California Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher, Juvenile. Underwater photograph taken within Mission Bay, San Diego, California, December 2017. Photograph courtesy of Bob Hillis, Ivins, Utah.

California Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher, Juvenile. Fish caught from within the Avalon Marina, San Clemente Island, Avalon, California, December 2022. Length: 15 cm (5.9 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of  Luke Ovgard, Klamath Falls, Oregon.

California Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher, Initial Phase (IP) Female. Fish caught from coastal waters off San Diego, California, April 2018. Length: 35 cm (14 inches). Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Josh Leisen (joshadventures.com), Gaylord, Michigan.

California Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher, Initial Phase (IP) Female. Fish caught from coastal waters off Point Palmilla, Baja California Sur, December 2007. Length: 35 cm (14 inches).

California Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher, Initial Phase (IP) Female Transitioning To Terminal Phase (TP) Male. Fish caught from coastal waters off Long Beach, California, October 2015. Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Chris Wheaton, Fullerton, California.

California Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher, Initial Phase (IP) Female Transitioning To Terminal Phase (TP) Male. Fish courtesy of the commercial fishermen of the greater San Diego area, San Diego, California,  November 2014. Length: 38 cm (15 inches).

California Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher, Terminal Phase (TP) Male. Fish provided by the commercial fishermen of the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, December 2007. Length: 76 cm (2 feet 6 inches).

California Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher, Terminal Phase (TP) Male. Fish caught from coastal waters off Point Palmilla, Baja California Sur, January 2017. Length: 59 cm (23 inches).

California Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher, Terminal Phase, Male. Underwater photograph taken in coastal waters off Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach, California, March 2019. Length: 69 cm (2 feet 3 inches). Photograph and identification courtesy of Bob Hillis, Ivins, Utah.

The California Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher, is one of the largest member of the Wrasse or Labridae Family, and is known in Mexico as vieja californiana. Globally, there are three species in the genus Semicossyphus, one of which is found in Mexican waters, this one in the Pacific Ocean.

The California Sheephead has a robust body that taper significantly toward the tail and have a depth that is 62% to 66% of standard length. Initial Phase (IP) females are brownish-red with a white chin, uniformly colored reddish-white fins, and a dark spot between their first and third dorsal spines. Terminal Phase (TP) males have a black head with a white chin, a brownish-red mid-section, a white belly, and dark fins; the rear of their body is dark. Juveniles are reported to be reddish-orange with a mid-lateral white stripe and large black spots on their anal and caudal fin base, and their dorsal and pelvic fins. They have a large bluntly pointed head and mature adults develop a bump on their forehead. Their mouth is relatively small and ends well before the eyes. They have two pairs of enlarged canine teeth at the front of each jaw. Their anal fin has 3 spines and 12 rays, their caudal fin is lunate; their dorsal fin has 12 spines and 12 rays; and, their pectoral fins have 17 to 19 rays. They are covered with small scales. Their lateral line is complete and smoothly arched.

The California Sheephead is found within kelp beds and over and within rocky structures at depths up to 150 m (490 feet). They reach a maximum of 91 cm (3 feet 0 inches) in length. As of January 1, 2024, the International Game Fish Association world record stood at 15.65 kg (34 lbs 8 oz) with the fish caught in coastal waters of the California Coast in September 2018. They feed diurnally on small crustaceans, sea urchins, mollusks, and brittle stars.  The California Sheephead is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.

The California Sheephead is a resident of Mexican waters of the Pacific but has a limited distribution being found along both the entire east and west coasts of Baja and there is a small isolated population in the northern portion of the Sea of Cortez along the coast of the mainland.

The California Sheephead is an easy fish to identify due to its unique markings, although it is very similar to the Mexican Hogfish, Bodianus diplotaenia (more aerodynamic; no white chin).

The California Sheephead is a good foe on light tackle but populations are in significant decline due to overfishing. They are considered to be an excellent food fish and are sold in abundance by the major food markets in the greater Los Cabos area and are considered an excellent food fish.