California, and the Pacific waters in general, is home to an abundance gnarly looking, but super tasty fish and the Pacific Rock fish is no exception.
An important piece of information to know is, there are several different species of fish that are commonly referred to as “Rockfish” including Vermillion Rockfish, these highlighted Goldeneye Rockfish, and others. Each has a different look, but they all share the same great taste.
Rockfish live along the bottom so you should be prepared to fish in the deep for them. It can be a bit of a workout hauling them to the surface, but it’s totally worth it once you see them pierce the water in beautiful arrays and varieties, and often vibrant bright colors. While they aren’t particularly known for a savage fight, using lighter tackle can make it even more enjoyable when you hook into one, especially in shallow water.
When these guys are around they generally chew right away with fisherman getting bites on cut bait, squid strips or even chunks of sardines or anchovies. For this reason many agree this is a great fishery to explore for first timers and even kids- who may get antsy playing the waiting game with more deliberate fish species. You don’t need anything particularly special or pricey, in terms of gear or tackle, to get a few of these in the bucket either. Spinning outfits and conventional alike will do just fine. Just keep in mind depending on the conditions and depth of water you’ll need to adjust accordingly. Especially when fishing in deeper waters, many anglers love the no/low stretch characteristic of braided line. Matched up with a nice jig or lead head with soft plastic to keep you on the bottom where these guys live can be a deadly combination.
