Spearfishing Stats

Taxonomy

Rarity

Abundance rates how many are in suitable habitat. Find difficulty rates how hard it is to locate one on a daylight snorkel or freedive through 50 ft. A higher find score means a harder search. The rarity category also reflects the kind of encounter; it is not an average of the 2 scores.

Regulations

CDFW rules verified 2026-10-17

Seasonality

Edibility

Location

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife gives the range as the southeastern Bering Sea to Baja California, on sand and gravel bottom, mostly on the continental shelf, from the shallows to about 1,112 feet. It is most abundant from about 66 to 131 feet, within reach of scuba divers. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife adds rocky and pebbly bottom and notes that most are caught from about 120 to 240 feet.

Spearfishing Brief

California's rules call this fish rock sole and count it as a federal groundfish in the "other flatfish" group. It is open all year at all depths, except in the Groundfish Exclusion Areas, and falls under the general limit of 20 finfish, with no more than 10 of any 1 species, and no size limit. The state can change the rules during the year. Take is prohibited in state marine reserves, and north of Ventura County spears may not be used within 100 yards of a stream mouth. Oregon counts it in a limit of 25 flatfish in aggregate and allows spears. Washington counts it among its bottomfish, under limits that differ by marine area.

Finding one rates a 3. In Washington it is most abundant at diving depth, though in California it is a minor fish. Taking one that has been found rates a 2, since it lies still on the bottom. FishBase calls it a tasty food fish.

Deep Dive

The southern rock sole is a right-eyed flatfish with a thick, oval to round body and rough scales on the eyed side. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife describes that side as gray, olive, dark brown or black, mottled, and sometimes spotted with yellow or red. The lateral line, the sensory line along the side, rises in a high arch over the pectoral fin. That arch separates it from the butter sole, whose arch is low. The northern rock sole looks almost the same. The Washington agency separates it by its extra gill rakers, the comb-like bars inside the gills, and its plain white blind side.

It reaches about 23 inches and lives up to 26 years, and the Washington record is 4.19 pounds, caught at Hein Bank in 1989. FishBase lists mollusks, worms, crustaceans, brittle stars and small fish in its diet.

Its spawning sets it apart in Puget Sound. The Washington agency describes it as the only flatfish there known to spawn in very shallow water, and its eggs have been found on exposed beaches.

Where to Find Them

Researched habitat and range candidates

These locations have suitable habitat within the species range. An assignment is a possible encounter, not a confirmed sighting at every beach. Season, depth, and local conditions still matter. Historical habitat without present-day evidence is excluded.