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The California field guide

Ichthyopedia

The most in-depth field guide to California's marine species. It contains every species you'll meet on a Southern California dive, with the rest of the coast in progress. Click a card for nearly every piece of information you could want to know about the species: regulations, seasonality, edibility, the spearfishing brief, and more.

About rarity: each species' rarity is based on how abundant it is at diveable depths and how hard it is to spot. Rarity to a diver can be very different from rarity to a fisherman.

All marine life

219 of 219 species

Common
KelpSpearfishing
Calico Bass
Common
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Zebra Perch
Common
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Black Perch
Common
KelpSpearfishing
Halfmoon
Common
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Opaleye
Common
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Barred Sand Bass
Common
Surf ZoneSpearfishing
Surf Perch
Common
Rocky ReefObserve
Rock Wrasse
Common
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
California Scorpionfish
Common
BaySpearfishing
Spotted Sand Bass
Common
KelpObserve
Garibaldi
Common
KelpObserve
Blacksmith
Common
BayObserve
Leopard Shark
Common
BayObserve
Bat Ray
Common
Rocky ReefObserve
Horn Shark
Common
Surf ZoneHarvest
California Grunion
Common
KelpSpearfishing
Blue Rockfish
Common
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Gopher Rockfish
Common
KelpSpearfishing
Olive Rockfish
Common
KelpSpearfishing
Kelp Rockfish
Common
Rocky ReefHarvest
California Spiny Lobster
Common
Rocky ReefHarvest
Red Sea Urchin
Common
BayHarvest
Dungeness Crab
Common
Rocky ReefHarvest
Rock Scallop
Common
Rocky ReefObserve
Quillback Rockfish
Common
Rocky ReefHarvest
Purple Sea Urchin
Common
Sandy FlatsObserve
Diamond Stingray
Common
Surf ZoneObserve
Round Stingray
Common
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Yellowtail Rockfish
Common
BayObserve
Shovelnose Guitarfish
Common
KelpObserve
Giant Kelpfish
Common
KelpObserve
SeΓ±orita
Common
BaySpearfishing
Striped Mullet
Common
BayObserve
Topsmelt
Common
PelagicSpearfishing
Pacific Mackerel
Common
BaySpearfishing
Diamond Turbot
Common
Rocky ReefObserve
Salema
Common
BayObserve
Brown Smoothhound
Common
BaySpearfishing
Shiner Perch
Common
Surf ZoneSpearfishing
Redtail Surfperch
Common
Surf ZoneSpearfishing
Silver Surfperch
Common
Rocky ReefObserve
Dwarf Perch
Common
Sandy FlatsObserve
Thornback Ray
Common
Rocky ReefObserve
California Golden Gorgonian
Common
Rocky ReefObserve
Strawberry Anemone
Common
KelpHarvest
Kellet's Whelk
Common
BayObserve
Moon Jelly
Common
TidepoolsHarvest
California Mussel
Common
Rocky ReefObserve
Giant Keyhole Limpet
Common
KelpHarvest
Wavy Turban Snail
Common
TidepoolsObserve
California Sea Hare
Common
Rocky ReefHarvestObserve
Red Octopus
Common
Rocky ReefHarvestObserve
Giant Pacific Octopus
Common
TidepoolsObserve
Monkeyface Prickleback
Common
TidepoolsObserve
Rock Prickleback
Common
Sandy FlatsObserve
California Lizardfish
Common
Sandy FlatsHarvest
Yellow Rock Crab
Common
Rocky ReefObserve
Warty Sea Cucumber
Common
BayObserve
Spotted Turbot
Common
Rocky ReefObserve
Blackeye Goby
Common
Surf ZoneHarvest
Sand Crab
Uncommon
KelpSpearfishing
California Sheephead
Uncommon
Surf ZoneSpearfishing
Yellowfin Croaker
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Sargo
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Pile Perch
Uncommon
Surf ZoneSpearfishing
Spotfin Croaker
Uncommon
Surf ZoneSpearfishing
California Corbina
Uncommon
PelagicSpearfishing
California Barracuda
Uncommon
Rocky ReefObserve
Moray Eel
Uncommon
PelagicSpearfishing
