shallow water is much less effort and faster action, with typically better weather. Bodega Bay Rock Fish Fishing typically peaks during the spring and summer months.
Rockcod Information:
Rock Cod (Sebastes spp.), more accurately known as Rockfish, are a diverse and incredibly abundant family of reef-dwelling fish native to the Pacific Coast. They range from the Gulf of Alaska down to Baja California. These colorful, hard-hitting fish are the absolute bread and butter for anglers in Northern California. This is especially true near Bodega Bay and Tomales Bay. While there are over 70 different species of rockfish on the West Coast—including Vermilion (Reds), Canary, Copper, Blue, and Black rockfish—most fish caught on our Bodega Bay charters range between 2 to 10 pounds. However, pulling up a 10 to 15-pound trophy deepsea rockfish is always a possibility. Rock Cod are highly prized for their firm, mild, and flaky white meat. In fact, they are considered the undisputed champions of West Coast fish tacos. Interestingly, rockfish are some of the longest-living fish in the ocean, with certain species living well over 100 years! Despite their common names of “Rock cod” or “Pacific Snapper,” they are neither cod nor snapper. They actually belong to the scorpionfish family. However, they earned their local name due to their habit of tightly hugging rocky reefs and underwater pinnacles. Rock cod fishing in Bodega Bay provides consistent, fast-paced action from spring through late fall. Typically, Offshore trips in the spring often produce the largest, jumbo-sized fish of the year and require some strength to haul them up from the deep waters. In contrast, inshore waters produce incredible numbers of fish in the mid-summer to fall, where we can use lighter tackle to catch them as they move up into the shallow reefs and kelp beds. If you’re looking for non-stop action, a cooler full of premium fillets, and a great time for anglers of all skill levels, targeting Rock Cod on a fishing trip is an experience you won’t want to miss.
Our Favorite Rockcod Photos:
