Monterey ???

I haven't been out fishing lately because of deer season and all but I am curious as to how Monterey has been treating everyone for rockfish and halibut. I'm thinking about skipping out on this weekend to go hit the salt. Any and all reports would be great ...

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No idea how the bite's been lately but I hope to fish tomorrow. And Sunday too maybe.

Pretty new @ this but hit it twice this week.  Monday was good for me, Wednesday was a bit slower.  Pulled these out Monday just fishing swimbaits.

Pretty new @ this but hit it twice this week.  Monday was good for me, Wednesday was a bit slower.  Pulled these out Monday just fishing swimbaits.

Dude...hard to tell from the pic but looks like you might have caught a Calico??

Olive is obviously more likely, but there are some Calicos over here...sharkbait even shot one in the eel grass at MBK last year.

Did the body have a checkerboard pattern before it died, or was there just some yellow spots along the backbone?

Anyway, nice job!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Whats the real name for the middle one? I've always just called them kelpies but was never sure.

At any rate Jason, I've had decent luck for those middle guys in the edge of the kelp off Coral St with squid tipped shrimp flies.

Whats the real name for the middle one? I've always just called them kelpies but was never sure.

At any rate Jason, I've had decent luck for those middle guys in the edge of the kelp off Coral St with squid tipped shrimp flies.

Yeah, those are kelp rockfish. : )

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/nearshorefinfish/kelprockfish.asp

Note that in the link above the longest recorded length is 16.8 inches.  NCKA member IceColdChuck blasted a beast that went 17.5 inches the other day.   

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/speciesleaders/list_by_species/14

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Haha the first thing I thought was "dang is that a calico?!" Good eye Jim. And good catches San Miguel!
Yes to kelp RF. Sometimes they look very similar to grass RF though. Both are quite tasty.

Quite tasty for both, but for ease of filleting, I like blues and blacks and olives better. The kelpies have a rib cage that sticks way out for some reason, bigger bellies maybe.

Haha the first thing I thought was "dang is that a calico?!" Good eye Jim. And good catches San Miguel!
Yes to kelp RF. Sometimes they look very similar to grass RF though. Both are quite tasty.

I texted fuzz. He confirms calico. That's good enough for me. 

The sure fire way to compare a kelpy from a grassy is to look at the first gill raker. Kelpies rakers (the white part) will be long and slender. Grassy's will be short and stubby.

That's why Charlie is showing the rakers on his kelpzilla. 

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/454

 

Sincerely,

Jim

ps...Don't filet Mitch! Scale and gut on the water and cook whole when you get home!!! 

Are y'all talking about the one in the middle? I need to learn how to ID the fish better.  Just wanna make sure I don't get any that are illegal.   
Wish I started doin this sooner, had to go back to work today and those fish taste good!!  Beer battered, fried, n taco'ed!!  Big Jim I'll take your advice and clean on the water.  What do you do steam or fry?

i'm pretty positive that red one is a tecate

Are y'all talking about the one in the middle? I need to learn how to ID the fish better.  Just wanna make sure I don't get any that are illegal.   
Wish I started doin this sooner, had to go back to work today and those fish taste good!!  Beer battered, fried, n taco'ed!!  Big Jim I'll take your advice and clean on the water.  What do you do steam or fry?

The one on the left (the longest one) is a Calico bass. Common in SoCal, but relatively rare up here...usually taken by spearos, but hardly ever by hook and line anglers...taste great!!

The one in the middle is a Kelp Rockfish. Very common and delicious.

The one on the right is a Black Rockfish. Very common and delicious.

I often fry whole, but also wrap in foil packet after rubbing with olive oil and spices and with some cilantro and garlic in the belly and cook in BBQ.

 

Anyway you do it whole is good IMO...get so much more meat off the fish than just two small filets. Even dinks turn into a full meal when served with a little rice or veggies. I even steak cabs and cook whole. Save the fileting for the Lings (and then don't forget about the Head and Collars!!). 

Sorry for the threadjack Jason S!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

the left (the longest one) is a Calico bass. Common in SoCal, but relatively rare up here...usually taken by spearos, but hardly ever by hook and line anglers...taste great!!

Looks like an olive rockfish to me, Jim.

i'm pretty positive that red one is a tecate

 
 

the left (the longest one) is a Calico bass. Common in SoCal, but relatively rare up here...usually taken by spearos, but hardly ever by hook and line anglers...taste great!!

Looks like an olive rockfish to me, Jim.

I'll let you and Harold duke it out. 

 

Sincerely,

Jim