Saltwater · Year-round; best May to September from boats over rocky reefs

Red Irish Lord

Hemilepidotus jordani

One of the North Pacific's most ornate sculpins, dressed in scarlet bands and fleshy tabs — an identification showpiece rather than a target. It is a striking bycatch on lingcod and rockfish trips around Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, and most anglers photograph and release it.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Red Irish Lord — Photo: DiverDave, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Scarlet to brick-red bands and mottling over a brown body
Fleshy tabs and cirri on the head, chin and along the back
Very large, broad, spiny head with a wide mouth
Bands of bony scales along the body under rough skin
Stocky body, usually about a foot to a foot and a half long

Habits

Sits motionless on rock and kelp, ambushing prey that wanders close
Feeds on crabs, shrimp, small fish and other bottom animals
Solitary and strongly tied to rocky reef structure
A classic striking bycatch on lingcod and rockfish trips
Males guard egg masses tucked among rocks in winter

Distribution

Anchorage, AK · Alaska★ Primary

Juneau, AK · Alaska★ Primary

Puget Sound, WA · WashingtonCommon

Where to find them

Rocky reefs of Southeast Alaska's Inside Passage
Gulf of Alaska kelp reefs and boulder fields
Northern Puget Sound rocky points and reefs

Where they live

Rocky reefs from about 30 to 300 ft deepKelp-covered rocky bottom and boulder fieldsTide-swept rocky points and channels

How to catch them

Jigs and bait around rocky reefs Rock fishing

Rig: Medium boat rod, leadhead jig or bottom rig fished tight to rock and kelp; expect it as striking bycatch on lingcod trips

Bait/lure: Herring, squid and shrimp pieces

Key tip: Work jigs slowly right on the rocks — if you are catching rockfish and lingcod, an Irish lord may be sitting in the same cracks.

Shore fishing from rocky points in Alaska Rock fishing

Rig: Medium spinning rod, weighted jig or baited hook cast from rocky points into kelp and boulder water at high tide

Bait/lure: Shrimp and herring pieces, small jigs

Key tip: Fish the high-tide window when reef fish move inshore, and lift carefully — the head spines are sharp.

Best baits & lures

Leadhead jigs tipped with herring or squidPieces of herring or shrimp on bottom rigsMetal jigs worked tight to rocky bottom

Techniques for Red Irish Lord →

Baseline setup

Rod: Medium 6.5-7.5 ft boat or shore rod
Line: 20-30 lb braid with mono leader
Terminal: Leadhead jigs, metal jigs, bottom rigs with size 2/0-4/0 hooks

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 12-16 in; large fish to about 20 in (51 cm)

On the table

Poor to fair — seldom kept; most are admired and released.

Similar species

Sea RavenSea raven is an Atlantic species with tall fleshy lobes on its dorsal fin; red Irish lord is a North Pacific fish with scarlet bands and rows of bony scales

Pacific Staghorn SculpinPacific staghorn sculpin is smaller, drabber and lives in shallow bays, with antler-like cheek spines; red Irish lord is a larger, scarlet-banded reef fish

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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