How to catch Madeira rockfish
Scorpaena maderensis Valenciennes, 1833
About Madeira rockfish fishing
The Madeira rockfish is a small marine species belonging to the scorpionfish family Scorpaenidae, growing up to nearly eighteen centimetres in maximum length. It features a typical fusiform body with a mottled reddish-brown splotched camouflage pattern and spiny fins equipped with venomous glands along its anterolateral grooves. This demersal fish inhabits shallow coastal rocky zones, ledges, and algal growths across the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, typically occupying depths between twenty and forty metres. It functions as an opportunistic predator, relying on its cryptic nature to hunt benthic crustaceans and small fish from cracks and crevices while avoiding local predators.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
10 cm TL
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Market value
Low
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Habitat
Brackish, Saltwater
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Season
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
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Also known as
Madeira rock-fish
Operculum
Strong bony operculum and spines help identify this rockfish.
Spiny head
Numerous heavy spines on the head are characteristic of rockfish.
Spotted pectoral fins
Large pectoral fins patterned with dark spots identify the species.
Madeira rockfish fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
10 cm TL (max 17.8 cm TL ) -
Typical weight
0.2 kg (max 0.1 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
14.3–19.7 °C -
Depth
20–40 m -
Longevity
7 years -
Body shape
Fusiform / Normal -
Commercial?
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Vulnerability score
35.5
Best hours
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Active
Dawn
First light
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Low
Morning
After sunrise
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Low
Midday
High sun
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Low
Afternoon
Late day
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Active
Dusk
Last light
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Peak
Night
After dark
When to fish for Madeira rockfish
How to catch Madeira rockfish
Tips for catching Madeira rockfish
Targeting this cryptobenthic scorpionfish requires careful presentation around shallow rocky coastal structures, crevices, and boulder fields where the species hides. Anglers should use fine tackle weighted securely to the seabed to keep baits near the rocky substrate, matching its natural preference for benthic crustaceans and small marine organisms. Because these fish possess venomous spines capable of delivering painful wounds, appropriate handling precautions such as heavy gloves and dishooking pliers are essential when landing a catch. Fishing intensity increases during cooler winter months when feeding activity peaks, and patience is required while working baits close into tight underwater cover.
Other names for Madeira rockfish
Local and alternate names anglers use for Madeira rockfish.
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Madeira rockfish
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Madeira rock-fish
Where Madeira rockfish spends the year — Non-migratory
Stays in the same waters year-round. Look for it on the same grounds rather than timing a run.
1 Eggs
Same water all year
Laid on the home grounds.
2 Juveniles
Same water all year
Grow up close by.
3 Adults
Same water all year
Keep to a small home range.
4 Spawners
Same water all year
Spawn on the same grounds, with only short moves.
Hover or tap a number to read each stage.
Diet and behavior of Madeira rockfish
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Diet
Top predator -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Night
Prey and predators of Madeira rockfish
Prey is what Madeira rockfish eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.
That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.
Predators
What hunts it
Fish
Where Madeira rockfish lives
Lives on or just above the bottom. Work jigs, bait, and lures along the seabed.
20–40 m
Estuary
Where this species lives
Madeira rockfish photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.
Where to fish for Madeira rockfish
Mapped fishing spots where Madeira rockfish is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.
