Palos Verdes Kelp 4/24
 

Fun day fishing the kelp even if it was a bit slow. Only caught two but they were both first time catches. The goal was a bucket list Sheephead and managed that after my second drop on the shrimp. Thanks to Southwest for the tips on rigging. Wasn't long after that I hooked up with a big surprise...a hard fighting Trigger fish in about 35 ft. Thought I would loose him in the kelp but managed to get him onboard. Thanks Alex for the fun day.

Those are nice firsts David. The trigger is a really fighter and so much fun to catch.

Nice fish, congrats!

Looks like you had a good peddle from King Harbor to Haggarty's. Always a good trip when one crosses a fish off the bucket list -- Congratulations! A sheephead would be expected, but triggerfish? Decades ago that was a rare catch, are they more common today? In SE Florida they can be pretty aggressive. One would normally target them with small weighted bait, but I have taken them trolling Rapalas, and this one somehow got hooked on a big circle hook while fishing a live goggle-eye for sailfish.

Trigger Fish
 

Trigger Fish are tasty. I didn't know they were around this early in the year. You will definitely test the sharpness of your knife trying to butcher them up.

Thanks. Ya that FL Trigger is a lot more colorful than the ones around here. One thing I did learn, is that Sheephead are really tasty. My wife fried that one in some coconut oil with some mild spices and it was as good as any fish I have ever eaten. I will be making those fish a regular target going forward. I actually gave the Trigger to Alex who I was fishing with so I did not get a chance to try that one but he said they are very good. Maybe next time...

Wow! Very nice and memorable first catches Dave!
That’s one big boy Sheephead!

Fish report
 

congrats and thanks for posting. Is the hand launch open?
:confused:

YES!

Sounds like your wife is a good cook! My wife uses coconut oil also, it makes for a delicious change from olive oil. We have darker-colored Triggerfish in Florida also. I guess they must be abundant in the Sth Bay these days as you gave it away and mention maybe catching one next time.

Looked like they are more common in the Redondo and MDR area now. I caught one on a crankbait trolling back from PV. My friend caught one a few minutes later. Mine was over 4lbs. I gave it away so I don't know what it taste like. I will definitely keep the next one.

Thanks again Dave for sharing your catch. That trigger fish tasted amazing. The wife who doesn’t like any fish other than sheepshead liked the trigger even more, and I agree. Great tasting fish, almost the same texture as mahi-mahi 😁

Humm, starting to regret my decision ;)

Ceviche...
 

If you like Ceviche...Trigger Fish is really good in that dish...:notworthy: