Silvergray Rockfish, Sebastes brevispinis

Silvergray Rockfish, Sebastes brevispinis. Fish caught from coastal waters off Sikta, Alaska, August 2014. Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Chris Wheaton, Fullerton, California.

The Silvergray Rockfish, Sebastes brevispinis, is a member of the Rockfish and Scorpionfish or Scorpaenidae Family, and is known in Mexico as rocote frios y grise. 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 Silvergray Rockfish has a narrow elongated body with a depth that is 29% to 33% of standard length. They are streamlined and lack head spines. They have a dark gray, green or brown, silvery or tan coloration on their sides and tinges of red ventrally. They are uniform in color without any spotting or blotches. Their head is rather long with large eyes set high on the head and a large terminal mouth. The tip of their lower jaw has a symphyseal knob. Their anal fin has 3 spines and 7 or 8 rays; their caudal fin is slightly indented to concave; their dorsal fin has 13 spines and 13 to 17 rays; and, their pectoral fins have 16 to 18 rays. They have 33 to 36 gill rakers. Their body is covered with scales.

The Silvergray Rockfish is a schooling species that are found very close to heavy structures from shallow coastal waters to depths up to 580 m (1,900 feet). They are found mixed in with Canary Rockfish and Yellowtail Rockfish. They reach a maximum of 74 cm (2 feet 5 inches) in length, with females being larger than males. As of January 1, 2024, the International Game Fish Association world record stood at 7.37 kg (16 lbs 4 oz) with the fish caught in coastal waters off Elfin Cove, Alaska in July 2012. Reproduction is oviparous with the release of pelagic eggs. They have a lifespan of up to 82 years. The Silvergray Rockfish 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 Silvergray Rockfish is a resident of Mexican waters of 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 Silvergray Rockfish can be confused with the Bocaccio, Sebastes paucispinis (reddish color; larger mouth; spotting; no symphyseal knob), the Chilipepper, Sebastes goodei (pink with blotches; small mouth; narrower body) and the Shortbelly Rockfish, Sebastes jordani (heavily saddled; small mouth; large eyes; forked tail; body more streamlined).

From a conservation perspective the Silvergray Rockfish has not been formally evaluated. They are a strong component of the Northwest United States Coastal commercial fishery taken predominately by hook and line and as a by-catch of bottom trawls. A large percentage of the fish are discarded due to parasite contamination. They are marketed fresh or frozen. They are an important component of the recreational catch in the northern part of their range.