Damselfishes: Family Pomacentridae
Species: Chromis punctipinnis (Cooper, 1863); from the Greek word chromis (a croaker) and the Latin words punctipinnis (spot fin).
Alternate Names: Blue perch, kelp perch, rock bass and black perch. In Mexico called castañeta herrera.
Identification: Perch-shaped but not so deep—compressed and somewhat elongate. Their dorsal fin is long and undivided. Their coloring is dark blue or black on the back, grayish blue on sides, yellow tones in fins; they have black spots on the posterior half of the body.
Size: Length to 12 inches; most caught off piers are 6-10 inches.
Range: Punta San Pablo, southern Baja California, to Monterey Bay, central California. Common from Isla Asuncion, southern Baja California, to southern California. During warm water years may move into central California.
Habitat: Shallow-water, rocky-shore areas and in kelp beds; young and adults aggregate according to size. Generally surface to 150 feet deep although recorded to a depth of 203 feet. Reportedly migrate to rocky holes shortly before sunset where they hunker down for the night. Those unable to find a hole or crevice cluster after dark in dense schools near the rocks.
Piers: Generally found only at southern California piers, and then only those located close to extensive kelp or reefs (although I have seen a few blacksmith landed at Monterey Wharf #2). Best bets: Oceanside Harbor Pier, Green Pleasure Pier and Cabrillo Mole (Avalon), Redondo Harbor Sportfishing Pier, Paradise Cove Pier, Goleta Pier and Gaviota Pier.
Shoreline: A common catch by rocky shore anglers in southern California.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken from boats.
Bait and Tackle: Size 6 to 8 hooks fished on the bottom to mid-depth. Best bait are live bloodworms, lug worms, live crabs, fresh mussels or small pieces of shrimp.
Food Value: Most are too small to have much meat but they have a mild flavor with fairly soft texture. Can be cooked with many methods.
Comments: Really only common at a few piers although I have seen them caught at many piers. It is reported that young blacksmith seek out cleaning fish, usually juvenile pileperch or senorita, and place themselves in positions where the cleaning fish are almost forced to remove external parasites from them. During these actions, the blacksmith may be head up, head down, on their side or even upside down. If the cleaner tries to leave, blacksmiths follow and prevent escape. Talk about bad manners.
Nice summary of blacksmith behavior. Anglers often forget how school-oriented this species is—when you find one, there are usually many more. Light tackle, small hooks, and fishing near kelp or pilings, especially late afternoon, tend to be far more effective than heavier pier setups.
I’ve often found that pier fishing can be quite different based on the season. While your tips are solid, I think experimenting with local bait can really make a difference in catch rates. Anyone else tried pairing fresh shrimp with their usual setups?
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Interesting species—blacksmith fish have such unique behavior, especially how they interact with cleaner fish and gather in kelp habitats. Their adaptability in shallow rocky areas is pretty fascinating. Speaking of playful movement and control, I sometimes unwind with Wacky Flip, a casual physics-based game where you guide flips and landings, making it a fun way to relax after reading about marine life.
This answered all my questions.
This answered all my questions.
Perfectly balanced between detail and simplicity.
I didn’t realize the origin of the name for Chromis punctipinnis came from both Greek and Latin. It’s interesting how the names reflect characteristics of the fish. I find damselfishes to be quite vibrant and captivating in their habitats. Have you shared more details on their behaviors or habitats elsewhere?
Super helpful for anglers who want to understand local species better and improve their chances of a good catch.
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Love this post! Pier fishing really brings back memories of my childhood—there’s nothing like the thrill of reeling in a big catch. Your tips are spot on! I’ll definitely check out drift boss for some fun downtime between trips. Thanks for sharing!
Great post, good fishing.
Blacksmith
What a beautiful fish! The kelp perch is a wonderful reminder of how diverse and fascinating ocean life can be!