vermilion study

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

Sounds like a job for BigJim!

It would help if you posted a picture of a small verm compared to a large one.   I have no fisheries background but notice some ground fish change as they mature.

Only small verms I've ever caught were off the humboldt jetties...approx 16" fish.  Maybe 10-12 years ago.

Baby reds:  http://forum.lionfishlair.com/coldwater-counterparts-53/vermillion-rockfish-anyone-planning-on-going-big-mean-and-cold/

I have never seen them that small.

Sounds like a job for BigJim!

Definitely!


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that is pretty interesting. I don't recall seeing small verms either.  wonder where they live.

The smallest one I've ever seen underwater was off PG about 5 years ago...my first time seeing one so took it...tiny little booger!!

Since then I've had better luck with bigger ones...pics of my two biggest so far attached...

 

I have seen and taken some smaller 14-18 inchers over the years too...attached some pics of some of the smaller ones I have taken that I can remember...can see from the watch shot on the 18 in verm that it was taken at 52 feet...I have taken bigger ones in shallower so I don't think that water depth has much to do with size....

If DOTY and AOTY were up we could look and see verm sizes over the years...hopefully soon!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Some more random verm pics...cuz they make me happy.

 

I definitely have caught some smaller verms this year and I am pretty sure they were under 15 inches. If I catch them again this weekend, I will let you know. Good luck with your research!

@BigJim - Vermilions always make me happy  But I definitely agree with you that depth might not have anything to do with size especially up in central/nor cal. Water is cold enough for them to live in relatively shallow water. Down in LA/SD area, you'd have to get to at least 150-200 ft to get a good size vermilion of that size.

@JamesM - That would be super awesome! I'm heading up there in two weeks to try and catch some topside. I'm trying to recruit some researchers by UCSC to spear them for me while I'm up there as well.

Juvenile verms has distinct spotting along their body and hasn't formed that beautiful bright red color just yet. Here are some pics of what juvenile vermilions would look like: