Native fish of San Diego

[jhunter]

We spent the fourth in Oceanside and got a chance to spend a lot of time on the beach and in the harbor. We saw a lot of small to medium sized orange fish in the harbor and we couldn't identify them to save our lives. I'd almost swear if I didn't know better that they were midas cichlids or something. Anyhow, does anyone have a little list of native San Diego fish? My search didn't turn up much.

TIA

 

[mrpope]

If this was in saltwater then they cant be midas (red devil) cichlids. Those are fresh water amazon basin cichlids.

 

[johnkristie]

I am a San Diegan. What you are seeing is called a Garabaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus. It is the California state fish. They are a member of the Pomacentridae family . See http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/encanto/sdsites/garabaldi.htm

 

[jhunter]

That's what we were looking for. Thanks!