92 



DIVISION OF FISH AND GAME 



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Figure 64 



Photo by Al Johns for 



Haden & Carpenter, San Pedr 



CALIFORNIA SHEEPSHEAD 

 Pimelomeiopon pulchrum 



Relationship: A member of the wrasse family, Labridae, as are three other 

 California species, one of them the seuorita. 



Distinguishing Characters: The large, canine-like teeth which slope obliquely 

 forward ; the three spines at the front of the anal fin ; the single dorsal fin with about 

 11 or 12 stout spines which are shorter than the soft rays. Length to about three feet 

 and weight to about 20 pounds. A very prominent fatty hump develops on the fore- 

 head of the male during the breeding season. Color: Male — head, posterior half of 

 body, dorsal, anal and caudal fins jet or purplish black ; the rest of the body usually 

 crimson, sometimes shading to blackish ; lower jaw white. Female — dull red to rose, 

 sometimes with blackish areas, or, rarely, all black. Young — rose to crimson. 



Distribution: Monterey Bay to the Gulf of California, usually near rocky shores 

 or around kelp beds. 



Fishing Season: Throughout the year, with landings heaviest in the winter 

 and lightest in the summer. A small portion of the catch is made in Mexican waters. 



Importance: A minor commercial fish, with Los Angeles and Santa Barbara the 

 leading ports of landing. Used extensively as lobster bait. Taken in considerable 

 quantity by sportsmen particularly at Santa Catalina Island. 



Fishing Gear: Hook and line. Caught incidentally in lobster traps. 



Unauthorized Names: Redfish, fathead, humpy. 



