Rockfishes

In the wild these fish dwell at great depth in the oxygen minimum zone feeding largely on brittle stars. Spawned gelatinous egg masses float to the surface where larvae can be recovered and bred.

These rockfish settle out of the plankton as large larvae, usually in kelp forests. As adults they remain as solitary individuals in the kelp forest feeding on crabs, shrimps, small fish, and octopi. Their biology is similar to that of gopher rockfish differing principally in color. Depth 18 m.

Fund at 18 m.

Usually a solitary fish found in the kelp forest with a home range of only a few meters. They feed at night on small creatures inhabiting the substratum. Length about 20 cm. Depth about 10 m.

Juvenile blues are not blue but rather pinkish red. They aggregate near the bottom that may promise a refuge from predators.

Depth10 m, size about 20 cm. Adults such as this one feed on crabs, octopi, shrimps, and occasionally other fishes, mainly at night. They are solitary, territorial, and bottom dwelling.

Photographed at 16 m depth. These fish, widely distributed on the Pacific Coast, are often taken commercially and by sport fishers.

Photographed swimming at 80 ft. depth

Fish, anemones, sponges and coral

Fish, anemones, sponges and coral