Also a member of the Scorpaenidae family, the yelloweye rockfish is known to many anglers as “red snapper,” although it bears only a slight resemblance to a true snapper. It is one of many red to yellow species in the eastern Pacific, however, and resembles several others, making identification difficult. The large size and the excellent flesh of this species make it a favorite among anglers.
Identification
The yelloweye rockfish is orange-red to orange-yellow in body coloration; it has bright-yellow irises and black pupils and a raspy ridge above the eyes. The fins may be black at the margins.An adult usually has a light (perhaps white) band on the lateral line. A juvenile has two light bands, one on the lateral line and one shorter line below the lateral line. A large rockfish, the yelloweye is a heavy-boned, spiny fish through the head and “shoulders.”
