Large, elongate. Dorsal fin long; spinous and soft-rayed parts nearly separated by a notch. Mouth large, upper jaw extends past eye. Teeth large, caninelike. 1 lateral line. Head unscaled; body covered with small cycloid scales. 3 spines in anal fin. A cirrus above eye. Gray to brown or green or bluish above, with darker and lighter spotting; paler below. Young blotched.

To 152 cm (5 feet), about 70 lb, but rarely more than 4 ft, 40 lb., females larger.

Kodiak I. to N. Baja.

Adults near rocks; insohore and to 230 fm. Young on sand or mud bottom of bays and inshore areas.

Very important sport and commercial species. Prized by bottom-fishing sport and spear fishermen. Highly esteemed as food.

Picture: Bill Barss, ODFW Text: Peterson Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes, 1983.