Sebestes rosaceus was first formally described in 1854 by the French zoologist Charles Frédéric Girard with the type locality given as San Diego, California.

[5] Sebastes rosaceus is a relatively small species of rockfish which has a body depth that is slightly more than a third of its standard length.

[1] The color varies from yellow to red to light pink with purple stripes on the head and upper body.

[1] The bright colors this species shows are not visible at the depths it is normally found at where it is actually camouflaged against its rock backdrop.

[6] Sebastes rosaceus is too small to be of interest to commercial fisheries and most are caught by recreational anglers.