The garibaldi is a brilliant orange fish that lives in the Pacific Ocean from Monterey Bay south to Baja California. Adults reach 14 inches and live among rocks and reefs in water up to 100 feet. Garibaldis start life as bright yellow-orange fish with iridescent blue spots. After the spots fade they become a bright orange color and gain a sizable lump on their foreheads. They are a tourist draw to places like the southern Channel Islands where they can be seen from glass bottom boats and docks.

In an effort to offer protection from commercial collectors, the garibaldi was named the State Marine Fish and a ban was placed on their collection or possession. As a result, their numbers off the coast of California are stable today.

(Assembly Bill 77, Chapter 948, 1995)