A mottled, scaleless sculpin relative with a huge mouth. They sit in holes and eat crabs. Ugly-beautiful, and a real pull.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Rocky reefs and kelp, often shallower than the vermilion drop — Palos Verdes, Catalina, and jetty toes.
Part of the RCG complex, so they count in the 10-fish combo with rockfish and greenling. 2026 CDFW bag table: no minimum size for cabezon. Older anglers still remember a size limit — check the current table, not memory.
Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) are the largest sculpin on the coast: big-headed, scaleless and heavily mottled in red, brown or green, with a fleshy flap above each eye.
Cabezon live in rocky reefs, kelp and tidepools. Around LA they are found along Palos Verdes, Point Fermin, Malibu and Catalina.
Cabezon follow the nearshore groundfish season. CDFW's 2026 Southern Management Area table for boat-based anglers: closed January through March; open at all depths April through June; open only shoreward of 50 fathoms July through September; and from October 1 through December 31, nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenlings are closed while shelf and slope rockfish and lingcod may be taken only seaward of 50 fathoms. Shore-based anglers and divers are not bound by these seasons and depth limits.
Cabezon flesh can be bluish-green but turns white when cooked. OEHHA's statewide coastal advisory lists cabezon at 1 serving a week for women 18–49 and children and 2 for women 50+ and men.
Cabezon count in the 10-fish RCG bag, with no separate sub-limit and no minimum size under the current booklet. Two hooks and one line when angling.
Greenlings of the genus Hexagrammos share this RCG bag.
CDFW groundfish summary — cabezon →
Independent-site disclaimer: this summary is for orientation only and can change in-season. Confirm with CDFW before you keep a fish. Fish in LA is not affiliated with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Not for boat anglers; cabezon are closed to boats October 1–December 31. Shore anglers and divers may keep them.
Yes. Cabezon eggs are toxic and should not be eaten.
They count in the 10-fish RCG bag.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules, stocking and access change; confirm with the agency linked above before you go.
