Abstract
Stomach contents of the Sebastes inermis species complex (Sebastes inermis, S. ventricosus and S. cheni) captured in western Wakasa Bay, Sea of Japan were examined. The index of relative importance (IRI) was used for analyses. Dominant prey items of S. inermis captured by angling were shrimps (Macrura), and the following items ontogenetically changed from copepods to fish (Engraulis japonicus). Sebastes ventricosus captured by angling mainly preyed on shrimps, gammarids and mysids, and they ontogenetically changed from decapods to gammarids and mysids. S. cheni captured by angling preyed mainly shrimps and mysids, and they ontogenetically changed from shrimps to mysids with body size. Their stomach contents varied among months. Comparison of the three species caught by set nets indicates that S. cheni consumed fishes more than the other two species.
