monterey spearfishing report

Sorry Stuart, It was a Monkey faced eel....Here is another pic of a similar specimen. Mine looked exactly like that with this funny fleshy crest....
http://www.stanford.edu/~bhackett/monterey-2005-01-23/pages/monkeyface-eel-(a).html
Alain

whatever that thing is it sure reminds me of:

This weekend is looking alright.  I've got some kind of chronic cold or alergy congestion thing going though and I'm not sure it'd be safe for me to dive.

Supposedly monkey faced eels are quite tasty cooked 'teriyaki style' and served over rice.  Guys that pokepole at PFIC eat them all the time.  I've never caught one, so I don't know whats involved in cooking them, but after you said it wasn't good, my wife wants me to bring one home for her to judge.  Somehow she might be expecting a huge unagi and be disapointed, but then again she likes milkfish...   

Alain,
The Monkey faced eels I've seen have been more brownish, blackish/gold, colored sort of like a kelp or grass RF.  Your specimen was grayish/white.  Very interesting.

In any event, sorry to hear it didn't taste good.

Stuart

Very nice pictures there.  That "silver perch" is a rubberlip perch by the way.  Monkeyface Eels do have a slightly different/fishy taste to them.  Usually you either like them or you don't.  I like to fillet mine and marinade it in a soysauce marinade or a teriyaki.  It is very good broiled as well.  Coloration can also vary as well..  I've caught them in colors from dark black to light brown.  They seem to change color after death though.