Yellowtail Rockfish
Sebastes flavidus
Also known as Yellowtail rockfish, Greenie, Yellow sea perch, Rock Cod, Pacific Snapper
Culinary Profile
Very mild, slightly sweet flavor.
Very lean with medium to firm texture and medium sized flakes.
Rockfish are high in selenium.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Yellowtail rockfish are greyish brown on top and fade to white on the belly. Their body has trace yellow spotting. Yellowtail tail fins are yellowish green. Their other fins have a darker yellowish green coloration.
Biology
Yellowtail rockfish mature between three and five years old. They can live up to 50 years. They grow more than two feet in length. Females can produce between 50,000 and 600,000 eggs, depending on the size of the female. Yellowtail rockfish have internal fertilization and the females give birth to live young. Adults feed on shellfish, such as shrimp, and small forage fish, such as anchovies.
Where They Live
Range Yellowtail rockfish are found along the Pacific coast of North America and range from Kodiak Island, Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. Habitat Yellowtail rockfish inhabit depths ranging from 0 to 1800 feet, and are commonly found along the middle continental shelf, near the ocean floor. Larvae and juveniles live near the surface, while older juveniles migrate deeper to near the ocean floor.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Kodiak Island Alaska to Baja California.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: In 2023, commercial landings of yellowtail rockfish totaled 6.7 million pounds and were valued at $1.7 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . The majority of landings are in Oregon and Washington. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Primarily harvested with midwater trawl gear, which has minimal impacts on ocean bottom habitats. To a lesser extent, harvested with bottom trawl gear. Midwater and 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.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where Yellowtail Rockfish 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 Yellowtail Rockfish 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 |
| Bocaccio | Sebastes paucispinis | 17.81 | 120 | 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 |
Other Alaska Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Yellowtail Rockfish.
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 Yellowtail Rockfish, 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
Is Yellowtail Rockfish a lean fish or a rich one?
At 82 kcal per 100 g raw, Yellowtail Rockfish 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).
What else is Yellowtail Rockfish called?
Yellowtail Rockfish is also marketed as Yellowtail rockfish, Greenie, Yellow sea perch, Rock Cod, Pacific Snapper.
Where in the water column does Yellowtail Rockfish live?
Range Yellowtail rockfish are found along the Pacific coast of North America and range from Kodiak Island, Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. Habitat Yellowtail rockfish inhabit depths ranging from 0 to 1800 feet, and are commonly found along the middle continental shelf, near the ocean floor.
How much selenium does Yellowtail Rockfish provide?
A 100 g raw serving of Yellowtail Rockfish carries 33.1 µg of selenium, about 60% of the 55 µg daily value for adults.
How should Yellowtail Rockfish be cooked?
Yellowtail Rockfish has Very lean with medium to firm texture and medium sized flakes. — 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 Yellowtail rockfish is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are two stocks of yellowtail rockfish: northern Pacific coast and one stock contained in the Minor Shelf Rockfish South Complex. According to the most recent stock assessments: The northern Pacific coast stock is not overfished (2017 stock assessment) and not subject to overfishing based on 2022 catch data.
Population
The Northern Pacific Coast stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Most fishing gear used to harvest yellowtail rockfish rarely contacts the ocean floor and has minimal impacts 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 yellowtail rockfish fishery on the West Coast. Yellowtail rockfish are managed as a single stock north of Cape Mendocino, California, and southward, as part of the Minor Shelf Rockfish South complex. Managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan : Permits and limited entry to the fishery.
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.