How to catch Octopus?

This one caught at Shelter Cove...

That is a nice one.

I caught one about that size at Fort Ross on a blue and white flutter jig.

Of course that was back in the good old days when we had kelp.

There are times when I can’t keep em off the bait...smaller hand-sized ones, not GPO’s. It happens often over sandy areas off monterey & santa cruz. One day I must have caught 30 of em in Monterey. They are very smart creatures indeed, I enjoy watching them escape from my kayak upon release. Or watching Jim eat them alive hahaha

Just enjoy them as bycatch.  They aren’t caught that often but you are totally in your rights to take and eat one if you catch it.  I’ve only got one of them, out of Albion.  It’s just a bonus gift from the ocean.

There are times when I can’t keep em off the bait...smaller hand-sized ones, not GPO’s. It happens often over sandy areas off monterey & santa cruz. One day I must have caught 30 of em in Monterey. They are very smart creatures indeed, I enjoy watching them escape from my kayak upon release. Or watching Jim eat them alive hahaha

Classic! Thanks for sharing 

I realize a lot of people may disagree - maybe its just me, but a growing community say octopuses (octopi?) are some of the most intelligent creatures on the planet, ...

Just curious where you get that info. From what I've seen, a pig (for example) would be considered far more intelligent than an octopus. Yes, octopus are far and away the most intelligent invertebrate, but I don't think that can compare to a lot of vertebrates that humans like to eat.

And, based on the number of neurons, it's hard to see how an octopus could possibly stack up:

octopus: 500 million
pig: 2.22 billion
human: 86 billion

Of course, the number of neurons doesn't tell the whole story, as elephants have 3 times as many as humans. But, the number of neurons in the cerebral cortex of an elephant can't compare to that of a human:
http://nautil.us/issue/35/boundaries/the-paradox-of-the-elephant-brain

Anyways, I think I'll continue to eat octopus, just not alive...

I realize a lot of people may disagree - maybe its just me, but a growing community say octopuses (octopi?) are some of the most intelligent creatures on the planet, and the limits of their intelligence is still unknown and being studied.  With this in mind, I tend to equate this to say a dolphin, orca, chimp, maybe even a domesticated horse, cat, dog, etc... all animals I would never choose to kill for sport/food.  In the spirit of conservation and good ocean karma, I would likely pass from harvesting a giant octopus to eat.     

Not to mention they are probably alien. Seriously, from a Darwinian evolution perspective, their genome is just whack. They are like nothing else on earth. Probably alien, evolving on its own timeline. Wicked smart. Once they start riding dolphins, it’s all over for us.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sciencealert.com/octopus-and-squid-evolution-is-officially-weirder-than-we-could-have-ever-imagined/amp

I realize a lot of people may disagree - maybe its just me, but a growing community say octopuses (octopi?) are some of the most intelligent creatures on the planet, ...

Just curious where you get that info. From what I've seen, a pig (for example) would be considered far more intelligent than an octopus. Yes, octopus are far and away the most intelligent invertebrate, but I don't think that can compare to a lot of vertebrates that humans like to eat.

And, based on the number of neurons, it's hard to see how an octopus could possibly stack up:

octopus: 500 million
pig: 2.22 billion
human: 86 billion

Of course, the number of neurons doesn't tell the whole story, as elephants have 3 times as many as humans. But, the number of neurons in the cerebral cortex of an elephant can't compare to that of a human:
http://nautil.us/issue/35/boundaries/the-paradox-of-the-elephant-brain

Anyways, I think I'll continue to eat octopus, just not alive...

PK with the old skool footage! 

I’ve hand grabbed some diving but have no clue how to really target them....

Good luck!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Be sure to let us know if you have any luck targeting them. Maybe they are smart enough to know when the fish are not feeding, so if rock fishing is slow it might be a good time to go after them.

A while back I texted my wife: "No fish today but a got you two tacos for dinner". When I arrived home she had prepared limes, avocados, onions etc. for ceviche. My wife is from Japan and Tako translates to octopus.

She enjoyed the tacos but wondered how anyone would think I would of caught tacos while fishing. She would love to have fresh octopus.

Be sure to let us know if you have any luck targeting them. Maybe they are smart enough to know when the fish are not feeding, so if rock fishing is slow it might be a good time to go after them.

A while back I texted my wife: "No fish today but a got you two tacos for dinner". When I arrived home she had prepared limes, avocados, onions etc. for ceviche. My wife is from Japan and Tako translates to octopus.

She enjoyed the tacos but wondered how anyone would think I would of caught tacos while fishing. She would love to have fresh octopus.

Octopus fishing is very popular in Asian countries and whenever my wife and I go out for sushi, we order octopus sushi.

There are times when I can’t keep em off the bait...smaller hand-sized ones, not GPO’s. It happens often over sandy areas off monterey & santa cruz. One day I must have caught 30 of em in Monterey. They are very smart creatures indeed, I enjoy watching them escape from my kayak upon release. Or watching Jim eat them alive hahaha

Those videos were great! lol Characters

I’ve “landed” a couple big ones (2 ft or so) in the shallow rocky area just south of Muir Beach while fishing for halibut with a swimbait.

I didn’t want them, so I did my best free the hook and let them free. But HOLY CRAP that was difficult.... 8 sticky legs flailing around, grabbing everything, sticking to my kayak and everything else within reach.... I was just glad when they finally swam away and let me keep fishing.


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I like octopi.  I never keep them to eat and always try to release safely asap.  It's hard like Alex says....then if they drop to your deck and crawl under your seat, you may as well wait till your landing haha. they can squeeze through the tiniest hole or crack as well.

I got a great picture of Racin Rob and and octopus but I can't find it on my computer....Rob?  You have a copy?

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