Aurora Rockfish, Sebastes aurora

Aurora Rockfish, Sebastes aurora. Fish provided by the commercial fishermen of the greater San Diego area, San Diego, California. October 2014. Length: 33 cm (13 inches).

The Aurora Rockfish, Sebastes aurora, is a member of the Rockfish and Scorpionfish or Scorpaenidae Family, and is known in Mexico as sébaste aurore. 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 Aurora Rockfish has a deep oblong-shaped body with a depth that is 36% to 40% of standard length. They vary in color ranging from a uniform pink to a uniform dark red with slightly darker colored fins also uniform in color. Their anal and dorsal fins have a wide dark red or purple band at their margins. There is a very dark yet subtle blotch on their gill cover. Their head is disproportionately deep. Their anal fin has 3 spines, the second being stout and longer than the third, and 7 or 8 rays; their caudal fin is straight to slightly concave; their dorsal fin has 13 spines and 12 or 13 rays; and, their pectoral fins have 17 to 19 rays. They have 24 to 28 gill rakers. Their body is covered with scales.

The Aurora Rockfish is a demersal species found over both soft and hard bottoms at depths between 82 m (270 feet) and 762 m (2,500 feet). They reach a maximum of 41 cm (16 inches) in length with females being slightly larger than males. They feed on fish, krill, octopus, and a variety of other small marine organisms. They have lifespans of seventy-five years. The Aurora Rockfish is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, habitat use, and reproduction.

The Aurora Rockfish is a resident of Mexican waters of the Pacific but has a limited range being found form Cedros Island, Baja California northward along the central and northwest coasts of Baja.

The Aurora Rockfish can be easily confused with the Chameleon Rockfish, Sebastes phillipsi (several large forward projecting spines on head; 2 to 4 spines under eyes; 36-39 gill rakers) and the Splitnose Rockfish, Sebastes diploproa (split beak; larger eyes; 32-37 gill rakers).

From a conservation perspective the Aurora Rockfish has not been formally evaluated. They are a minor component of the Southern California commercial fishery with most taken via gill nets and a handful are caught each year by recreational anglers. They are not plentiful in Mexican waters. They are considered an excellent food fish.