Reproduction, Fecundity and Seasonality Limited information available on age at sexual maturity suggests in central California males begin to mature in their third year and all are mature by their fourth year. The smallest mature male cabezon observed measured from 13.3 to 13.5 in. TL, and the smallest mature female cabezon observed measured 17.5 in. Some females begin to mature in their fourth year between 15 and 20 in. in length, and by the sixth year all females are sexually mature. In California, spawning commences in late October, peaks in January and continues until March.
Females are oviparous, meaning they lay or spawn eggs.
Females spawn their eggs on intertidal and subtidal, algae-free rocky surfaces, primarily in crevices and under rocks. Masses of the pale green or reddish eggs are up to18 in. Males fertilize the eggs after spawning by the female, and the male guards the nest during the 2-3 week period that the eggs mature. Larvae are approximately 0.1 to 0.2 in. Natural Mortality Estimates of natural mortality are not available for cabezon.