Rockfish Explained

Rockfish is a common term for several species of fish, referring to their tendency to hide among rocks.

The name rockfish is used for many kinds of fish used for food.^[1] This common name belongs to several groups that are not closely related, and can be arbitrary.^[2]

Specific examples of fish termed rockfish include:

• The family Sebastidae, marine fishes that inhabit oceans around the world. They may be included in the family Scorpaenidae.^[3]
  • Sebastes,^[4] a commercially important genus of fish in the Sebastidae inhabiting mainly the North Pacific, but with a few species in the North Atlantic and southern oceans
  • In Washington State, many species of Sebastes and a few of Sebastolobus are called rockfish.^[5]
  • Sebastol are called rockfish
• Acanthoclinus, a genus of fish from New Zealand
• Bull huss or bull huss (Scyliorhinus stellaris), a shark known as rock salmon when used in cuisine
• Hexagrammos, a genus of greenling from the North Pacific
• Hypoplectrodes, a genus of fish in the family Serranidae
• Salvelinus, a genus of fish in the salmon family
• The stonefishes (genus Synanceia), venomous fishes from the Indo-Pacific
• Striped bass (Morone saxatilis), called rockfish on the Atlantic cost of North America from New Jersey south^[6]
• Groupers, fish in the subfamily Epinephelinae
• Certain fish of genus Scorpaena, such as the Madeira rockfish (S. maderensis), a common Mediterranean species
• Myliobatis goodei, which is sometimes called "rockfish"

Notes and References

1. https://www.seafoodwatch.org/recommendations/search?query=%3Aspecies%3BRockfish Rockfish
2. Leschin-Hoar, C. Do Fish Names Encourage Fishy Business? National Public Radio. 30 July 2015.
3. https://www.afsc.noaa.gov/groundfish/rockfishguide/species_list.htm List of Rockfish (Scorpaenidae) Species.
4. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-guide/fishes/rockfish Rockfish (Sebastes spp.).
5. Web site: Rockfish Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife . 2024-01-22 . wdfw.wa.gov . en.
6. Book: Davidson, Alan . North Atlantic Seafood: A Comprehensive Guide with Recipes . 2003 . Ten Speed Press . 2003 . 978-1-58008-450-5 . 2nd . 1979 . 86 . en . Alan Davidson (food writer).