fuzz and BigJim in the news courtesy of scallen!

Great write up Allen!!!

Thank you!!

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/outside/ci_20137980/fish-rap-sandcrab-classic-opens-saturday

Most of us never register a record­size fish. Kayak fisherman Jim Russell from Watsonville has done so twice now, both in one year.

Last March, Russell speared a four-pound, 12-ounce monkeyface prickleback eel while diving in the Monterey Bay. The monkeyface is not really an eel — it just looks like one, hence the name. This matched the previous California state diving record from 2007.

Last July, Russell's record was bested by dive partner Harold Gibson, who grabbed a monster six-pound, six-ounce monkeyface to claim the dive record as well as exceeding the hook and line record set in 2005.

Russell had his revenge last week, bringing home a giant six-pound, 10-ounce prickleback he speared somewhere near Monterey. It was a catch tinged with alarm.

“When I got him out I saw right away he was definitely the biggest monkey I have ever shot,” Russell said. “I swam him back to the ‘yak and was sorting through the stringer and scaling and gutting fish when somehow he came back alive, jumped off the ‘yak and started swimming away. I jumped in right after him, dove down and grabbed him with my bare hands underwater and brought him back up. Right when I get back on my ‘yak I hear a voice behind me — ‘I saw that!' — turn around and there is my friend Harold, the current record holder.”

Russell had his catch weighed on the certified scale at Phil's Fish Market in Moss Landing, and learned Tuesday the California Department of Fish and Game has accepted his submission as the new record.

Here is the pic that came out in the hardcopy paper version.

 

Thanks again Allen!!!!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Huh?  They used the wrong pic! 

Huh?  They used the wrong pic! 

+1

nice article,,,,,you need to set up an Autograph Signing Booth down at the local pier dood = they'd be lining up big time!

Your lucky Harold didn't spear it as you were trying to grab it the second time. Ha!

He should apply for the another record: "catching MFE with bear hands" 

Too cool!  Your're a celebrity.  Congrats!

Great....now he's going to start charging us for advice.

Congrats Jim! That's awesome!

Anthony