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Distribution
Ocean whitefish (Caulolatilus princeps, Malacanthidae) range from Peru north to Vancouver, British Columbia (including the Galapagos Islands), although they are most abundant south of Point Conception.  I’d stay south of the point too if I were born in toasty Baja (we’ll get to that later).  Known generally as a demersal species, the ocean whitefish is the shallowest dwelling malacanthid (or tilefish if you’re a normal person), inhabiting depths from the shallow subtidal to approximately 150 m, generally utilizing rocky reef, kelp, and sand habitats.  They appear to be most abundant at offshore islands and banks (Leet et al. 1992), but are also found along the mainland coast (in other words, they can be found just about anywhere if the depth is right).  A congener, C. affinis, has a more southern yet overlapping distribution, and inhabits sand and mud bottoms from 20-239m depth (Ceballos-Vázquez & Elorduy-Garay 1998).
 

 
Feeding
Ocean whitefish are generally thought to feed on benthic invertebrates and some small fishes.  Elorduy-Garay & Caraveo-Patino (1994) found that ocean whitefish feed primarily on annelids, molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms, and some fishes, although the majority of their diet is composed of the ostracod (Conchoecia pacifica), a small crustacean that performs nocturnal vertical migrations.

 Age and Growth
Ocean whitefish (C. princeps) are known to live at least 13 years (Love 1996), although Cooksey (1980) collected 446 individuals (22-70cm TL) and found none greater than 9 yrs old.  However, Fitch & Lavenberg (1971) reported a 102 cm fatty!  Females mature at 3-4 years (39-47 cm TL) while males mature at 4-5 years (47-56 cm TL) (Cooksey 1980). 

C. affinis is known to reach at least 15 years old based on individuals ranging from 14-48cm SL (Elorduy-Garay & Díaz-Uribe 1994).

 

Reproduction
Elorduy-Garay & Ramirez-Luna (1994) found protracted spawning periods but peak spawning takes place from November-March, whereas Kramer & Smith (1973) and Cooksey (1980) found the peak spawning season to be during March-July.  This discrepancy is likely due to latitudinal differences in sampling locations (La Paz vs. southern California, respectively).  Data from icthyoplankton surveys suggest that the source of production for this species is located near Punta Eugenia, Baja California Sur (Moser et al.1986), implying that individuals migrate north from Baja (Love 1996, Leet et al. 1992). However, movement exhibited by this species is virtually unknown (but we’re working on it).  Their pelagic larval duration is unknown as well, but larvae caught off Baja tend to be found within 100 miles of the coast during summer (Leet et al. 1992). Of course, the same thing could probably be said for my little swimmers. C. affinis, the more southern species, spawns October-April, and exhibits partial spawning with asynchronous gonad development (Ceballos-Vázquez & Elorduy-Garay 1998). An Atlantic species, C.  microps, shows May-June as well as Sept.-Oct. peak spawning periods, and evidence suggests protogynous hermaphroditism (Ross & Merriner 1983).  Contrary to what is currently understood, ocean whitefish do recruit to southern California waters, although recruitment events seem to occur in the warmer years and few individuals are found (J. Allen unpublished data). Most local recruits have been found in approximately 25 m depth from November to February.

 
Population Structure
Smith and Goldstein (1967), using methods that are now considered somewhat unreliable, identified separate breeding populations between individuals from the Coronado Islands, B.C.N. and Cedros Island, B.C.S.  Waples & Rosenblatt (1987) used allozymes to measure patterns of gene flow between individuals from La Jolla, the California Channel Islands (San Nicholas and Santa Catalina), Guadalupe Island, and Punta Eugenia, B.C.S.  Genetic dissimilarities existed between those from La Jolla and the other sites while those from Guadalupe Island, Punta Eugenia, and the Channel Islands showed more frequent genetic exchange.  However, further research is needed to obtain a clearer understanding of population structure.  In fact, I just happen to be collaborating with Christine Thacker and Andrew Thompson at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum Ichthyology Department to research ocean whitefish population structure at a much greater resolution. We’ll let you know how it turns out shortly…just a couple more surf trips—I mean collecting trips—down south.

 
Activity
Gordon (1972) and Putnam & Freel (1978) both inferred that ocean whitefish exhibit moderate levels of activity relative to other local species based on comparative metabolism and hematology, respectively. However, movement patterns of this species are currently being quantified to gain a much clearer picture. So chill out, it’ll be published soon.

 
Additional Notes
Able et al. (1987) found that two Atlantic congeners, C. microps and possibly C. cyanops construct burrows in seafloor sediments off South Carolina, a behavior more common among tilefishes in the family Malacanthidae.  Similar burrows have been documented in the Santa Monica basin, but it is unknown whether these were made by ocean whitefish (J. Allen pers. comm.).

Ocean whitefish might serve as prey for large local species, such as giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) or possibly harbor seals out at the islands. Additionally, ocean whitefish larvae have been found in the stomachs of albacore (Thunnus alalunga).

Like most fishes, the ocean whitefish has plenty of slang names, e.g. poor man’s yellow, razor-gilled bottom dorado, or razor-gilled honkey fish.  If you're in baja, then they're called pez blanco, blanquillo, molejino, or pez pierna depending on your location.

Know any good fish artists? I’m pondering a whitefish tat on my left cheek.