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California Coast

Posted: February 20th, 2008, 8:53 am
by jsuber
Vince Console who runs the Hobie Fishing side of the Hobie world sent out this phot of them doing a little fishing for Black Sea Bass.

Image

Re: California Coast

Posted: February 20th, 2008, 3:51 pm
by Wadey
Awesome! :smt035 :smt035 :smt035

Re: California Coast

Posted: February 20th, 2008, 4:06 pm
by Good Times
Shark bait. :smt106 :smt106 :smt107 :smt088 :smt059

Re: California Coast

Posted: February 20th, 2008, 5:47 pm
by Sir reel
I'd say it is at least 10" :o

Re: California Coast

Posted: March 4th, 2008, 9:15 am
by Hit-n-Miss
:o Ok how is he going to get that home? :o

Re: California Coast

Posted: March 4th, 2008, 12:49 pm
by jsuber
He just pulled it up into his lap for the photo then got the release.

Re: California Coast

Posted: March 5th, 2008, 8:08 pm
by Reel Cowboy
jsuber wrote:Image
That hammerknocker there would make a heck of a sandwich. :smt045

Re: California Coast

Posted: March 6th, 2008, 1:31 am
by TaxPhd
Is it just me, or should protected species be left in the water, rather than being landed?

Re: California Coast

Posted: March 6th, 2008, 8:45 am
by jsuber
Well, its not protected, thats not a Jewfish, and its in the water, in California.

Re: California Coast

Posted: March 6th, 2008, 1:50 pm
by TaxPhd
"doing a little fishing for Black Sea Bass."

Black Sea Bass are totally protected in California. It is not legal to fish for them in any way whatsoever (I believe there is a small exception for fisheries research, but no sport fishing is allowed). An incidental catch isn't a problem, as long as the fish remains in the water. Bringing one into the boat constitutes "possession" and is grounds for a fine.

Re: California Coast

Posted: March 6th, 2008, 2:25 pm
by jsuber
Family: Serranidae (Sea Basses) or Percichthyidae

Genus and Species: Stereolepis gigas

Description: The body of the adult giant sea bass is elongate, with dorsal spines that fit into a groove on the back. The head is robust, and mouth is large with teeth in the back. Giant sea bass are usually reddish brown to dark brown in color on all but their stomachs and, at times, many have dark spots on their sides. Perch-like in appearance, juvenile giant sea bass differ radically from adults and are often mistaken for a different fish. Coloring on juveniles is distinct with the body being sandy red with white and dark patches spread along the sides.

Range: Giant sea bass occur throughout the Gulf of California and from Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, to Humboldt Bay, California. In California, the appearance of this species north of Point Conception has been sporadic.

Natural History: Giant sea bass feed upon a wide variety of items. Small fish taken of this species off our coast contained mostly anchovies and white croakers. Pacific mackerel, jack mackerel, sheephead, ocean whitefish, sand bass, cancer crabs, and red crabs have all been found in the stomachs of large giant sea bass. By their very bulk they appear to be slow and cumbersome, yet they are capable of outswimming and catching a bonito in a short chase. Giant sea bass apparently do not mature until they are 11 to 13 years old. A fish of this age will weigh between 50 and 60 pounds. The ovaries of a 320 pound female weighed 47 pounds and contained an estimated 60 million eggs. This fish was ready to spawn and the larger eggs were about 0.04 inch in diameter. The main spawning season for giant sea bass occurs during July, August, and September.

Fishing Information: There has been a moratorium, which will probably last many years, on landing giant sea bass in California. All fish must be returned alive to the water. Occasionally, fish taken by anglers will "float" to the surface as their gas bladders expand. They may be returned by carefully inserting a hypodermic needle through the side of the fish into the gas bladder and allowing the air to escape. Please be aware that it is illegal to take or possess giant sea bass.

Other Common Names: black sea bass, jewfish, giant bass.

Largest Recorded: over 7 feet; 563 pounds (Anacapa Island, 1968).

Habitat: Deep Rocky Environment

FROM THE FWC over there.

Giant sea bass may not be taken by recreational anglers. Incidentally taken fish must
be immediately returned to the water.

While these regulations prohibit directed take, they do not prevent incidental take.
Giant sea bass inhabit areas where many popular sport and commercial species are
taken and are prone to incidental take. While numbers may be increasing, this also
increases the risk of incidental take. Aggregations of giant sea bass can be severely
impacted by such interactions. These large fish tend to experience overexpansion
trauma to their gas bladder when brought to the surface and are difficult for most
recreational anglers to release unharmed.

WHat do you know, they call them a Jewfish too. But, it is still in the water.