This is the largest of the scorpionfishes of Canada's west coast sometimes attaining a length of 1 metre and a weight of 23 kilograms. "Pacific red snapper"is a market name confined to the West Coast and the fish should not be confused with Lutjanus campechanus, the authentic red snapper found in the Gulf of Mexico. Only L. campechanus can be shipped interstate as "red snapper." The Pacific red snapper or yelloweye rockfish is in fact a Scorpaenidae, with orange-yellow colouring washed with pink on the back and sides with paler undersides. Rockfish are caught by most harvesting methods and are available year round in a variety of product forms.

Rockfish has a delicate, nutty sweet flavor. The meat is lean and medium firm in texture with a fine flake. Rockfish are suited well to baking and remain moist when cooked. In Asian cuisine, rockfish are commonly served whole either steamed or deep-fried. Fillets are not sturdy enough to grill, but whole fish grill very well.