California Sheephead

Alternative Names: Sheephead, vieja

Monterey Bay Recommendation: No recommendation. There is no major commercial fishery. They are considered vulnerable though, so my recommendation is to limit consumption.

Uses in Cooking: Primarily steamed and treated like lump crabmeat. Can be made into a cake like crab, poached, or fried whole.

Similar Fish: Parrot fish, tautog, sculpin

Description: Softer fish with a somewhat stringy texture, similar to crab. Mild flavored.

Fun Facts: The California Sheepshead is a large species of Wrasse. All are born female. They transition to males due to a variety of factors, but one trigger is size advantage. Males defend a territory with a harem of females with which they breed. When they are large enough to control a territory, they sometimes transition to improve their reproductive chances.