Uncommon Fish Caught at Capitola

All of Monterey Bay is within the documented range of calicos, opaleyes, sheephead, and senioritas.

Believe it or not, it is also within the documented range of finescale triggerfish, although rare.

-Allen

I would disagree with that statement. No offense, but......

Bushy

No offense taken. But what makes you say that? These fish occupy a unique habitat–and behave–such that I would not expect an angler to really ever encounter them. Maybe "tons" was not entirely accurate, but there are significant populations of SoCal species, from what I've seen

Plenty of opies in the background, not to mention the ones that never leave their crack systems. I see them regularly:


Sheep crab are predominantly a SoCal species of crustacean:


No film on it, but señoritas are common place. I see more calicos on the north side of the bay than I do in Monterey/Carmel proper. I've seen swell sharks, as well, but usually in cracks so tight that I can barely fit my own head in, let alone a camera.

Yup I disagree with "tons of."  I've caught calicos in Monterey, never in Santa Cruz.  Good authority reports opaleye in umbers in Monteerey, but not in Santa Cruz. I have never caught one.  Never seen a senorita fish here either, but caught a number of sarcastic fingeheads.  Not germane to this discussin but I just like writing "sarcastic fringe heads."  Being underwater I believe you can see more than I can catch, but calicos in particular should be hitting in SC like they do in Monterey.  Rare, but I've gotten a number of them in Monterey, and not one in SC, though I fish here way more.

Bushy

I think we all agree that certain species are common in Monterey Bay, despite the perception that they are "socal" species. It's not just an el nino or temp-driven phenomena; they are permanent residents here. Most people just don't know about em. Which is ok with me! For me, a true exotic would be something like a yellowtail or broadbill swordfish (which have both been spotted or caught).

or broadbill swordfish (which have both been spotted or caught).

The largest commercial landings of swordies in CA come from Nor Cal waters.  However, they are being caught in water that is 2-3000 fathoms deep, which means it is not near shore.  And they feed at night, and don't often bask on the surface in the daytime like they do in SoCal.  That just means that they are rarely encountered.  But they are there in our offshore waters and in pretty good numbers it seems.

-Allen

Yeah for me the definition of exotic would be a little more strict.  I guess when I think "exotic" - I think "tropical" which of course would not be a correct definition. 

So truly warm water species.  But really who cares?  I'd be stoked if I caught a triggerfish.

I would disagree with that statement. No offense, but......

Bushy

No offense taken. But what makes you say that? These fish occupy a unique habitat–and behave–such that I would not expect an angler to really ever encounter them. Maybe "tons" was not entirely accurate, but there are significant populations of SoCal species, from what I've seen

Plenty of opies in the background, not to mention the ones that never leave their crack systems. I see them regularly:


Sheep crab are predominantly a SoCal species of crustacean:


No film on it, but señoritas are common place. I see more calicos on the north side of the bay than I do in Monterey/Carmel proper. I've seen swell sharks, as well, but usually in cracks so tight that I can barely fit my own head in, let alone a camera.

Yup I disagree with "tons of."  I've caught calicos in Monterey, never in Santa Cruz.  Good authority reports opaleye in umbers in Monteerey, but not in Santa Cruz. I have never caught one.  Never seen a senorita fish here either, but caught a number of sarcastic fingeheads.  Not germane to this discussin but I just like writing "sarcastic fringe heads."  Being underwater I believe you can see more than I can catch, but calicos in particular should be hitting in SC like they do in Monterey.  Rare, but I've gotten a number of them in Monterey, and not one in SC, though I fish here way more.

Bushy

Senoritas are all over the place up here...young sharkbait shot a bunch of them a few months ago with me to prove that he was a better shot than me.  Said they fried up yummy. 

I know there are a lot of opaleye in SC as well...bloodbath shot one last year up there and tried to enter it as a perch for DOTY. 

I think we all agree that certain species are common in Monterey Bay, despite the perception that they are "socal" species. It's not just an el nino or temp-driven phenomena; they are permanent residents here. Most people just don't know about em. Which is ok with me!

Yeah...who knows how they got here....BUT, even though they are permanent residents, are they breeding and reproducing up here??? All the speciemens of sheephead that I have seen have been full grown adults....

Take a look at the DOTY entries over the past 3 years:

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/speciesleaders/list_by_species/9

Even the smallest ones entered (and I've never seen any smaller up here) are adult size....so doesn't seem like they are reproducing??

Haven't seen enough calico to comment on them...opaleye seem to be here in numbers of all sizes so I would think they are reproducing...

But the sheep?? Crazy to think that el nino events have brought THAT many adult sheep up here, but that they aren't reproducing??

I'm just rambling...obviously...

But...yeah, I wanna shoot a triggerfish.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim