It is found in the Eastern Pacific, in tock habitats off islands in southern California.

Sebastes rufinanus was first formally described in 1972 by Robert N. Lea and John E. Fitch with the type locality given as 1.6 miles southeast of Pyramid Head on San Clemente Island in California.

The intraorbital space bulges, there are 8 weak spines on the head and the peritoneum is black.

[5] Sebastes rufinanus is native to the eastern central Pacific, especially around San Clemente Island off the coast of southern California,[6] It is typically found a depth of 3 to 183 m (9.8 to 600.4 ft).

[5] where it is one of the four commonest species of rockfish, particularly in complex habitats with high relief.