Shortbelly Rockfish

Shortbelly Rockfish, Sebastes jordani

Shortbelly Rockfish, Sebastes jordani. Fish from coastal waters off Point Loma, California, April 2008. Length: 15.5 cm (6.1 inches). Catch courtesy of Eddie Kisfaludy, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California. Fish identification courtesy of Dr. John Hyde, NOAA, La Jolla, California.

The Shortbelly Rockfish, Sebastes jordani, is a member of the Rockfish and Scorpionfish or Scorpaenidae Family, and known in Mexico as rocote pancita. Globally, there are one hundred eight species in the genus Sebastes, of which fifty-three are found in Mexican waters, all in the Pacific Ocean.

The Shortbelly Rockfish has a small and very thin bodies with a depth that is 23% to 27% of standard length. They range in color from red to reddish brown with darker saddles and numerous white spots and blotches on their head, back, and sides. Their coloration changes to a uniform pink or olive-pink post collection. The tips of their dorsal fins are white. Their head is long and features a long snout, disproportionately large eyes, and a mid-sized terminal mouth. They are somewhat unique in that the anus is located midway between their anal and pelvic fins. Their anal fin has 3 spines and 8 to 11 rays; their caudal fin is deeply forked; their dorsal fin has 13 spines and 13 to 16 rays; and, their pectoral fins have 16 to 22 rays. They have 40 to 49 gill rakers. Their body is covered with scales.

The Shortbelly Rockfish is found in large migrating schools forming dense aggregations that move in unison in all portions of the water column at depths between 11 m (35 feet) and 490 m (1610 feet). They are known as vertical migrators moving higher in the water column during the night to feed. They reach a maximum of 35 cm (14 inches) in length, with females being larger than males. They feed on zooplankton and krill. Reproduction is oviparous with each female releasing up to 50,000 pelagic eggs. They are a favorite prey of salmon, ling cod, various rockfish, fur seals and various sea birds. They have a lifespan of up to thirty-two years. The Shortbelly Rockfish is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.

The Shortbelly Rockfish is a resident of Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean but has a limited distribution being found from just south of Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, northward along the central and northwest coasts of Baja.

The Shortbelly Rockfish is fairly easy to identify due to its narrow body profile and the unique location of the anus, midway between the anal and pelvic fins.

From a conservation perspective the Shortbelly Rockfish has not been formally evaluated. Although abundant they are not of interest to either commercial or recreational anglers due to their small stature.