Rockfish

Rockfish are a fascinating genus of fish with many unique characteristics, whose genus name Sebastes translates to magnificent in Greek – which they really are! However, some of these characteristics make them especially vulnerable. Rockfish can have lifespans reaching even beyond humans- ranging from 50-120 years, they are some of the longest-lived vertebrates. Due to their longevity, rockfish don’t reach sexual maturity until much later in their lives. Because of this, it takes many years for population growth, as they produce more eggs compared to younger fish. Additionally, due to the depths they live in, they are vulnerable to barotrauma when exposed to catch and release fishing. Barotrauma is caused when the swim bladder of a fish expands due to rapidly changing pressure, which leads to protrusion of the eyes and stomach and the inability to swim back to their original depth. When descended within a few minutes of being caught, rockfish survival increases to 92.5% (compared to 0% when a descender device is not used).

The MyCatch app by Angler’s Atlas is free, easy to use, and shows you exactly where Rockfish Conservation Areas are. This app provides you with updated fishing regulations, the ability to download offline maps and is great for tracking your fishing trips and catches.