The silvergray rockfish is a slim rockfish species with reduced head spines. They have dusky lips and a lower jaw that is long and protrudes beyond the upper jaw. They have a prominent symphyseal knob at the tip of their lower jaw. Underwater, silvergray are greenish to dark gray dorsally with tan sides, and are white, pink or cream ventrally. The anal, pelvic, and pectoral fins, including their bases and the underside of the head are tinged with orange or pink. Underwater they may be confused with bocaccio. However, bocaccio tend to be red, pink or brown, often have small dark spots, lack a strong symphyseal knob, and have a larger mouth.