Copper Rockfish
Sebastes caurinus
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC License
Frequently Asked Questions About Copper Rockfish
How do I identify a copper rockfish?
Copper rockfish have a copper-brown to olive-brown body with a distinctive pale (whitish or yellowish) stripe running along the upper back from behind the head toward the tail. The belly is lighter. They're medium-large rockfish reaching 23 inches and 10 lbs. They closely resemble gopher rockfish but are generally larger and have the dorsal stripe as a key field mark.
Where do copper rockfish live in Northern California?
Copper rockfish inhabit rocky reefs from 10–600 feet, with most NorCal catches in 40–200 feet. They're found on high-relief rocky structure throughout the coast - Bodega Bay, Sonoma Coast, Point Arena, Stewarts Point, Fort Bragg, and the Mendocino Coast. They're accessible to kayak anglers on most inshore rocky reef systems.
What is the bag limit for copper rockfish in California?
Copper rockfish count toward California's 10-fish aggregate rockfish daily bag limit. There is no minimum size limit. Season and depth restrictions (RCAs) apply - always verify current regulations at wildlife.ca.gov before fishing.
What is the difference between copper and gopher rockfish?
The key difference is the pale dorsal stripe on copper rockfish - a whitish or yellowish stripe along the upper back from head to tail. Gopher rockfish have pale blotches over their body without this distinct stripe. Coppers are also typically larger. The two species can hybridize, producing intermediate fish that are difficult to classify.
What is the best bait for copper rockfish?
Fresh cut squid on a dropper loop rig fished right on the rocky bottom is the most consistent copper rockfish bait. Cut anchovy and shrimp also work well. Soft plastic baits in brown, red, or white in 3–4 inch sizes fished on a light jighead along the bottom are equally effective.
Watch on Your Favorite Platform
New content drops regularly across all our platforms, follow us so you never miss a trip.
TikTok
Quick catches, bite-sized tips, and behind-the-scenes moments.
Follow on TikTokYouTube
Long-form fishing trips, full camping vlogs, and in-depth how-to guides.
Subscribe, It's FreePhotos, reels, and stories from our latest fishing and camping adventures.
Follow on InstagramCommunity updates, trip announcements, and longer posts for our Facebook/Meta followers.
Follow on Facebook