A wrasse that changes sex with age: red-and-white females, black-headed males. Crab eaters. Two-fish bag for a reason.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Rocky reefs and kelp, 20–150 ft — Palos Verdes (outside MPAs), Catalina, and the deeper King Harbor / PV structure.
CDFW (Bodianus pulcher / Semicossyphus pulcher): 12-inch minimum, two fish. Shore and divers year-round; boat-based anglers open March 1–December 31, 2026. Live squid, prawn, and crab imitations on the reef. Stay out of Point Vicente no-take water.
California sheephead (Bodianus pulcher, formerly Semicossyphus pulcher) are large wrasses. Females are pinkish-red. Males have a black head and tail, a red-orange middle, and a white chin. Sheephead begin life as females and some later change into males, so the color pattern reflects sex and age.
Sheephead live around rocky reefs and kelp forests, where their strong, protruding teeth crush urchins, crabs, mussels and lobsters. Around LA, look along the Palos Verdes kelp beds, the King Harbor breakwater, Point Fermin and Catalina.
Shore-based anglers and divers may take sheephead year-round. For boat-based anglers in 2026, the season runs March 1 through December 31.
Sheephead have firm white meat that many compare to lobster. They are not named in OEHHA's LA coastal advisories.
The minimum size is 12 inches total length and the daily bag is 2 fish. Fillets must be at least 6¾ inches long with the entire skin attached. Boat-based anglers may only take them in the open boat season (March 1–December 31, 2026). Check MPA boundaries at Palos Verdes and Catalina.
CDFW currently lists the species as Bodianus pulcher on the Southern ocean page. Fillets 6.75 inches with skin.
CDFW Southern ocean regs — California sheephead →
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.
12 inches total length, with a 2-fish daily bag.
Shore anglers and divers can take them year-round. For boats, the season runs March 1–December 31, 2026.
Yes. They begin life as females, and some change into males later.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules, stocking and access change; confirm with the agency linked above before you go.
