Rockfish: Alaska Fish Species Guide

Alaska is home to more than 40 species of rockfish. Their coloration covers the rainbow. Certain species are especially striking like the China rockfish, which sports a brilliant yellow and black pattern or the tiger rockfish which is typically orange and black. Commonly caught species in Alaska are the black rockfish and yelloweye rockfish.

Rockfish are marine, ray-finned fish. They are long lived, with a maximum lifespan of 50- to 200  years, depending on the species. Non-pelagic rockfish live near the bottom in deeper water, while pelagic rockfish span the whole water column. Non-pelagic rockfish are under pressure in Alaska, and species like yelloweye or quillback are not allowed to be retained in many places. Anglers target pelagic species like black rockfish for harvest. Rockfish as a family range in size from a pound to 30 pounds; an average black rockfish is about 3 pounds and a huge specimen is 7 pounds.

Rockfish live on reefs across southeast and southcentral Alaska. One cool fact about black rockfish is that they give birth to live young. Most rockfish species have large dorsal spines which are very sharp and mildly poisonous, no doubt a self defense to help reduce the frequency of attacks by unrelenting lingcod. It's not uncommon in Alaska to hook a rockfish and have a lingcod latch onto it, not even hooked. Remember that you have to let that lingcod go as rockfish can't be used as bait.

Rockfish Fishing Tips

Rockfish angling begins in May and stays productive through September. Every saltwater boat that targets rockfish needs to have a descending tool aboard. Rockfish that are intended to be released must be descended to the depth it was caught, or 100 feet, whichever is shallower. In many locations across Alaska, especially in Southeast, non pelagic rockfish must be released. Get used to using your descending tool so that you can competently release non pelagics. These rockfish species are long lived and easily caught, making them a species prone to over harvest. As such, non retention of non pelagics is the law in many places and good sense in all the other places. We focus on pelagic species like black rockfish.

Rockfish Gear

Rockfish are readily caught on jigs that resemble baitfish. We typically vertically jig them with 2- to 8-ounce Ahi USA Live Deception jigs. A 7-foot baitcasting rod rated for 8- to 15-pound-test is a good option, spooled with 30-pound-test braid and a 20-foot top-shot of 15-pound-test fluorocarbon. Black rockfish are often found throughout the water column. When a school of rockfish is located, lower the jig to the top of the school (as determined by the fish finder) and jig upwards a few feet, before letting the jig fall. Repeat a few times, then let out another 10 feet of line and repeat. Continue until you find fish or hit bottom. On charter boats, captains will find schools of rockfish, position the boat at the top of a drift, let the anglers know what depth the school is at, and work to keep the boat over the fish. Action can be fast and furious.

Saltwater:

• Icy Bay
• Yakutat
• Sitka
• Seward
• Whittier
• Homer
• West coast of Prince of Wales

Always check current area ADF&G regulations before fishing.