It's a rockfish...

[orangelion03]

But just WHAT kind of rockfish??

I've been through the Reef Check training, but this guy has me guessing...yellowtail? olive? Photo was taken in macro mode, no cropping or blowing up...he let me get within 6" and didnt flinch! I did have problems with a garibaldi that insisted on getting in the shot though...

 

[Brandon]

Dunno... I agree it's a rockfish. You don't happen to have another picture that shows more of its fins, do you?

It's not an olive rockfish... might be a yellowtail if the rest of his fins were yellowish in color.

-Brandon.

 

[k4man]

hmmmmmmm?

 

[dannobee]

That's a kelp rockfish. Sebastes atrovirens.

 

[drbill]

Concur with Dannobee

 

[orangelion03]

Thanks Danobee and Dr Bill! After I posted, I met with my buddy and we went over the fish ID info from Reef Check and determined it's a kelpie. The big eye should have given it away for me. Sorry Craig!

Here's a pic of the garibaldi that was horning in on the action.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Here's a short list with pics and descriptions of many of the local rockfish.
http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/groundfish/RockfishGuide/species_list.htm

 

[CompuDude]

Yup definitely a kelp rockfish. Fairly common little guys, and pretty tolerant of photographers. Shame they're not prettier, considering how easy they are to shoot.

Yet another reason why I like California Scorpionfish so much... pretty AND lazy!

 

[TrojanCatMan]

Yup definitely a kelp rockfish. Fairly common little guys, and pretty tolerant of photographers. Shame they're not prettier, considering how easy they are to shoot.

Yet another reason why I like California Scorpionfish so much... pretty AND lazy!

Now be nice! UPS doesnt like to deliver makeup kits to random rocks under the water. Lets focus on their inner beauty!