Bocaccio
Sebastes paucispinis
Also known as Bocaccio, Rock Salmon, Salmon Rockfish, Pacific Red Snapper, Pacific Snapper, Oregon Red Snapper, Oregon Snapper, Longjaw, Merou, Jack, Snapper, Rock Cod, Rockfish
Culinary Profile
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Lean and medium-firm, with a fine flake.
Low in saturated fat and very high in selenium, phosphorus, and potassium.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Bocaccio can grow up to three feet long and weigh up to 21 pounds. They are identifiable based on their long jaw, which extends to or past the eye socket. Young bocaccio are light bronze with small brown spots along their sides. As they grow older, they lose their spots and darken. Adult bocaccio have backs that are olive, burnt-orange or brown as adults. They have pink and red stomachs.
Biology
Bocaccio is a species of rockfish. Rockfishes are unusual among the bony fishes in that fertilization and embryo development is internal and female rockfish give birth to live larval young. Like most other species of rockfish, bocaccio are long-lived. Bocaccio mature and begin to reproduce between ages 4 and 7 years old, and they can live to be 50 years old. Bocaccio larvae are opportunistic feeders.
Where They Live
Range Bocaccio are found between Punta Blanca, Baja California, and the Gulf of Alaska off Krozoff and Kodiak Islands. Within this range, bocaccio is most common between Oregon and northern Baja California. There are two partially isolated populations; one southern population centered in California, and one northern population centered in British Columbia.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from California to Alaska.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery In 2023, commercial landings of bocaccio totaled 1 million pounds and were valued at approximately $650,000, according to the NOAA commercial fishing landings database . types, habitat impacts and bycatch Bottom trawl gear is the predominant fishing gear used to catch bocaccio. Bottom trawls may sometimes catch other species of fish, including overfished and protected species. Gear restrictions, closed areas, and catch share programs limit when, where, and how much trawl fishermen can harvest to reduce bycatch of other species. Rockfish conservation areas eliminate fishing in areas on the West Coast where overfished rockfish species co-occur with target stocks, like canary rockfish . These closed areas help prevent bycatch of overfished rockfish.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where Bocaccio ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choline | 65.2 mg | 7 / 65 | 89% |
| Vitamin D | 0.9 IU | 40 / 54 | 26% |
| Phosphorus | 203 mg | 60 / 111 | 46% |
| Zinc | 0.45 mg | 64 / 111 | 42% |
| Protein | 17.81 g | 66 / 111 | 41% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 120 mg | 70 / 104 | 33% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 64 mg | 74 / 104 | 29% |
| Iron | 0.38 mg | 75 / 111 | 32% |
| Selenium | 33.1 µg | 82 / 106 | 23% |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.91 µg | 93 / 106 | 12% |
Other Species in Genus Sebastes
5 close biological relatives of Bocaccio profiled in this catalogue — typically sharing similar anatomy, depth range, and fishery management.
| Species | Scientific name | Protein (g/100 g) | Omega-3 DHA (mg) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acadian Redfish | Sebastes fasciatus | 19.39 | 174 | Smart Choice |
| Canary Rockfish | Sebastes pinniger | 18.36 | 179 | Smart Choice |
| Pacific Ocean Perch | Sebastes alutus | 19.39 | 174 | Smart Choice |
| Widow Rockfish | Sebastes entomelas | 17.73 | 585 | Smart Choice |
| Yellowtail Rockfish | Sebastes flavidus | 17.81 | 120 | Smart Choice |
Other Alaska Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Bocaccio.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Canary Rockfish
Sebastes pinniger
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook salmon has a pronounced buttery, rich taste. They are the most highly prized salmon in the culinary world.
Chum Salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
Chum salmon has a lower oil content than other wild salmon, so it has a relatively mild flavor.
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Smaller coho have a delicate flavor. Fillets from larger fish have a mild taste.
Dover Sole
Microstomus pacificus
Mild and sweet.
English Sole
Parophrys vetulus
Mild taste with a slight shellfish flavor.
Flathead Sole
Hippoglossoides elassodon
Mild and delicate flavor.
Geoduck
Panopea generosa
The neck is tough and crunchy, while the belly meat is tender and sweet.
Pacific Cod
Gadus macrocephalus
Pacific cod is a mild-tasting fish.
Similar by Flavour: Other Sweet-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the sweet flavour profile of Bocaccio, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Snow Crab
Chionoecetes opilio
Sweet.
Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
Almaco jack has a clean, sweet, rich, slightly nutty, buttery flavor.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
American Plaice
Hippoglossoides platessoides
Subtle, sweet flavor.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What else is Bocaccio called?
Bocaccio is also marketed as Bocaccio, Rock Salmon, Salmon Rockfish, Pacific Red Snapper, Pacific Snapper, Oregon Red Snapper, Oregon Snapper, Longjaw, Merou, Jack, Snapper, Rock Cod, Rockfish.
How much protein is in 100 g of Bocaccio?
A 100 g raw serving of Bocaccio provides 17.81 g of protein — roughly 36% of the FDA 50 g daily value.
How much Bocaccio is caught commercially?
Commercial fishery In 2023, commercial landings of bocaccio totaled 1 million pounds and were valued at approximately $650,000, according to the NOAA commercial fishing landings database . types, habitat impacts and bycatch Bottom trawl gear is the predominant fishing gear used to catch bocaccio. Bottom trawls may sometimes catch other species of fish, including overfished and protected species.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught bocaccio is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are three stocks of bocaccio: Southern Pacific Coast, one stock contained in a stock complex along the northern Pacific coast, and one stock contained in a stock complex in the Gulf of Alaska. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Southern Pacific Coast stock is not overfished (2017 stock assessment) and not subject to overfishing based on 2022 catch data.
Population
The Southern Pacific Coast stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Area closures and gear restrictions protect sensitive rocky, cold-water coral and sponge habitats from bottom trawl gear.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the bocaccio fishery on the West Coast. Along the southern Pacific coast, bocaccio are managed as a single stock. Along the northern Pacific coast, they are managed as part of the Minor Shelf Rockfish North Complex.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 21 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.