ID THIS FISH!

[JEAE21]

i've caught vermillion looking very similiar to that

 

[magic]

i've caught vermillion looking very similiar to that

A vermillion rock cod? They are bright red like that but not the sculpin shape, ive caught many of those.

According to this site: http://www.gma.org/fogm/Hemitripterus_americanus.htm red sculpins live on the atlantic coast, i caught this in the pacific.

 

[sharkaddict]

FAC out there!!! Morro Bay is a little farther south than I fish for RC, but great pics!!!

 

[guppy]

i've caught vermillion looking very similiar to that

This also lacks the distinct scales of the vermilion

 

[magic]

FAC out there!!! Morro Bay is a little farther south than I fish for RC, but great pics!!!

FAC?

 

[guppy]

Well, it took some looking but I found it. That is the Red Irish Lord (Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus). What through me was that although primarily red they are usually also mottled with brown or green. I read more closely and found that in some areas the populations are completely and brilliantly red. Do you see how the spiny dorsal has two distinct sections? That is classic for irish lords.

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

right outside of Morro Bay doubt u have heard of the place.

Love visiting Morro rock!

Soulfish should be able to tell you more about this fish. You should PM him.

 

[magic]

Well, it took some looking but I found it. That is the Red Irish Lord (Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus). What through me was that although primarily red they are usually also mottled with brown or green. I read more closely and found that in some areas the populations are completely and brilliantly red. Do you see how the spiny dorsal has two distinct sections? That is classic for irish lords.

i believe you found it! thank you, i am an avid fisherman and this is the first thing i have caught here that i couldn't identify on my own!

yeah the dorsal fin gives it away, down to the notch on the front section. the fish seemed to be "smoother" looking than many in the pictures, but maybe just another variation like the red color, body shape identical for sure.

 

[magic]

Love visiting Morro rock!

Soulfish should be able to tell you more about this fish. You should PM him.

hehee i have lived in morro bay my whole life
awesome place to live, especially if you love being on the ocean like me.

 

[soulFish]

It's a Sculpin, Scopionfish type.

But note that an Red Irish Lord has a pattern on it's body this one doent seem to have a pattern.

Almost like a cross between the:
"Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus" http://www.metridium.com/akgallery03/ril.jpg
"Sebastolobus alascanus": http://departments.oxy.edu/vrg/sccwrp/pics/sebastolobus alascanus-small.jpg

There are many times known that our rockfish create hybrids. But not sure about the Sculpin family.