Pacific Bonito
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Cabezon
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Lingcod
Uncommon
KelpSpearfishing
Kelp Greenling
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Copper Rockfish
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Grass Rockfish
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Treefish
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Vermilion Rockfish
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
China Rockfish
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Black-and-Yellow Rockfish
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Brown Rockfish
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Widow Rockfish
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Chilipepper Rockfish
Uncommon
Rocky ReefHarvestObserve
Verrill's Two-Spot Octopus
Uncommon
Rocky ReefObserve
Blue-Banded Goby
Uncommon
Rocky ReefObserve
Ochre Sea Star
Uncommon
BaySpearfishing
Jacksmelt
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Rubberlip Seaperch
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Black Croaker
Uncommon
Surf ZoneSpearfishing
White Croaker
Uncommon
Surf ZoneSpearfishing
Queenfish
Uncommon
PelagicObserve
Northern Anchovy
Uncommon
PelagicObserve
Pacific Sardine
Uncommon
Sandy FlatsObserve
Sarcastic Fringehead
Uncommon
PelagicHarvest
California Market Squid
Uncommon
BayObserve
Gray Smoothhound
Uncommon
Surf ZoneSpearfishing
Walleye Surfperch
Uncommon
KelpObserve
Kelp Perch
Uncommon
BaySpearfishing
White Seaperch
Uncommon
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Rainbow Seaperch
Uncommon
Surf ZoneSpearfishing
Calico Surfperch
Uncommon
Rocky ReefObserve
Reef Perch
Uncommon
Rocky ReefObserve
Red Gorgonian
Uncommon
Rocky ReefObserve
Giant Green Anemone
Uncommon
Rocky ReefHarvest
Sheep Crab
Uncommon
KelpObserve
Bat Star
Uncommon
Rocky ReefObserve
Wolf-Eel
Uncommon
TidepoolsHarvestObserve
California Two-Spot Octopus
Uncommon
Rocky ReefHarvest
Brown Rock Crab
Uncommon
Sandy FlatsObserve
Hornyhead Turbot
Uncommon
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
Fantail Sole
Uncommon
Sandy FlatsObserve
California Tonguefish
Uncommon
Rocky ReefObserve
Zebra Goby
Uncommon
Rocky ReefObserve
Island Kelpfish
Uncommon
KelpObserve
Spotted Kelpfish
Uncommon
Surf ZoneHarvest
Pismo Clam
Uncommon
Sandy FlatsObserve
Plainfin Midshipman
Uncommon
Rocky ReefObserve
Giant-spined Sea Star
Uncommon
BayObserve
Pacific Staghorn Sculpin
Uncommon
Sandy FlatsObserve
Onespot Fringehead
Uncommon
PelagicSpearfishing
Jack Mackerel
Uncommon
PelagicObserve
California Flyingfish
Uncommon
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
Pacific Butterfish
Uncommon
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
C-O Sole
Uncommon
TidepoolsObserve
Crevice Kelpfish
Uncommon
Rocky ReefObserve
Mussel Blenny
Uncommon
BayObserve
Bay Blenny
Uncommon
TidepoolsObserve
Rockpool Blenny
Uncommon
PelagicObserve
Round Herring
Uncommon
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
English Sole
Uncommon
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
Sand Sole
Uncommon
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
Southern Rock Sole
Uncommon
Sandy FlatsObserve
Xantus' Swimming Crab
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Ocean Whitefish
Rare
Surf ZoneSpearfishing
Shortfin Corvina
Rare
PelagicSpearfishing
California Yellowtail
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Black Rockfish
Rare
Rocky ReefObserve
Yelloweye Rockfish
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Rock Greenling
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Rosy Rockfish
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Starry Rockfish
