A major problem in managing rockfish resources is the difficulty in predicting year class strength of adult populations because of high variability in recruitment. Understanding the processes that affect rockfish recruitment, and thus subsequent year class strength, would greatly benefit management of this group of fishes. The purpose of this study was to describe recruitment of juvenile rockfish to soft bottom habitats in Monterey Bay during 1995.
A number of ecologically and economically important species recruited to the sampling area. This juvenile assemblage was dominated by Sebastes elongatus, S. saxicola, and S. levis. All three of theses species shoed increasing densities and sizes with depth. Recruitment processes were closely associated with oceanic conditions, specifically upwelling and sea surface temperature. Peak settlement occurred subsequent to upwelling. Once settled, YOY rockfish exhibited ontogenetic movements towards adult depths. Timing of back-calculated birthdates corresponded with periods of increased upwelling. Growth rates ranged from 0.17 to 0.35 mm/d, with growth declining during months of highest sea surface temperature. Significant emigration out of the sampling area occurred during the onset of winter storms.