Black rockfish are commonly associated with other nearshore fish species, particularly other rockfishes. No other schooling rockfish was closely associated statistically with black rockfish, but three benthic species, gopher, China, and brown rockfishes, showed an affinity to the same habitat and depth range as black rockfish. It is commonly known among fisherman that localized areas of relatively high abundance in the nearshore area characterize black rockfish distribution in central California. Critical Habitat Larval black rockfish are pelagic. They have also been found on artificial reefs, and in bays, estuaries and tide pools.
Adults inhabit the midwater and pelagic areas over high-relief rocky reefs.
They are found in and around kelp beds, boulder fields and artificial reefs. Status of Stocks In California, no fishery-independent population estimates have been made of black rockfish stocks. South of the Eureka area, black rockfish gradually decrease in importance in the recreational catch and are infrequently observed south of Santa Cruz.