mystery fish at big break

Fished from 6:30 to 1:00.  Caught 6 baby stripers, one 20" for dinner and a mystery fish.  Paddled out to glassy conditions but wind picked up so I just trolled around for the most part.  Ran into Grumpy and company and made our official but quick introductions while trolling in opposite directions. I did not get a good picture but does anyone know what this fish is?

That would be the great California Pike more common name Squawfish

yes squawfish, they get big in there, i have caught them up to 18" while plugging.

That's one healthy looking Striper got got there.  Thanks for the report and pictures Chris.

Sacramento Pikeminnow...thanks to yester's handy-dandy California fish species post in the Fish Talk Forum.

HB

If I catch another can I take it home and eat it?

you can, many people like them but many consider them trash fish. They have a tendency of eating loads of smaller fish, especially in the sacramento.

My 2 cents,
Mike

They have a mild flavor, but to call them bony is an understatement. You can use a pressure cooker to soften up the bones, but realistically, it probably isn't worth the effort. They make shad look like sturgeon when it comes to being bony. Good luck.

PS, nice striper, a far better eating fish than the squaw.

My dad's squawfish recipe:

Fillet squawfish, place on pine plank
Place carrots and onions on the board around the fillets
spray cooking spray on the fish
salt and pepper to taste
bake for 40 minutes at 325 degrees
remove from oven, go to the trash can
scrape everything off into the trashcan
eat the pine board

For what are obvious reasons, I have never actually tried squawfish.

it would be better to eat your bait!

Over the years I've developed a motto of;

"If I kill it, I have to eat it."

I now have a short list of fish that always go back,

But I'll try anything once.

Looks like you had a nice day and a good eatin fish to boot!!

Yeah, a squawfish is like a bony, gristly mud pie.  Brain 'em and toss 'em.  We get a ton of them up here, and they really put the hurt on the salmon redds/smolts.

If you paddle into sherman from BB there is a power line tower that the birds sit on. Underneath the tower sits HUGE 10# or better squawfish that will come up on topwater plugs. I have pitched under that tower and flushed 3-4 fish in a few minutes with an occasional striper mixed in.

If you paddle into sherman from BB there is a power line tower that the birds sit on. Underneath the tower sits HUGE 10# or better squawfish that will come up on topwater plugs. I have pitched under that tower and flushed 3-4 fish in a few minutes with an occasional striper mixed in.

That sounds like fun,  I think I'll give it a shot.