Saltwater · Southern
Rockfish - Vermilion
Ocean regulations can change in-season. Confirm with the 2026 Ocean Sport Fishing Guide and CDFW before you fish.
Species group
ROCKFISH
Season
Open: Apr 1–Dec 31 Closed: Jan 1–Mar 31
Season notes
Boat-based anglers. Shore anglers and spear divers are largely exempt from groundfish season/depth limits (except no-retention species). Regulations can change in-season — verify with CDFW.
Depth limit
Southern Management Area (Point Conception to U.S.–Mexico border): Apr 1–Jun 30: Open all depths Jul 1–Sep 30: Take prohibited seaward of the 50-fathom (300 ft) RCA line (inshore only) Oct 1–Dec 31: Nearshore rockfish/cabezon/greenling closed; shelf & slope rockfish and lingcod — take prohibited shoreward of the 50-fathom RCA line (offshore only) Jan 1–Mar 31: Closed Descending device required when taking/possessing federal groundfish from a boat.
Daily bag limit
2 vermilion/sunset rockfish combined per person. Counts within the 10-fish RCG complex bag.
Minimum size
No minimum size limit. Fillets must have the entire skin attached.
Gear restrictions
Method of take: When angling, gear is restricted to not more than two hooks and one line. A hook is a single hook, or a double or treble hook with multiple points connected to a common shank. Descending device required aboard when taking/possessing federal groundfish.
Identification
The body of the vermilion rockfish is moderately deep and compressed. The head is somewhat curved with a lower jaw that is slightly projecting. Vermilion have a large mouth and a scaly lower jaw. Underwater the adult color ranges from brown, to dark yellow, lemon yellow, red, orange or black-red, usually with some gray or black mottling on the sides. They also exhibit prominent white markings, particularly along the lateral line and across the head behind the eyes and at the base of the third and fourth dorsal spine. These markings are usually not present after death. They have three obscure orange stripes radiating from the eyes. On fish shorter than 12 inches, the mottling is much more apparent and the fins are often edged with black. Underwater vermilion rockfish are often confused with canary rockfish and can be distinguished by their more intense red coloration and by an anal fin whose trailing edge is vertically truncated (it is diagonal in canary rockfish). Yelloweye and canary rockfishes are similar in appearance to the vermilion, but the bottom of the yelloweye and canary's lower jaws are scaleless and feel smooth to the touch. Vermilion rockfish have scales on the bottom of the lower jaw, which makes it rough to the touch.