Sebastes goodei

The body of sebastes goodei is slender and rather elongate. The head is elongate, pointed and with no spines; the lower jaw is projecting. The adult fish is generally pinkish-red becoming whitish below with pink fins. Juveniles are light olive on back.[1] The middle of the chillipepper's side, the lateral line, stands out clearly, as a lighter, bright red zone. In comparison to the bocaccio, it has a smaller mouth with an upper jaw that extends only to about the center of the eye, not past it. Chilipeppers may live to be 35 years old. The record length is 22 inches (56 cm), and weight is 5.25 pounds.[1]

This species occurs from Magdalena Bay, Baja California, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Sebastes goodei are not taken as frequently as other rockfishes because they are rarely caught in depths less than 360 feet along the coast of California. They generally occur over rocky bottoms at depths between 160–820 feet (50–250 m)[1] and have been taken as deep as 1,080 feet.

Adult sebastes goodei feed on small crustaceans, small squids, or on such fishes as anchovies, young hake, small sardines, and lanternfishes. Approximately 50 percent of the males mature when 8.75 inches long and 2 years old; while 50 percent of the females are mature when they are 12 inches long and 4 years old. Chili peppers may live to be at least 16 years old. As with other rockfishes, fertilization is internal and live young are born. The number of developing eggs increases from 29,000 in a 12-inch female to about 538,000 in a 22-inch fish. Rockfish have internal fertilization, eggs incubate and embryos hatch in the ovaries, with subsequent extrusion of [2]larvae.

The usual rig for sebastes goodei is made up of three to six hooks above a sinker that is heavy enough to take the line to the bottom on a fairly straight course. Sebastes goodei are often fished in midwater as well on the bottom. Because of the depths, it may take a considerable amount of time to lower and raise this fishing rig; therefore, the bait should be tough enough to remain on the hook while being chewed upon. Pieces of squid, dried salted anchovies or strip bait, or cut bait as it is commonly known, consists of small strips of flesh with the skin still on from freshly caught rockfish, mackerel or other fishes are ideal.

• George Brown Goode

• This article was copied from California Marine Sportfish by the California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Region; a public domain resource.

• EOL.org
• itis.gov