THESE TWO FISH WILL HURT YOU

Scorpaenidae is a huge family worldwide, with several hundred species in all, many of them found around the US. Those species range from the beautiful (lionfish) to the interesting (scorpionfish, including the California sculpin) to the truly hideous (stonefish).

- Doug Olander

The effects of the venom delivered by their spines also vary, from clearly unpleasant to seriously painful to potentially deadly.

THE SCORPIONFISH

No matter what sort of scorpionfish an angler brings up, the crucial message is the same: Handle with care.

Many species of scorpionfish (notably of the genus Scorpaena) are found around North America. All are laden with venomous spines, as many a careless angler has discovered and lived to tell about, since pricks and exposures from Scorpaena species are rarely fatal. But they do involve extreme pain and may require weeks for the victim to fully recover.

Most anglers are only too happy to unhook or cut off scorpionfish, but they're actually fine eating. All of the Pacific Coast rockfish (genus Sebastes) popular as food fish belong to this family. The California sculpin is prized for its quality as table fare among recreational fishermen in the Golden State, who keep them by taking proper precautions.