Fishing influencer catches huge bright orange rockfish in Alaska. Then he revealed its age

A striking bright orange fish pulled from the waters off Sitka, Alaska, has drawn millions of views after fishing creator Ryan Izquierdo (@Ryanizfishing) revealed that the catch was likely older than many of the people watching his video.

In the viral TikTok, Izquierdo held up a massive yelloweye rockfish and marveled at its vivid color. “Look at how orange this fish is,” he said before calling it an “absolute behemoth” and adding, “This fish is older than your grandma, I bet you, cause she’s over 90 years old.”

Izquierdo, a Florida-based fishing influencer with millions of followers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, regularly documents catches from around the world. His Alaska trip featured several deepwater species, but the yelloweye rockfish quickly became the standout after viewers reacted to both its size and apparent age.

Yelloweye rockfish, aging, and “barotrauma”

Yelloweye rockfish rank among the longest-lived fish species in the Pacific. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the species can reach at least 121 years of age, while NOAA and other fisheries researchers report documented lifespans exceeding a century.

The fish also grow slowly and often do not reach maturity until they are between 10 and 20 years old. The species inhabits rocky seafloors in deep water throughout the North Pacific, including Southeast Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish and Game notes that adults can grow to about 36 inches long.

Although Izquierdo estimated the fish was more than 90 years old, anglers cannot determine a yelloweye rockfish’s exact age simply by looking at it. Fisheries scientists determine age by removing and examining the fish’s otoliths, or ear bones. Much like tree rings, otoliths form annual growth rings that researchers count under a microscope. Scientists typically rely on length-to-age estimates for live fish rather than precise testing, which is what Izquierdo may be referring to.

In the post, Izquierdo also comments that the fish had “thrown up her stomach.” That description refers to barotrauma, a condition common in deepwater rockfish. As the fish rises rapidly from deep water, gases inside its closed swim bladder expand, which can force the stomach through the mouth and cause bulging eyes and other visible injuries, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Fisheries managers in Alaska, the U.S. West Coast, and Canada encourage anglers to use descending devices that return rockfish to the depth where they were caught. Once recompressed, the gases in the swim bladder shrink, and many fish recover.

Izquierdo’s video does not show what happened after he displayed the fish. He did not state in the video or comments reviewed for this article whether he released it or kept it.