HOLY MOLA - Newport report - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Southman · 09-13-2013, 06:54 PM

Launched Wed. from CG station at Newport. Although I've never caught any reds I thought I'd try my luck. So I headed out about a mile or so into 160-190 ft. of water. I don't actually know if this is the right area or not, but from what some of the other posts have indicated I thought I was at least in the right vicinity. The FF showed nada as I went all through the area with frozen squid as the faire du jour. Oh well, still a beautiful, calm day.

Then off in the distance I see a fin working on top of the water. I'm thinking shark. So I make my way toward it and as I got close to it the sun was kind of glaring on it, but it looked just like a great white's head. I thought, ah not so bright of an idea. But as I got along side it I saw a pretty big freakin' mola.

I looked it up and it also goes by sunfish. Didn't know any were around this area. Do people catch these? Are they edible? I managed a pic.

ful-rac · 09-13-2013, 07:38 PM

There's been a lot of those around lately...bad luck to kill molas or so they say...I've heard of guys who tried them, and they said they were no good to eat. I think I'll take their word for it...

Dail14 · 09-14-2013, 02:32 PM

They are supposed to be related to puffer fish which everyone should know ,in case they catch one, are poisonous. Molas may not be poisonous like their cousins by why risk death. They eat jellyfish which we really do not want to overpopulate the area. I have heard of some people catching them on live squid but I would think because of their main diet it would be difficult to legally catch one. My overall point is that its best to leave them at sea.

philr21 · 09-14-2013, 05:18 PM

Awesome.... don't imagine even if you hooked one, that you could ever have the leverage in a kayak to pull one up without assist. Those things are huge.... would be fun trying though, even just for the release.

William Novotny · 09-14-2013, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dail14

They are supposed to be related to puffer fish which everyone should know ,in case they catch one, are poisonous. Molas may not be poisonous like their cousins by why risk death. They eat jellyfish which we really do not want to overpopulate the area. I have heard of some people catching them on live squid but I would think because of their main diet it would be difficult to legally catch one. My overall point is that its best to leave them at sea.

Thus makes sense. Ive been seeing a ton of small orangishjellyfish in the water in newport lately

philr21 · 09-14-2013, 09:08 PM

I've eaten it in Japan, was quite delicious. If anything were to be poisoness, it would be the guts, which you aren't planning on eating anyway. This fact is disputed though, some say yes and others say not.

TJones · 09-15-2013, 02:04 PM

no pics . i hooked one at county on a jig with double squid . my first thought , "here it is , my biggest wsb of the season " .5- 8 minutes in , i had my doubts . it was a clean hook with treble , right in lips or mouth . the first initial run was kinda like a wsb , but halfway through the fight, it was like being hooked into a trash can . greg said he has hooked more than one out there . beautiful fish , better left out at sea .

.released unharmed . more importantly , not having rolled over in the process .

09-13-2013, 06:54 PM	#1
Southman Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Laguna Niguel Posts: 89	HOLY MOLA - Newport report Launched Wed. from CG station at Newport. Although I've never caught any reds I thought I'd try my luck. So I headed out about a mile or so into 160-190 ft. of water. I don't actually know if this is the right area or not, but from what some of the other posts have indicated I thought I was at least in the right vicinity. The FF showed nada as I went all through the area with frozen squid as the faire du jour. Oh well, still a beautiful, calm day. Then off in the distance I see a fin working on top of the water. I'm thinking shark. So I make my way toward it and as I got close to it the sun was kind of glaring on it, but it looked just like a great white's head. I thought, ah not so bright of an idea. But as I got along side it I saw a pretty big freakin' mola. I looked it up and it also goes by sunfish. Didn't know any were around this area. Do people catch these? Are they edible? I managed a pic. Attached Images

09-13-2013, 07:38 PM	#2
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	There's been a lot of those around lately...bad luck to kill molas or so they say...I've heard of guys who tried them, and they said they were no good to eat. I think I'll take their word for it... __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

09-15-2013, 02:04 PM	#7
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,526	ran a post recently no pics . i hooked one at county on a jig with double squid . my first thought , "here it is , my biggest wsb of the season " .5- 8 minutes in , i had my doubts . it was a clean hook with treble , right in lips or mouth . the first initial run was kinda like a wsb , but halfway through the fight, it was like being hooked into a trash can . greg said he has hooked more than one out there . beautiful fish , better left out at sea . .released unharmed . more importantly , not having rolled over in the process .

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09-14-2013, 02:32 PM	#3
Dail14 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 123	They are supposed to be related to puffer fish which everyone should know ,in case they catch one, are poisonous. Molas may not be poisonous like their cousins by why risk death. They eat jellyfish which we really do not want to overpopulate the area. I have heard of some people catching them on live squid but I would think because of their main diet it would be difficult to legally catch one. My overall point is that its best to leave them at sea.

09-14-2013, 05:18 PM	#4
philr21 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Yokosuka, Japan Posts: 228	Awesome.... don't imagine even if you hooked one, that you could ever have the leverage in a kayak to pull one up without assist. Those things are huge.... would be fun trying though, even just for the release.

09-14-2013, 09:08 PM	#6
philr21 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Yokosuka, Japan Posts: 228	I've eaten it in Japan, was quite delicious. If anything were to be poisoness, it would be the guts, which you aren't planning on eating anyway. This fact is disputed though, some say yes and others say not.