Shortspine Thornyhead
Sebastolobus alascanus
Also known as Thornyhead, Idiot fish, Idiot cod, Rockfish
Culinary Profile
Sweet and mild.
Firm, coarse flake.
Rockfish are high in selenium.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Shortspine thornyhead have elongated bodies and large heads. They have a strong spiny ridge and 16 dorsal spines. They are bright red or orange red in color, and often have white patches on their sides, backs, cheeks and spiny dorsal fin tips when seen underwater. Their fins can have black patches and there may be dark spots or speckles on their sides.
Biology
Shortspine thornyheads grow slowly and may reach lengths up to 80 centimeters. They may live 80 to 100 years. Females grow larger than males, and reach maturity around 18 centimeters, or 8 to 10 years of age. Shortspine thornyhead spawn pelagic, gelatinous masses. They spawn between December and May along the West Coast and between April and May in the Gulf of Alaska.
Where They Live
Range Shortspine thornyhead are found from the Bering Sea to Baja California, Mexico. Habitat Shortspine thornyhead can live in depths up to 1500 meters, though they are more commonly found between 55 and 465 meters. Fishery Management NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the shortspine thornyhead fishery on the West Coast.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from the Bering Sea to Baja California, Mexico.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: In 2023, commercial landings of shortspine thornyhead totaled 900,000 pounds and were valued at $1.4 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: The trawl, longline, and pot gear used to harvest shortspine thornyhead have minimal or temporary effects on habitat. Area closures and gear restrictions protect sensitive rocky, cold-water coral and sponge habitats from bottom trawl gear. In the Gulf of Alaska, they are mainly caught with trawl and longline gear as bycatch in the rockfish and sablefish fisheries. On the Pacific Coast, they are targeted in the rockfish fishery with bottom trawl, longline, and pot gear.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where Shortspine Thornyhead 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 Alaska Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Shortspine Thornyhead.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Bocaccio
Sebastes paucispinis
Delicate, nutty, 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.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Shortspine Thornyhead, 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 Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Shortspine Thornyhead found?
Range Shortspine thornyhead are found from the Bering Sea to Baja California, Mexico. Habitat Shortspine thornyhead can live in depths up to 1500 meters, though they are more commonly found between 55 and 465 meters. Fishery Management NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the shortspine thornyhead fishery on the West Coast.
How much selenium does Shortspine Thornyhead provide?
A 100 g raw serving of Shortspine Thornyhead carries 33.1 µg of selenium, about 60% of the 55 µg daily value for adults.
Is Shortspine Thornyhead a lean fish or a rich one?
At 82 kcal per 100 g raw, Shortspine Thornyhead counts as lean on the fattiness spectrum — useful context when deciding cooking method (lean species suit poaching; rich species hold up to high-heat sear).
How should Shortspine Thornyhead be cooked?
Shortspine Thornyhead has Firm, coarse flake. — suited to gentle methods that preserve moisture (poaching, sous-vide, low-heat roasting) as much as high-heat techniques (grilling, searing), depending on thickness of the cut.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught shortspine thornyhead is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are three stocks of shortspine thornyhead: Pacific coast, one stock contained in the Gulf of Alaska Thornyhead Rockfish Complex, and one stock contained in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Other Rockfish Complex. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Pacific Coast stock is not overfished (2023 stock assessment) and not subject to overfishing based on 2022 cat…
Population
The Pacific Coast stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
The trawl, longline, and pot gear used to harvest shortspine thornyhead have minimal or temporary effects on habitat. 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 of overfished and protected species.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the shortspine thornyhead fishery on the West Coast. Managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan : Permits and limited entry to the fishery. Limit on how much may be harvested in one fishing trip. Certain seasons and areas are closed to fishing.
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.