What is this thing???

I caught this in the Stockton Delta with a rattle trap. I thought I had a pretty good sized fish, until I brought it in and it was hooked in the tail. What the heck is this thing??

Sacramento squawfish.

It's a Minnow on steroid! 

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/fishes/sacramento_squawfish.html

we call  em pikeminnows now to be politically correct 

Even coming from a nature lover...  It's a POS!   

The ultimate striper bait!

-Brian G

Whatever you do.... do not attempt to cook it.

Didn't that one just go on AOTY?   

Crawdad bait!  Actually they make great striper bait.  My buddy caught a 59 lb striper on a 14" pikeminnow.

Hmmmm....I think they'll make excellent Catfish bait! 

Looks like some states pay cash money for them ALIVE....

I know they used to have a derby on the Sac below the Red Bluff Diversion Dam...that would be sweet if they fired it up again!  Fishing for money, my dream would finally come true!

If you're thinking about doing this, read the below rules & regulations:

RULES AND REGULATIONS
 
Anglers participating in the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery must adhere to each of the following rules:

Present a valid fishing license and picture identification upon request by any authorized program representative.

Adhere to all applicable state fishing regulations for the area in which you fish. Contact your local state fishery agency for license requirements and current fishing regulations.

Link to Washington's Fishing Regulations

Link to Oregon's Fishing Regulations.

Register in person at one of the designated registration stations each day prior to fishing. Anglers may register during times when stations are unstaffed, by using the station's self-registration box. Anglers may not register at multiple stations on the same day.

Provide true and accurate information to authorized program representatives regarding the taking, possession, delivery, transportation, sale, transfer, or any other use of fish caught while participating in the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery Program.

Comply with the directions of authorized program personnel related to the collection of sampling data and angler participation in the Sport Reward Fishery.

Mail in all reward vouchers within 30 days from the end of the year's fishery. To obtain payment vouchers must be received no later than Nov. 15 for each year's fishery. Any issues preventing payment (missing information, voiding of voucher for program violations, etc.) must be resolved by Nov. 15 for each year's fishery or the voucher becomes null and void..

Fish must have been caught in the mainstem Columbia River from the mouth up to the restricted zone below Priest Rapids Dam, or in the Snake River from the mouth up to the restricted zone below Hell's Canyon Dam. The "mainstem" includes backwaters, sloughs, and up tributaries 400 feet from the tributary mouths. "Tributary mouth" is as defined by state fishing regulations.

Fish must be returned to the same registration station where the angler registered. They must be returned on the same calendar day stamped on the angler's registration form, before that station closes for the day, and they must have been caught subsequent to that days' registration time.

Fish must have a total length greater than or equal to 9 inches. Fish less than 9 inches total length are not eligible for reward payment.

All fish to be redeemed for reward payment must have been personally caught solely by the angler submitting them for reward payment.

Fish must be alive or in fresh condition. Fish that are or were frozen, or that are in otherwise poor condition will not be accepted for payment. Technicians have the authority to determine whether northern pikeminnow submitted meet these standards.

Violation of any of the above rules may result in disqualification from the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery Program.
 

I did a few image searches on google and all the sac squawfish I see look like they have a different jaw. this one looks more like the mouth of a catfish.

From Porkey's posting the line right below the title reads:

*The common name of the northern squawfish has been changed to northern pikeminnow by the American Fisheries Society.