Brown Rockfish
Species: Sebastes auriculatus (Girard, 1854); from the Greek word sebastes (magnificent) and the Latin word auriculatus (eared, referring to the large spot on the gill cover).
Brown rockfish from the Citizens Dock in Crescent City
Alternate Names: Chocolate bass is a common name as is bolina (from Bolinas Bay where they were first caught in large numbers). Sand bass, sugar bass, brown bass, cinnamon bass, brown bomber, brown rock cod, ground owl, P.D. bass, and garrupa (grouper) are other colloquial names. Called cha menuke and chairo menuke by the Japanese; rocote moreno in Mexico.
On PFIC these fish are simply designated SBRF or sbrf in deference to the appellation first applied by “pierhead” (actual name Boyd Grant, the Yoda-like Pier Master and patient teacher of youthful, local padawans on the path to “Pier Rat” enlightenment). He recorded the daily catch at Goleta Pier from 2002-2003 and found that nearly 30% of the fish caught from the pier’s pipe-reef were small brown rockfish. If it was a “larger” small brown rockfish it became SBRF, if it was a “smaller” small brown rockfish it became sbrf. To this day most regulars on the site know what the acronyms mean and use them in their reports.
Brown Rockfish from the Crystal Pier in San Diego
Identification: Typical rockfish shape. Their coloring is light brown with darker brown mottling. A very prominent dark brown spot on the opercle (gill cover) most easily identifies brown rockfish. Sometimes confused with copper rockfish but the coppers do not have the dark spot on the opercle and are lighter colored. Up in the northern waters of Puget Sound hybridization between brownies, quillbacks and coppers can really confuse identification. A survey back in the ‘70s showed only 3% of partyboat anglers could correctly identify the fish.
Brown Rockfish from the San Clemente Pier
Range: Bahia Magdalena, southern Baja California, and Bahia San Hipolito, central Baja California, to Prince William Sound, northern Gulf of Alaska. Reported as common from Bahia Tortugas, southern Baja California to Bodega Bay, northern California, and from Puget Sound to southeastern Alaska. A wide-ranging rockfish that I have caught as far south as the Ocean Beach Pier in San Diego and as far north as Pier 57 on the Seattle waterfront. In California, I have caught them at seven SoCal piers, eight CenCal piers, twenty San Francisco Bay Area piers, and five NorCal piers.
Brown Rockfish from the Fort Mason Pier in San Francisco
Habitat: Shallow subtidal areas and in bays. In shallow waters they prefer rocky areas and kelp beds; in bays they are often found around structure (especially the younger fish) although some are also found in beds of eelgrass. Adults in deeper waters tend to hang down near the rocky bottoms. San Francisco Bay is considered an important habitat for juvenile brown rockfish. Apparently all of the brownies in S.F. Bay are five years of age or younger, after that age they move offshore into deeper waters. Adults can range down to 964 feet but are only common to about 400 feet. Most are caught in waters shallower than 175 feet. Apparently they are residential, rarely moving more than a couple of miles from home (although sometimes into deeper water during the winter). Their diet includes a variety of invertebrates, especially crabs and shrimp, and they will rarely pass up the opportunity to gulp down an available, smaller fish.
Small brown rockfish from the Goleta Pier
Piers: Commonly caught from piers north of Monterey Bay although they are one of the main fish taken at the Goleta Pier. Small brown rockfish are also one of the most common fish caught from Bay Area piers. Best bets: Goleta Pier, Port San Luis Pier, Morro Bay T-Piers, Piller Point Harbor Pier, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Port View Park Pier, Berkeley Pier, Paradise Beach Pier, Angel Island Pier, Elephant Rock Pier and the Fort Baker Pier. Many brownies are also caught from the piers and docks that line the Eureka waterfront, especially the Commercial Street Dock.
Minnow Magnet and a brown rockfish from the Pillar Point Pier
Shoreline: Sometimes taken by anglers fishing rocky areas in central California.
Boats: Taken by boaters, especially kayakers fishing in kelp beds and shallow water.
Brown rockfish from the Seacliff Pier in Aptos
Bait and Tackle: Small brown rockfish are commonly caught under and around the pilings of Bay Area Piers. Small hooks, size 6 or 8, baited with a small piece of pile worm is by far the best bait although strips of squid and even cut bait will take some fish.
Food Value: An excellent eating, mild-flavored fish that is generally fried or, depending upon size, cooked whole.
Brown Rockfish from the Hermosa Beach Pier
Comments: Brownies can live to 34 years in age although few reach 25 years, a relatively short life for members of the rockfish family. A few fish mature and reproduce at 7.4 inches and 3 years of age, most mature between 9.4-12.1 inches and 4-5 years, all are mature by 14.8 inches and 10 years of age. These fish can be a lot of fun for youngsters to catch but most caught from piers are really too small to keep. According to the California Fish and Game “the brown rockfish has been identified as a species vulnerable to severe localized depletions in other areas; in Washington State, the Puget Sound stock of brown rockfish was recommended for listing as a threatened species in 1999.”