NorCal Kayak Anglers
General => Fish Talk => Fish ID sub-forum => Topic started by: Jeremy on May 02, 2014, 11:06:31 AM
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Any help on ID'ing a grassy vs. kelpie? Photos online, and narrative descriptions haven't been much help for me.
Thanks!
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About the only sure fire way I know of is to post it up and let BigJim tell you what it is!!! :smt002
-Allen
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LOL!!
Besides grassies having much fleshier pectoral fins and stockier heads, the first gill raker on a grassy will be short and stubby and kelpies will be long and thin.
I'll find some pics here in a bit.
:smt006
Sincerely,
Jim
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Post a pic and I'll tell you what it is.
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This thread has some good info:
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=44591.0
Note that the links to DOTY pics will not work because the domain name changed from ncka to norcalkayakanglers last year.
The attached pics show the fleshy pic fins of a grassy and the gill raker difference between a grassy and kelpy.
Check out the gillrakers on the next kelpy or grassy you shoot and it will be real obvious.
:smt006
Sincerely,
Jim
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Look at charlies monster kelpy...it is huge but still obviously a kelpy...head not blunt and stocky, pec fins not thick, gill rakers long and slender:
http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/454
Look at this mini-grassy...it is tiny, but still obviously a grassy...see the meatiness of the pec fins and the stockiness of the head?
http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/283
Hope that helps...when in doubt post it up or PM me/rob/fuzz a pic and we'll help you out.
:smt006
Sincerely,
Jim
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Thanks for the help everyone! I was going to text fuzz or PM you(Jim) but thought that it would be better to flesh it out in public. I'm surprised I didn't find Charlie's request last year, and surprised that nobody scolded me for not searching harder! :)
So, in words that I understand :) :
Kelpie
Pectoral fins have similar structure to the tail fin
Head is similar to a blue
Gill rakers are slender
Hang out in water column, generally
Grassy
Pectoral fins are like lingcod pectoral fins
Head is like a black&yellow
Gill rakers are stubby like teeth
Live in holes, generally
As for IDing them underwater, is head size/shape and location the best way to go? I shot two kelpies yesterday because they were dark/mottled instead of being a bright yellow, and because their eyes had a dark iris, instead of the bright yellow I've seen on a lot of kelpies.
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As for IDing them underwater, is head size/shape and location the best way to go? I shot two kelpies yesterday because they were dark/mottled instead of being a bright yellow, and because their eyes had a dark iris, instead of the bright yellow I've seen on a lot of kelpies.
Usually when you see a grassy head underwater (if it is a decent sized one) it looks massive...kelpies will look like kelpies.
:smt005
And yeah grassies are more often tucked in holes and kelpies will more often be supended by their little kelp stalks...but I have seen plenty of kelpies in holes and grassies sitting out in open so...
If it is good sized, shoot it. :smt003
:smt006
Sincerely,
Jim
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Thanks! Now I just need my kelpie upgrade verified..... I'm really hurting for those 3.25 points :)
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Thanks! Now I just need my kelpie upgrade verified..... I'm really hurting for those 3.25 points :)
Done!
:smt006
Sincerely,
Jim
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Besides grassies having much fleshier pectoral fins and stockier heads, the first gill raker on a grassy will be short and stubby and kelpies will be long and thin.
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How do they compare in taste when you bite into them alive?