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Topic: Otoliths in Norcal fish  (Read 3745 times)

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BigJim

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I started pulling Otoliths aka Earstones from bigger Verms back in 2014.

They are not as big and thick as WSB stones but they are still pretty cool.

My buddy Charlie (IceColdChuck) put together this cool little vid showing how to get them out and Hojo posted it recently on FB and I thought some of you guys might like it as well:



One thing about the vid...I definitely recommend using a set of tweezers to get the stones out...makes it much easier!

The main key is finding the "bubble"...I have attached a few pics I took last night showing the bubble on a nice 20.75 inch Verm I shot on Saturday...

If you follow the spinal column into the head you will see it end right where it hits the head at the bubble. That is where the stones are hiding.

Cut into there (as shown in Charlie's vid) and use the tweezers to get the stones out...

They are fragile, and I have broken some getting them out cuz I'm a big dummy so just take your time and be gentle.

Stripers also have cool Otoliths and they are shaped very different from Verms...I took the stones out of a 43, 42.75 and 33.5 incher and they were all pretty nice, the smaller fish were more translucent but still cool.

Last week I shot a 25.25 inch striper and ate the head for lunch and even the stones on this smaller fish were cool, and apparently baking the head doesn't hurt the stones.  :smt002

Anyway, they make cool trophies/souvenirs and now you know how to get them out of your next big Verm or Striper if you want.

 :smt001

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
« Last Edit: April 04, 2017, 01:45:01 PM by BigJim »

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BigJim

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Few more pics.

 :smt006
« Last Edit: April 04, 2017, 01:46:32 PM by BigJim »

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MontanaN8V

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Very cool! I have some from stripers, I want to get them from a salmon, or wsb!
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Thanks Jim, I've been wondering how to get these without breaking them :)
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BigJim

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Thanks Jim, I've been wondering how to get these without breaking them :)

It's pretty easy...I've broken more showing them to people after a few beers than I have broken them while getting them out of the fish.

 :smt009 :smt010 :smt005 :smt044

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim

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Sailfish

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Does Sturgeon have them?
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BigJim

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Does Sturgeon have them?

My understanding Sonny is that all bony fish have them but they are bigger in some species than others...

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim

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Sailfish

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Does Sturgeon have them?

My understanding Sonny is that all bony fish have them but they are bigger in some species than others...

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim

Sturgeon doesn't have bone (not bony fish) that's why I am curious if they have them.
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BigJim

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Does Sturgeon have them?

My understanding Sonny is that all bony fish have them but they are bigger in some species than others...

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim

Sturgeon doesn't have bone (not bony fish) that's why I am curious if they have them.

Gotcha! I have no clue then.  :smt005

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim

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I've been following your collection over the last year, made me start my own, got some out of some larger stripers this year and my WSB too, thanks for the detailed write up great share to have other collectors follow, wish I could make a necklace or earings outta em...

Thanks again Jim!!! Awesome treasures and memories for sure!!
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Does Sturgeon have them?

My understanding Sonny is that all bony fish have them but they are bigger in some species than others...

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim

Sturgeon doesn't have bone (not bony fish) that's why I am curious if they have them.

Gotcha! I have no clue then.  :smt005

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim

Despite having quite a bit of cartilage, Sturgeon are considered bony fish (i.e. in the superclass Osteichthyes) and do have otoliths.

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Sailfish

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Thanks for the info Brian.
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BigJim

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Turns out Blues have decent sized otoliths and Lings have itsy bitsy teeny tiny ones.

 :smt005

The pics below are from a 16 inch Blue and a 35 inch Ling.

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim

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Those will make some nice earings for Rider. :smt005 :smt005
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