Saltwater · Year-round on deep groundfish trips; May to October most often encountered

Sea Raven

Hemitripterus americanus

The identification-page star of New England groundfish trips — a sculpin covered in fleshy lobes and spines that famously inflates like a balloon when lifted from the water. Colour runs from red-brown to bright orange. It is striking bycatch, photographed and released on most trips.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sea Raven — Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Head and body covered in fleshy lobes, fleshy tabs and bony spines
Colour varies widely — red, red-brown, orange or mottled combinations
Large, fan-like pectoral fins and a tall, fleshy first dorsal fin
Inflates its body like a balloon when lifted or threatened
Broad spiny head with fleshy appendages around the mouth and chin

Habits

Solitary bottom ambusher on rock, reef and wreck in cold deep water
Feeds on crabs, sea urchins, molluscs and small fish
Inflation is a defence — a swollen fish is hard for predators to swallow
Moves little and relies on camouflage among red algae and rock
Eggs are laid in clusters at the bases of sponges and on rough bottom in winter

Distribution

Portland, ME · Maine★ Primary

Boston, MA · New EnglandCommon

Where to find them

Deep reef and wreck bottom on Gulf of Maine groundfish trips
Rocky ledges off Maine fished with clam-baited rigs
Cold deep hard bottom east of New England ports

Where they live

Deep rocky reefs and wrecks of the Gulf of MaineBoulder and ledge bottom in cold waterHard bottom edges beside deep mud basins

How to catch them

Deep reef and wreck rigs (striking bycatch) Boat

Rig: Standard groundfish bottom rig with clam bait over deep reef and wreck on Gulf of Maine trips

Bait/lure: Clam chunks

Key tip: Expect it while cod fishing — lift it aboard in the net for a photo, keep hands clear of the spiny head, and release it quickly.

Clam-baited high-low rigs over rock Boat

Rig: High-low rig with 3/0-5/0 hooks and clam, fished on rocky bottom in the Gulf of Maine

Bait/lure: Clam or squid

Key tip: Fish the roughest rock you can find — sea ravens sit tight to reef, and a slow, patient soak catches them.

Best baits & lures

Clam chunksSquid stripsCut fish pieces

Techniques for Sea Raven →

Baseline setup

Rod: Medium-heavy 6.5-7.5 ft boat rod
Line: 30-50 lb braid with a mono leader
Terminal: High-low rigs, 3/0-5/0 hooks, 8-16 oz sinkers

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 8-14 in (20-36 cm); large fish to about 20-25 in (51-64 cm)

On the table

Rarely eaten — almost always released; treat it as a photo fish and handle the spines with care.

Similar species

Longhorn SculpinLonghorn sculpin is smaller and plainer with one very long cheek spine and no fleshy lobes; sea raven is covered in fleshy lobes and spines and inflates like a balloon

Shorthorn SculpinShorthorn sculpin is stockier and browner with a short cheek spine and far fewer fleshy lobes; sea raven is redder, more heavily lobed and inflates when lifted

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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