Name: Grilled Rockfish (Striped Bass)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 to 3 pounds striped bass (one or two whole fish); Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper (to taste); 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; ¼ cup Worcestershire Sauce; ½ cup lemon juice; lemon slices (for serving (optional))

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

Grilled rockfish, called striped bass on the East Coast, has a firm texture and a mild flavor and is easy to prepare. Learn how to grill rockfish here. This recipe is a sure-fire keeper!

If you order a rockfish at a Maryland, Virginia, or North Carolina restaurant, you will likely get a striped bass on your plate. I always refer to rockfish as swimming steak because of its meaty, firm texture and full, sweet, nutty flavor.

I was practically raised on rockfish; it’s one of my favorite fish. My daddy was really good at catching and cooking them. Up until I met David, I always ate my fish fried, but after I met him, I began to enjoy grilled rockfish.

The rockfish in this recipe is butterflied and laid open on the grill grate over an open flame on a charcoal grill. The fish is basted with a really simple basting sauce made of butter, lemon, and Worcestershire sauce to enhance the flavors of the meat. It’s so simple, but yet the flavor is amazing!

David LOVES to fish, but it never seems to work out where David can get to the water to go rock fishing. However, that usually doesn’t stop him from getting the fish he wants to eat. In fact, he came home from work with a huge rockfish he had bought from Whole Foods.

Of course, that rockfish came home with a story. Apparently, David had baffled the hell out of the fishmonger, who gave David a strange look when David told him he wanted the rockfish as it was and not to clean the fish. David had his own plans for the fish that that fishmonger was unaware of. I can only imagine what was going through his head when David walked in to purchase the fish and didn’t even want him to clean the fish. I bet that was the first time that had ever happened!

Anyway, today, we are sharing this recipe for grilled rockfish.

Ingredients Needed For This Rockfish Recipe

The recipe card at the end of this post lists the full ingredient list with measurements.

The Fish: For this recipe, you will need 2 to 3 pounds of striped bass, which is usually one or two whole fish. If you can’t find rockfish, any firm white fish is a good substitute, such as Red snapper, sea bass, or grouper, which are great substitutes for rockfish.

Seasoning: Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Fish Basting Sauce:

Butter: We use unsalted butter to control the amount of sodium.

Worcestershire Sauce: provides tang and umami to this fish sauce.

Lemon: lemon juice brightens the sauce, and the fish is served with lemon wedges or slices for extra brightness to add contrast against the savoriness of the meat.

How To Make Grilled Rockfish

This fish recipe is ready in under an hour and will make anyone fall in love with fish. Follow the steps below for delicious grilled rockfish!

Prepare the fish:

For this recipe, you will remove the fish’s head and butterfly the fish’s body, leaving the scales on. You probably wonder why anyone would leave the scales on a fish, but there is a good reason. It’s a waste of time. David doesn’t bother scaling the fish because the meat and skin usually break clean away from the charred, scaly crust on the outside.

Start by laying the fish on its side. Using a chef’s knife, place the blade where the head meets the gills. Slice off the head, applying firm pressure so that the knife goes through the fish’s spine. Discard the head.

Butterfly the fish. Use a sharp fillet knife, start from the bottom side of the fish just before the tail, and run the knife all the way along the fish’s body to where the head was cut. Open up the body, remove the guts with your hands, and discard.

Rinse the fish under cold water to help wash out the cavity. Blot dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper to taste. The fish is now ready for the grill.

basting the grilled fish with basting sauce

Fire Up the Grill & Prepare the Basting Sauce

Prepare the grill for direct heat and preheat to 350 to 400 degrees F.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small pot. Whisk together with the Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. Keep warm until needed.

Grill the Rockfish

When the grill is ready, place the fish flesh-side-down onto a well-oiled rack over glowing coals for 8 to 10 minutes. Flip the fish and continue to grill the fish, scale side down.

Baste the fish with the warm basting sauce every 3 to 5 minutes.

Grill the fish until the meat is cooked through at the thickest part and the meat begins to flake. Grilling time will vary depending on the size of your fish. A 2 to 3-pound fish usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes more after flipping onto the scale side.

grilled rockfish on platter with lemon slices

Recipe Tips

This recipe will also work with fresh rockfish fillets.
Oil the grill grate well before laying the fish on top. Use a grill pan or fish basket to ensure the fish doesn’t stick to the grate. (We really like this fish basket!)

How To Serve Grilled Rockfish

Serve the fish hot with fresh lemon. My favorite way to serve rockfish is with a side of grilled asparagus and potatoes au gratin. However, grilled rockfish can be eaten on a tortilla as fish tacos.

Grilling fish is a delicious way to enjoy seafood all year long. If you love to fish and are looking for a great way to enjoy your catch, look no further.

This recipe for grilled rockfish is a keeper!

Print Pin Rate this Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Grilled Rockfish (Striped Bass)

Grilled rockfish, called striped bass on the East Coast, has a firm texture and a mild flavor and is easy to prepare. Learn how to grill rockfish here!

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 25

Total Time 45

Servings

Calories 450kcal

Author David & Debbie Spivey