Rockfish Fishing

Rockfish are not considered the specialty fish when clients are booking fishing charters in Alaska, but they are very much remembered later due to the excitement they provide on light tackle and the exceptional taste at the table.

Rockfish come in two species in our waters. 

Pelagic and Non-Pelagic.

The Pelagic Rockfish most typically caught are Black and Dusky. The Black are frequently called Black Bass although they are not a bass. These fish will be found around rock piles, pinnacles
and reefs and are frenzied feeders once we get into them.  Many clients with younger children enjoy watching them catch Rockfish although they also enjoy catching them themselves.

The Non-Pelagic Rockfish are found in deeper waters and are bottom dwellers. They are frequently caught while targeting Halibut and Lingcod.  This species of Rockfish commonly caught include Yellow-Eye Rockfish (frequently called Red Snapper), Quillback, and Copper Rockfish.  A recent commercially caught Rockfish in the Bering Sea weighed in at 60 pounds and was estimated to be 95- 110 years old. 

The Non-Pelagic Rockfish is very protected and in most of our waters only one per person per day
is allowed to be retained. This can be a problem as the fish is caught deep and cannot decompress fast enough while being reeled up.  This creates a situation where the fish is very difficult to release properly and mortality of released fish is very high. Our crew will be cautious when fishing in an area where these fish are numerous.  At times we will actually have to move the boat to prevent over-fishing of this species of fish.

Book now to enjoy the excitement of catching Rockfish.