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Exploring the beautiful nature of California


Marine Fish: Giant Kelpfish


Fishes are aquatic vertebrates that have fins, gills and scales. Gills are the part of the respiratory system that provide surface area for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide under water.

Fish are ectotherms, commonly referred to as 'cold-blooded', meaning their temperature is regulated by the temperature of their environment. They have a range of diets, being herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores. Some fish reproduce by laying eggs, while others reproduce by bearing live young.

California fish species reside in freshwater and coastal/marine waters. Coastal, or marine fish are an abundant and valuable resource. However, the ocean's supply is not limitless, and therefore careful planning and education must be undertaken to ensure the sustainability of the world's largest food source.
Giant kelpfish can change colors to blend in with their environment  Giant kelpfish "Heterostichus rostratus" stick close to kelp forest of the Pacific ocean. Their bodies are shaped and colored to help them blend in with the kelp forest. Giant kelpfish are able to hide among a variety of seaweeds because they come in a variety of colors: red, green and brown, along with a series of silvery patterns. Giant Kelpfish can even change colors to match changes in local color just as flounder do.

Giant kelpfish range from Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, to British Columbia, and from surface waters down to 130 feet. Rocks covered with seaweed and kelp beds surrounding them provide the forage and habitat giant kelpfish desire.

Giant kelpfish can grow to 24 inches. A slender fish, they have an elongated body. Giant kelpfish have a long snout, the tip of lower jaw is pointed and it extends beyond the upper jaw.  Caudal fin is forked.
Giant Kelpfishes feed on small crustaceans, mollusks, and fishes. Occasionally caught by anglers but seldom retained, they are probably more familiar to scuba divers.

Spawning occurs during March through July. During spawning, which occurs in a territory established by the male, the female releases her eggs on seaweed while she quivers with the male next to her, sometimes head to tail. Pink to greenish eggs are attached to the seaweed by entangling threads that extend from egg coverings. The male remains to guard the eggs. Transparent post larvae appear from April through August, usually in shallow water from 5 to 30 feet.

Giant kelpfish school until approximately 2.5 inches long when they begin to assume adult colors and become solitary, living close among seaweeds. As larval young, giant kelpfish sometimes school with transparent mysid shrimp.
giant kelpfisha are found off the coast of California  Giant kelpfish can live for about four years. They enjoy low rocky terrain with kelp and other large sea weeds.

The kelpfishes are a family of perciform fishes, which contains about 40% of all boned fishes. Among other well-known members of this group are cichlids, sunfish/bluegill, damselfish, bass, and of course perch.

Anglers pursuing giant kelpfish should drift through giant kelp beds since the fish are closely associated with the plants.

When fishing for this species, small hooks are recommended since the fish have small mouths. Small shrimp, juvenile clams and other small invertebrates are used as bait. Squid can also be used if cut into small pieces.
 
 
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