Treefish, Sebastes serriceps

Treefish, Sebastes serriceps, Juveniles. Underwater photograph taken in coastal waters off San Diego, California, March 2014. Photograph and identification courtesy of Bob Hillis, Ivins, Utah.

Treefish, Sebastes serriceps. Underwater photograph taken in coastal waters off San Diego, California, September 2022. Photograph and identification courtesy of Bob Hillis, Ivins, Utah.

Treefish, Sebastes serriceps. Fish caught from coastal waters off San Diego, California, December 2020. Length: 16 cm (6.3 inches). Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Josh Leisen (joshadventures.com), Gaylord, Michigan.

Treefish, Sebastes serriceps. Fish caught from coastal waters off San Nicolas Island, California, April 2016. Length: 33 cm (13 inches). Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Eli (obsessiveangling.wordpress.com).

Treefish, Sebastes serriceps. Fish caught from coastal waters off Long Beach, California, December 2019. Length: 38 cm (15 inches). Weight: 1.1 kg (2 lbs 5 oz). Catch courtesy of Joe Davis, Long Beach. Photograph courtesy of Chris Wheaton, Fullerton, California.

The Treefish, Sebastes serriceps, is a member of the Rockfish and Scorpionfish or Scorpaenidae Family, that is also known as the Tijuana Donkey (as its coloration is similar to the donkeys utilized for photo ops by Gringos in the streets of Tijuana), and is known in Mexico as rocote presidiario. Globally, there are one hundred eight species in the genus Sebastes, of which fifty-three are found in Mexican waters, all in the Pacific Ocean.

The Treefish has a squat rectangular body with a depth that is 36% to 40% of standard length. Adults have six wide prominent black, brown or dark green bars set on a yellow or greenish-yellow background; the first bar is located under the anterior portion of the spiny dorsal fin and is partly split in two. They have 2 oblique bars radiating from their eyes and are covered with small subtle specks. They have red or pinkish lips. Juveniles have double bars that fill in with maturity, an additional bar on their caudal fin, and dark anal, second dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins. Their head is covered with numerous spines and has a pointed snout, small eyes, and a mid-sized terminal mouth. Their anal fin has 3 spines and 5 to 7 rays; their caudal fin is slightly rounded; their dorsal fin has 13 spines and 13 to 15 rays; and, their pectoral fins have 17 to 19 rays. They have 27 to 30 gill rakers.

The Treefish is found in diverse benthic habitats including kelp forests, rock structures, and in and around oil platforms at depths up to 107 m (350 feet). They reach a maximum of 41 cm (16 inches) in length and 1.9 kg (4 lbs 3 oz) in weight. As of January 1, 2024, the International Game Fish Association world record stood at 1.13 kg (2 lbs 8 oz) with the fish caught in coastal waters off San Diego, California in June 2020. They are normally highly territorial solitary individuals but can be found in small aggregates on rare occasions. Their diet is primarily fish supplemented with crabs, shrimp, and other crustaceans. Reproduction is oviparous with each female releasing between 50,000 and 100,000 pelagic eggs annually. They have lifespans of up to twenty-five years. The Treefish 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 Treefish is a resident of Mexican waters if the Pacific Ocean but has a limited distribution being found from Guerrero Negro, Baja California, northward along the central and northwest coasts of Baja.

The Treefish is most likely confused with the Tiger Rockfish, Sebastes nigrocinctus (orange, pink or tan background between bars).

From a conservation perspective the Treefish has not been formally evaluated. They are not currently an important food fish. They are a component of the live fishery and can be found in ethnic fish markets of Northern Baja. They are caught with good frequency by recreational anglers from boats, piers, and jetties.