Cabezon

The cabezon is a scaleless fish with a broad, bony support extending from the eye across the cheek just under the skin. It is the largest member of the cottoidea/ sculpin superfamily and lacks scaling through the body. It has 11 spines on the dorsal fin. The cabezon also has a stout spine before the eye, an anal fin of soft rays, and a fleshy flap on the middle of the snout. A pair of longer tentacle-like flaps is just behind the eyes, also known as a cirrus. The mouth is broad with many small teeth. The coloring varies, but is generally mottled, as the species name marmoratus suggests, with browns, greens and reds. >90% of red fish are males, whereas >90% of green fish are females. The belly is also observed as a pale turquoise or even white.

Cabezon are found in the northeast Pacific Ocean from Sitka, Alaska, to Punta Abreojos, Baja California. Cabezon inhabit the tops of rocky ledges as opposed to rockfish and lingcod, which usually inhabit the sheer faces of these features.

Cabezon feed on crustaceans, mollusks, fish, and fish eggs. Some evidence indicates that juveniles and adults feed on specific species within that age range. Only the adults show a clear seasonal change in diet. In this group, the percentage of mollusks and fish is higher in winter and spring compared to summer and fall. While mollusks play a significant role in the adult diet, they were absent from the stomachs of juveniles, which mainly contained smaller shrimp and fish. The younger fish likely lack the strength to dislodge even the smallest, resilient gastropods. Adult cabezon have even been observed eating whole crabs, including the red rock crab or Dungeness crab, or else crush and eat the crab using their large mouths.

Hatching season fluctuates all year round for cabezon, but is at its highest starting in February, peaking in late March/early April and sharply declining at the end of April/early May. Larvae are found in intertidal zones at depths of down to 17 m, where they are deposited on hard substrates such as wood pilings, logs, rocks, and steel. They were also observed on exposed surfaces rather than beneath structures or submerged in water. Strong evidence shows that sexually mature female cabezon spawn multiple times during a single spawning season. In addition, warmer waters have a positive influence on female gonads, while in males have little to no effect.

Fishing for cabezon began with the arrival of the local Indian tribes, while Californians did not specifically target them until the late 1930s. Historically, most cabezon in California have been caught by recreational fishermen. Fishermen target nearshore kelp beds using hook and line gear or traps. The cabezon was first targeted by live fishermen in 1994. Between 1996 and 1997, cabezon landings increased. In response to the live fishery, the Nearshore Fisheries Management Act was enacted in 1998, establishing a minimum size limit of 35.6 cm (14.0 in) for cabezon, which took effect in January 1999. From 1995 to 2002, though, commercial landings exceeded recreational catches, largely due to the emergence of the live-fish fishery in the mid-1990s, driven by a demand for specialty foods. From 2001 to 2006, cabezon ranked among the top-four live-caught species groups.