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Features: Pinkish red to copper pink, white ventrally, pink fins. Lateral line in red zone. Second anal spine short, edge of anal fin slants posteriorly. Chin projects outward. No spine on edge of gillraker. Habitat: Large schools of chilipepper rockfish are often found between 330 and 990 feet. They will stay over sandy, muddy, or rocky bottoms but also spend time in the midwater. Technique: Play to this species’ midwater foraging nature by presenting lures that mimic their natural diet – forage fish and small squids.

Features: The widow rockfish is brassy brown with a light colored belly. Their fin membranes are also brown. They can grow to be 21-inches long. Habitat: Widow rockfish school down to 1200 ft., usually found suspended over offshore reefs and rocky areas. Technique: Best success will be by first locating suspended schools of widow rockfish in offshore areas during periods open for fishing offshore, and then working rubber tail jigs or shrimp flies through the schools.

Features: The redstripe rockfish appears red and pink. The dorsal fin is shallowly notched and the lateral line is a distinct red stripe. It has dark lips, a protruding lower jaw, and greenish stripes radiating from the eyes. Habitat: Commonly found over high-relief, rugged bottoms from 500 feet to 900 feet below the surface. Technique: Best success will be by first locating suspended schools of redstripe rockfish in offshore areas during periods open for fishing offshore. Work rubber tail jigs or shrimp flies through the schools.

Features: Cabezon are a dark green to dark brown with mottling along their sides and with smooth, scaleless skin. The largest cabezon caught was over 20 pounds, but on average they weigh approximately 4 pounds. Habitat: Cabezon live around kelp beds and rocky headlands over hard bottoms. Technique: Cabezon are best caught using rubber tailed jigs tipped with bait. Make sure you are fishing within just a foot or two of the bottom as Cabezon like to hold tight to cover. CAUTION: While Cabezon meat can be safely consumed, its roe is poisonous to humans. Photo credit: Brandon Ford

Features: Copper rockfish have variable coloration, ranging from dark or olive-brown to copper with pink or yellow blotches. They can grow to be 23-inches long. They have very tall and strong dorsal fin spines, and a clear patch along the rear half of the lateral line. Habitat: They prefer rocky, shallow areas. Though these shy fish do not school, they sometimes form small groups around man-made structures such as jetties. Technique: Copper rockfish will most readily be caught by working rubber tail jigs or bait near the bottom in shallow rocky areas.

Features: Blue sharks are named for their brilliant blue color. They are slender with a long, pointed nose. They can grow to be 12-feet long, though they rarely get over 10-feet. Habitat: Blue sharks are found in all the world’s temperate and tropical oceans. They have been spotted as far north as Norway and as far south as Chile. They roam both open and coastal waters in search of octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, and fish. Technique: Typically chumming the water will attract blue sharks. You will need a wire leader to protect your line from the blue shark's saber-shaped teeth. Fins…

Features: Kokanee are silvery in color until they are ready to spawn, at which time they become reddish. They do not grow as large as sockeye- their ocean traversing siblings. They can vary significantly in size depending on how densely populated the waterbody is. Since they are filter feeders, their populations can quickly expand and contract with the availability of food. Habitat: Kokanee can be found at all depths of cold, clear lakes and reservoirs in several parts of the state. They will change which depth they are at depending on water temperature. Technique: They are a challenging fish to…

Features: Redtail surfperch all fins are reddish in color, and have 8-11 reddish to brownish vertical bars along the sides over a silver to brassy body. Habitat: Surfperch are found mostly in the surf. Redtail will usually be found between the 2nd and 4th row of breakers and near deeper holes and areas of high sand erosion. Technique: Some anglers use a #4 to #6 hook secured 24-30 inches below a 1- to 2-ounce sinker on 8- to 10-pound line. Baits include sand and kelp worms, sand shrimp, clam necks, and mussels. Some anglers have found success fly fishing for…

Features: Black rockfish are dark gray to black on top, with a lighter belly, and black spots on their dorsal fins. They can grow to be 25-inches long. Take the "Black Rockfish or Not?" quiz Habitat: They are found over rocky reefs most typically shoreward of 180 ft. of depth, and are common along jetties and other structure in estuaries. Occasionally schools of black rockfish will come all the way to the surface. Technique: Rockfish feed on squid, octopus, krill, and other fish . They readily take both bait and lures. Common lures include rubber-tailed lead head jigs and shrimp…

Features: Their eyed-side is greenish-brown to dark brown or black with lighter blotches. Their blind side is white to milky-white. They have a large, stout but flat body, shaped like an elongated diamond . Pacific halibut have been known to reach 500 pounds, but on average are 40 pounds. Habitat: Halibut are a large flatfish and so they spend much time near the bottom of the ocean looking above for food. They prefer chilly water and are primarily found in the Gulf of Alaska. Technique: Boat anglers use heavy rods to fish on or near gravel bottoms in water 150-500…

Features: The coloration tends to be golden-brownish with dark brown or black spots on the body, and on the dorsal and adipose fins. Usually few or no spots appear on the tail fin. Many body spots, especially those below the lateral line, are edged with pink, red, or orange, forming rings or halos. Breeding males develop strong teeth and a hooked snout. Size can range from 11-inches long in small streams to over 30-inches in large rivers or lakes. Habitat: Although brown trout can adapt themselves to sluggish streams and warmer temperatures than other trout, cold, spring-fed tributary streams with…

Features: As the name suggests, these fish have rosy red strip along their sides. Other identification clues include large, profuse black spots on the body and orange and yellow tints along the belly. Habitat: Redband trout are a subspecies of native rainbow trout that have adapted to the arid, desert conditions of eastern Oregon. During drought years distribution constricts as streams dry and become uninhabitable. Trout re-colonize these streams during wet cycles, expanding the distribution. Prime trout waters are clear, clean and cold. Good trout stream habitat is complex, consisting of an array of riffles and pools, submerged wood, boulders…

Features: They are orange red to orange yellow with a bright yellow eyes. Their fin tips may be black. On the top of their head they have a pair of rough ridges. Yelloweye, canary and vermilion rockfish can look similar. See this rockfish identification article for distinguishing features of each species Take the "Yelloweye Rockfish or Not?" quiz Habitat: Juveniles and subadults prefer shallower water than adults, and are associated with rocky reefs,and kelp canopies. Adults move into deeper water as they grow, and prefer rocky bottoms. Technique: Yelloweye rockfish are currently prohibited in the catch. Anglers are required to…

Features: The color of all trout varies with environment. In general, the rainbow is bluish-green on the back, silvery on the sides and belly, and has a white edge to the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins. A generous sprinkling of black spots appear along the back, and on the dorsal, adipose and caudal fins. A pinkish band usually extends along the sides. Habitat: Rainbow trout are the most widely stocked and distributed trout in Oregon. They occur naturally in many rivers and streams, and each year ODFW stocks millions more in ponds, lakes and streams. Prime trout waters are clear…

Features: This species is relatively thin compared to other rockfish. It is easily recognized by its three to four horizontal green stripes that extend onto the caudal fin membranes. The body color ranges from white to reddish; red or orange areas can be observed on the body after capture. Habitat: Though found between 40 and 1,632 foot depths, these rockfish tend to stay between 300 and 825 feet with older/larger individuals found deeper. They live on muddy, sandy and rocky bottoms. Technique: Rubber tail jigs or shrimp flies are good choices when targeting greenstriped rockfish. Be wary of sharp dorsal…