State Marine Fish
GaribaldiHypsypops rubicundus
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.
Explore our State Symbols
- Amphibian - Red Legged Frog
- Animal - California Grizzly Bear
- Bird - California Valley Quail
- Colors - Blue and Gold
- Dance - West Coast Swing
- Dinosaur – Augustynolophus Morrisi
- Fabric – Denim
- Fife and Drum Band – California Consolidated Drum Band
- Flag
- Flower – California Golden Poppy
- Folk Dance – Square Dance
- Fossil – Saber-Toothed Tiger
- Freshwater Fish – California Golden Trout
- Gemstone – Benitoite
- Gold Rush Ghost Town – Bodie
- Grass – Purple Needlegrass
- Historical Society
- Insect – California Dogface Butterfly
- LGBTQ Veterans Memorial
- Marine Fish – Garibaldi
- Marine Mammal – California Gray Whale
- Lichen – Lace Lichen
- Marine Reptile – Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Military Museum
- Mineral – Gold
- Motto – Eureka
- Nickname – Golden State
- Nuts: Almond, Walnut, Pistachio, Pecan
- Prehistoric Artifact
- Quarter
- Reptile – Desert Tortoise
- Rock – Serpentine
- Silver Rush Ghost Town – Calico
- Seal
- Soil – San Joaquin
- Song – “I Love You, California”
- Sport – Surfing
- Tall Ship – Californian
- Tartan
- Theater – Pasadena Playhouse
- Tree – California Redwood
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
