Hey everyone!

I am a graduate student from Cal State University Northridge in Los Angeles and I am doing a life history study on vermilion rockfish from central California. I’m particularly in need of smaller vermilions less than 15 inches (smaller the better) because it will help fill the missing information about their earlier years. I’ve gone out fishing on the recreational boats up in Monterey but unfortunately they go out to deeper waters and catch larger vermilions. I haven’t seen any boats pull up smaller vermilions but I figured maybe kayak fishermen do since they tend to fish in shallower waters. So I figured I could ask for all your help to collect the smaller vermilions. I've gone out a couple times already but came up with just some coppers and blues and even a fine scale triggerfish but no reds. I'm not asking to take your catch but I am asking if it would be possible to save the vermilion carcasses and store it in a freezer for me. I am willing to come and pick it up when I make my way up there again.

I know I'm might asking for a lot but it would be for awesome research on a very beautiful fish that we still do not know much about. Also I will definitely acknowledge you (and your friends) for the support of this study. I am not expecting a "yes" but I figured it would be worth a shot to ask you all for your help. Perhaps the word can be spread for those who would like to support the study and be acknowledged for their help.

If you need any copies of CAFW permits for keeping them I would gladly share those with you and add you onto them for logistic purposes. Please let me know if you're interested in helping by emailing me at brian.pena.68@my.csun.edu. Thank so much for taking time to read this and your consideration.

Cheers,
Brian Pena
Masters Student