This is the best picture I got, and it isn't very good.
I am leaning towards Olive Rockfish Sebastes serranoides, but am open to other leanings.
![Image](http://timrenz.com/images/photoalbum/1/PtWhitney2007062400025_cr.jpg)
Photo is cropped for ease of ID.
Great find!WylerBear wrote:Olives are indeed California range and I think range is about the only way to really tell them apart-I think that's what Janna told me.
My initial thought when I saw them underwater was Olive. In fact, Lowell was the first to spot them, he signaled me, I took the photo. As soon as we hit the surface, he asked what I thought they were and I immediately said Olive.nwscubamom wrote:Tim, what book are you basing your hopeful ID of an Olive out of?
(ditto what everyone's said so far - they don't come this far north, and there are slight differences)
- Janna
Thanks for the suggestion on the book, Janna, but, I already have that one.nwscubamom wrote:The blotchy spots below the dorsal fin are typical of both the Yellowtail and the Olive - it would be lovely if that was the difference!
Remember, the Yellowtail is extremely closely related to the Black Rockfish - which has the same light spots surrounded by a darker area below the dorsal fin. Note the body shape, pouty lip, etc. and you'll see they're very very close.
I highly suggest getting yourself a copy of Milton Love's Rockfishes of the Northeast Pacific. Many, many views of adult AND Juvenile fishes.
- Janna