Saltwater · Winter-spring prime; also caught in summer in deep water
Fire Rockfish
Sebastes thompsoni
The red-orange deepwater rockfish of the east and south coasts — 불볼락 ('fire rockfish'). Tied to colder, deeper water than the common 우럭, it schools over deep reefs where boats target it in winter and spring. Its red-tinted flesh is prized grilled or in spicy soup.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Red-orange to red colour, paler below
- Smaller than mebaru — rarely exceeds 12 in (30 cm)
- Stouter snout than mebaru with less head striping
- Clearly distinct from Korean rockfish: smaller and slimmer
- Dorsal spines present as in all Sebastes
Habits
- A true deepwater rockfish schooling over rock
- Eats small crustaceans and fish in cold water
- More active in winter when other rockfish move off
- Schools hold tight over bottom structure
- Reddish colour earned it the name 불볼락 ('fire rockfish')
Distribution
Regional coverage expanding
Where to find them
- Pohang deep water, east coast
- Ulleungdo island reefs
- Deep grounds off Busan
Where they live
How to catch them
Boat deep fishing over reefs Boat
Rig: Bottom rig with shrimp on small hooks fished vertically from a boat over 100-250 ft reef
Bait/lure: Shrimp pieces
Key tip: Schools sit tight on the structure — use the sounder to find the red cloud and drop the rig straight onto it.
Light jigging over deep rock Boat
Rig: Vertical micro-jigging with 20-40 g jigs over deep rocky ground
Bait/lure: Small metal jigs 20-40 g
Key tip: Slow lift-and-fall close to the bottom; bites come on the fall.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light 7 ft boat jigging rod
- Line: 10-15 lb braid with fluorocarbon leader
- Terminal: Small hooks size 4-6 on a bottom rig, or 20-40 g micro jigs
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 8-11 in (20-28 cm); large fish about 13 in (32 cm)
On the table
Good — white, mild flesh; popular grilled or in spicy maeuntang soup in Korea.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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