Ocean Sunfish – You Can Take Them, But What Then?

December 3, 2015

Question: I saw some ocean sunfish laying around on the surface in waters off Sonoma County. Are they legal to take? Is there a website or a listing of which fish are illegal to catch? (Anonymous)

Answer: Yes, ocean sunfish (Mola mola) may be taken by licensed recreational fishermen. While some ocean species have fishing regulations that pertain only to them (e.g. rockfish and salmon), other species do not. Species for which there are no specific regulations, such as ocean sunfish, are covered under section 27.60 on page 34 in the current Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet. The daily bag limit for species covered under section 27.60(a) is: 10 fish of any one species, with a total daily bag limit of 20 fish. This means you can take up to 10 ocean sunfish plus 10 other fish per day, for a total of 20 fish. Fish that fall under this section do not have seasons (open year-round) or size limits.

Please be aware that ocean sunfish are not a species targeted by most recreational fishermen. This species is generally not considered to be good eating. Keep in mind that it’s a violation to waste a fish after you have taken it (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 1.87), so you might want to research that a little more before finding yourself in possession of a large fish you don’t care to eat.

Has anyone here actually tasted ocean sunfish?  Do they basically taste the same as a ray?  Super rubbery?


edit:  Or, do they taste like an opah?

It's my understanding that they are filled with BAD KARMA and should be left alone.

It's my understanding that they are filled with BAD KARMA and should be left alone.

The last numbskulls to bag one ended up going viral and on Jimmy Kimmel...wonder when and in what form their Karma is gonna be in

Not to be confused with a 'baby freakin whelle' 

edit:  Or, do they taste like an opah?

Not like opah other than close in appearance.

But what do I know .......never had either.

tastes like chicken......




.....skin.
Old, dried out, seagulls-left-it-behind, chicken skin.

even sealions only chew on the fins and then toss the rest.


much better to leave Molas alive.

edit:  Or, do they taste like an opah?

Not like opah other than close in appearance.

But what do I know .......never had either.

But he did stay at a Holiday Inn

there was this guy here on NCKA once upon a time ago......he stole the half eaten sunfish from a GWS and then .............

there was this guy here on NCKA once upon a time ago......he stole the half eaten sunfish from a GWS and then .............

there was this guy here on NCKA once upon a time ago......he stole the half eaten sunfish from a GWS and then .............

He was abducted by aliens  and then...........

The alien, Bigfoot and "that guy" had a hookup at Big Sur

TrueDat!

there was this guy here on NCKA once upon a time ago......he stole the half eaten sunfish from a GWS and then .............

And he was hypothermic at the same time and didn't know it.

It's a delicacy in Japan, fish name is Manbou...So can't be that bad

It looks like the first known written account of a Mola Mola was made by Pliny the Younger.

http://oceansunfish.org/lore.php#

Raven-Pecked Cow Anus is a delicacy there too.