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Honeycomb Rockfish
Rare
Sandy FlatsObserve
Calico Rockfish
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Bocaccio
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Canary Rockfish
Rare
Rocky ReefObserve
Cowcod
Rare
Rocky ReefObserve
Bronzespotted Rockfish
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Squarespot Rockfish
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Greenstriped Rockfish
Rare
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
Redbanded Rockfish
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Flag Rockfish
Rare
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
Greenspotted Rockfish
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Greenblotched Rockfish
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Speckled Rockfish
Rare
Sandy FlatsObserve
Halfbanded Rockfish
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Sunset Rockfish
Rare
Rocky ReefObserve
Swell Shark
Rare
KelpObserve
Sevengill Shark
Rare
PelagicObserve
Soupfin Shark
Rare
PelagicSpearfishing
Dorado
Rare
BaySpearfishing
Striped Bass
Rare
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
Pacific Sanddab
Rare
PelagicObserve
Ocean Sunfish
Rare
PelagicObserve
Blue Shark
Rare
PelagicObserve
Pacific Spiny Dogfish
Rare
PelagicObserve
Smooth Hammerhead
Rare
PelagicObserve
Bigeye Thresher
Rare
KelpSpearfishing
Sharpnose Seaperch
Rare
Rocky ReefSpearfishing
Striped Seaperch
Rare
Surf ZoneObserve
Spotfin Surfperch
Rare
Rocky ReefObserve
Pink Seaperch
Rare
Sandy FlatsObserve
Pacific Electric Ray
Rare
BayObserve
California Butterfly Ray
Rare
Sandy FlatsObserve
Banded Guitarfish
Rare
Sandy FlatsObserve
Big Skate
Rare
BayObserve
California Skate
Rare
Rocky ReefObserve
Spotted Ratfish
Rare
PelagicObserve
Pelagic Stingray
Rare
Rocky ReefObserve
Spanish Shawl
Rare
PelagicObserve
Purple-Striped Jelly
Rare
Sandy FlatsObserve
Speckled Sanddab
Rare
Rocky ReefHarvest
Red Rock Crab
Rare
Sandy FlatsObserve
Longfin Sanddab
Rare
Sandy FlatsObserve
Hardtail Conger
Rare
BayObserve
East Pacific Green Sea Turtle
Rare
BaySpearfishing
Starry Flounder
Rare
BayObserve
Pacific Herring
Rare
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
Petrale Sole
Rare
PelagicObserve
Pelagic Red Crab
Rare
BayObserve
Longjaw Mudsucker
Rare
BayObserve
Whitebait Smelt
Rare
Surf ZoneObserve
Surf Smelt
Rare
Surf ZoneObserve
Night Smelt
Rare
BayObserve
California Bonefish
Rare
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
Bigmouth Sole
Rare
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
Butter Sole
Rare
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
Curlfin Sole
Rare
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
Northern Rock Sole
Legendary
KelpSpearfishing
White Seabass
Legendary
Surf ZoneSpearfishing
California Halibut
Legendary
KelpObserve
Giant Black Sea Bass
Legendary
PelagicSpearfishing
Yellowfin Tuna
Legendary
Sandy FlatsObserve
Pacific Angel Shark
Legendary
Rocky ReefObserve
Red Abalone
Legendary
PelagicSpearfishing
Pacific Bluefin Tuna
Legendary
PelagicObserve
Common Thresher Shark
Legendary
PelagicObserve
Shortfin Mako Shark
Legendary
PelagicObserve
White Shark
Legendary
PelagicObserve
Basking Shark
Legendary
Rocky ReefObserve
Sunflower Star
Legendary
PelagicSpearfishing
Wahoo
Legendary
PelagicSpearfishing
Albacore Tuna
Legendary
PelagicSpearfishing
Bigeye Tuna
Legendary
PelagicObserve
Swordfish
Legendary
PelagicObserve
Striped Marlin
Legendary
PelagicObserve
Blue Marlin
Legendary
PelagicObserve
Black Marlin
Legendary
PelagicObserve
Opah
Legendary
PelagicSpearfishing
Pompano Dolphinfish
Legendary
Sandy FlatsSpearfishing
Pacific Halibut
Ichthyopedia β€” Fish Species Database | Nautical Nick