Status of quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger) in U.S. waters off the coast of Washington in 2021 using catch and length data

This assessment reports the status of quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger) off the Washington coast using data through 2020. The stock off the Washington coast was assessed as a separate stock from other populations off the U.S. West Coast based on two factors. First, the fairly sedentary nature of quillback rockfish (Hannah and Rankin 2011; Tolimieri et al. 2009) likely limits movement of fish between Washington and Oregon. Additionally, the primary region of recreational fishing off the Washington coast occurs in the central to northern regions. These areas have rocky habitat with which rockfish species such as quillback rockfish associate. In contrast the southern coast of Washington consists primarily of soft and sandy substrate. Second, the exploitation history and magnitude of removals off the Washington coast differ from those in Oregon and California.