Family: Scorpaenidae, Scorpionfishes view all from this family

Description To 22" (56 cm). Deep, fusiform, compressed; orange-brown, olive, dull yellow or copper above, white below and on head, posterior two-thirds of lateral line whitish or pinkish with white blotches. Snout moderately sharp; 5 pairs of head spines; lower jaw unscaled. Dorsal fins continuous, deeply notched, spiny portion longer-based, with incised membranes, spines at least as long as rays. Caudal fin truncate.

Warning Caution should be used when handling these fish to avoid touching their mildly venomous dorsal and anal fin spines.

Similar Species Calico Rockfish (S. dalli) has orange-brown bars extending down sides from dorsal fin, orange-brown spots on and below dorsal fin; occurs near reefs and over soft bottoms from San Francisco, California, to Bahia San Sebastian Vizcaino, Baja California.

Habitat Over low-profile rock and shale reefs to depths of 100 fathoms.

Range From Kenei Peninsula, Alaska, to Islas San Benito, Baja California.

Discussion The Copper Rockfish feeds on fishes and crustaceans. It is a popular sport fish, although not abundant on any reef.