         
|
|
|
|
Bocaccio |
|
|
|
|
Family: |
Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes) |
|
Genus and Species: |
Sebastes paucispinus
|
|
Description: |
The body of the bocaccio is
elongate and compressed. The head is pointed, the mouth large, and
the lower jaw greatly protruding. The color varies from shades of
brown to reddish and extends down over the belly. Young fish are
generally light bronze with speckling over the sides and back. As
they mature, their color generally becomes darker and the
speckling gradually disappears. |
|
Range: |
Bocaccio occur from Punta
Blanca, Baja California, to Kruzof Island and Kodiak Island,
Alaska. Young bocaccio 1 or 2 years old travel in loose schools
and move into shallow water where they may be captured in
quantity. With increasing age they seek deeper water and move from
near the surface to near the bottom. Adults are commonly found in
waters of 250 to 750 feet over a somewhat irregular, hard or
rubble bottom. They have been found at depths as great as 1,050
feet. |
|
Natural History: |
The diet of bocaccio includes
mainly fishes such as surfperch, jack mackerel, sablefish,
anchovies, sardines, Pacific mackerel, deepsea lanternfish, other
rockfishes and sanddabs. Squid, octopus, and crab also are eaten.
Females start maturing when they are 17 inches long. As with all
rockfish, fertilization is internal and development of the embryos
takes place within the ovaries of the female until they are ready
to hatch. A 28 inch female was estimated to contain nearly 1.5
million eggs. The main hatching period runs from December through
April. The newly hatched young, about 0.25 inch long, does not
completely absorb the yolk from the egg stage for a period of 8 to
12 days. |
|
Fishing Information: |
Almost any rocky or rubble
bottom at depths of 250 to 750 feet will yield good catches of
bocaccio. The usual rig is made up of three to six hooks above a
sinker that is heavy enough to take the line to the bottom on a
fairly straight course. Because of the depths fished, it takes a
considerable amount of time to let down and haul up this rig;
consequently the bait should be sufficiently tough to remain
firmly on the hook while being nibbled and chewed upon by the
quarry. Pieces of squid are ideal. |
|
Other Common Names: |
salmon grouper, grouper,
mini-grouper (juveniles), red snapper, Pacific red snapper. |
|
Largest Recorded: |
3 feet; 21 pounds. |
|
Habitat: |
Deep Rocky Environment |
 |
|
|
|
