NorCal Kayak Anglers

General => Fish Talk => Topic started by: BigJim on August 16, 2016, 11:19:30 AM

Title: Otoliths in Norcal fish
Post by: BigJim on August 16, 2016, 11:19:30 AM
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:

https://vimeo.com/116430003

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
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: BigJim on August 16, 2016, 11:20:47 AM
Few more pics.

 :smt006
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: MontanaN8V on August 16, 2016, 11:24:52 AM
Very cool! I have some from stripers, I want to get them from a salmon, or wsb!
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: rockfish on August 16, 2016, 11:29:40 AM
Thanks Jim, I've been wondering how to get these without breaking them :)
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: BigJim on August 16, 2016, 11:31:34 AM
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
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: Sailfish on August 16, 2016, 12:40:04 PM
Does Sturgeon have them?
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: BigJim on August 16, 2016, 12:45:27 PM
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
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: Sailfish on August 16, 2016, 12:49:38 PM
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.
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: BigJim on August 16, 2016, 12:52:20 PM
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
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: OnTheReel on August 16, 2016, 01:06:25 PM
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!!
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: bsteves on August 16, 2016, 01:27:14 PM
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.

Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: Sailfish on August 16, 2016, 01:54:48 PM
Thanks for the info Brian.
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: BigJim on August 30, 2016, 08:16:57 AM
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
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: Fish Master1 on August 30, 2016, 01:02:58 PM
Those will make some nice earings for Rider. :smt005 :smt005
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: Sin Coast on August 30, 2016, 02:02:07 PM
 :smt044 :smt005
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: MontanaN8V on August 31, 2016, 05:51:51 PM
Rings are for reins, wouldn't that be "Ridden?"
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: BigJim on September 20, 2016, 12:48:47 PM
17.75 inch Olive...

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: Vonsvangoth on September 22, 2016, 10:22:27 PM
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
Would that mean halibuts have them too?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: phishphood on September 23, 2016, 11:26:17 AM
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
Would that mean halibuts have them too?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
CA halibut
848mm 8.42kg
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/9de279d623e377df5067cdfff45d0321.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/7bc9e792f839898df163a924ada0bbaa.jpg)


714mm 4.82kg
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/4f08b14f83a274c96a4f411f0d3c8790.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/1c4dd10d5f99c9f842770ba56c43c488.jpg)

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: phishphood on September 23, 2016, 11:27:02 AM
Just extracted one from each fish.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: Vonsvangoth on September 24, 2016, 04:35:14 PM
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
Would that mean halibuts have them too?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
CA halibut
848mm 8.42kg
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/9de279d623e377df5067cdfff45d0321.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/7bc9e792f839898df163a924ada0bbaa.jpg)


714mm 4.82kg
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/4f08b14f83a274c96a4f411f0d3c8790.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/1c4dd10d5f99c9f842770ba56c43c488.jpg)

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Darn. Should had extracted from my hailbut a few weeks ago. Got two small ones from my jack salmon today

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: BigJim on March 24, 2017, 09:07:32 AM
Here are the stones from my 23.5 inch Verm, and one stone that Steve got from his 22 inch black.

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: MontanaN8V on March 24, 2017, 02:54:01 PM
That's pretty dang neat. What fish, produce otoliths that are of jewelry quality in that they are not brittle?
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: ReelKnots on March 31, 2017, 06:22:47 AM
That's pretty dang neat. What fish, produce otoliths that are of jewelry quality in that they are not brittle?


WSB!  :smt006



-Kiel
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: Tote on March 31, 2017, 08:00:22 AM
Always wondered how to get to those. One can read about it all they want, but seeing the video was worth an entire novel's worth of info.
Thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: BigJim on March 31, 2017, 10:30:20 AM
Always wondered how to get to those. One can read about it all they want, but seeing the video was worth an entire novel's worth of info.
Thanks for posting.

Once you do one you will realize how easy it is...shoot, even I can do it!

 :smt002

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: VK on March 31, 2017, 11:20:01 AM
Watched the video ..I cut too deep , wrecked them  :smt005
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: BigJim on March 31, 2017, 11:28:17 AM
Watched the video ..I cut too deep , wrecked them  :smt005

Yeah, really just wanna cut the top off the bubble to pop it so you can see them...then use tweezers to gently get out...if wont come out, can trim away a little more with knife and then get em out.

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: VK on March 31, 2017, 11:34:08 AM
You'll just have to do a demo @PIF this year if someone hooks or shoots a nice RF  :smt003
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: bioman on March 31, 2017, 11:38:55 AM
But no one mentioned why you might want to extract otoliths....
How about so you can age the fish?  Check out this little website for info.
https://www.afsc.noaa.gov/refm/age/ageinginteractive/pop_easy.htm
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: BigJim on March 31, 2017, 11:42:59 AM
But no one mentioned why you might want to extract otoliths....
How about so you can age the fish?  Check out this little website for info.
https://www.afsc.noaa.gov/refm/age/ageinginteractive/pop_easy.htm

But then you gotta cut em open right?  :smt009

Then they won't be as pretty...  :smt002

 :smt006
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: bioman on March 31, 2017, 11:56:05 AM
So, the website says slice them and smoke them over a flame to a caramel color.  If I had a whole otolith I'd smoke it and see if you can see the rings without sectioning 'em... Even if you had to cut 'em, there's some good data there!
Thanks for sharing your adventures, Jim
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: BigJim on March 31, 2017, 12:06:30 PM
So, the website says slice them and smoke them over a flame to a caramel color.  If I had a whole otolith I'd smoke it and see if you can see the rings without sectioning 'em... Even if you had to cut 'em, there's some good data there!
Thanks for sharing your adventures, Jim

I do have some broken ones...should try and see if I can figure out the age...thanks for the link!

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: BigJim on April 04, 2017, 01:44:09 PM
Salmon...

Had a hard time finding them via my usual locate bubble and slice open method...cooked and ate head and found em though...and head meat/cartilage was BOMB.

 :smt004

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Otoliths in Verms and Stripers
Post by: MontanaN8V on April 04, 2017, 06:14:03 PM
Salmon...

Had a hard time finding them via my usual locate bubble and slice open method...cooked and ate head and found em though...and head meat/cartilage was BOMB.

 :smt004

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim

Imagine how big they are in a real salmon ;)
(Jk Jim)
Title: Re: Otoliths in Norcal fish
Post by: BigJim on September 08, 2017, 10:17:01 AM
Pulled out the stones from my most recent butt last night when eating the head.

Small butt, small stones.

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Otoliths in Norcal fish
Post by: KPD on September 09, 2017, 10:19:33 AM
But no one mentioned why you might want to extract otoliths....
How about so you can age the fish?  Check out this little website for info.
https://www.afsc.noaa.gov/refm/age/ageinginteractive/pop_easy.htm
Thanks for the cool link. That is a lot harder and more subjective than looking at tree rings.
Title: Re: Otoliths in Norcal fish
Post by: BigJim on October 02, 2017, 10:40:50 AM
Finally got a chance to pull the stones out of a WSB!!

Pics don't do them justice...

 :smt007 :smt007

Title: Re: Otoliths in Norcal fish
Post by: KPD on October 03, 2017, 10:43:18 PM
Finally got a chance to pull the stones out of a WSB!!

Pics don't do them justice...

 :smt007 :smt007
Cool. I hope this means you finally got to shoot one?
Title: Re: Otoliths in Norcal fish
Post by: BigJim on March 20, 2018, 10:31:40 AM
Another example of teeny tiny Ling stones...fish was 35 inches...

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim