Lobster?? I wish!!! - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Joker619 · 10-10-2013, 10:28 AM

Went out to San Diego Bay on Monday night to test my luck from the pier. Not so lucky thus far this year from my yak and wanted to fish on the quick with short notice. Took 2 traps out and bought some macks and salmon heads. Thought I had a big one as I could feel movement in the trap as I was pulling. To my surprise, I saw something jump up and slither around like a snake. Had to do a double take and realized I caught an eel. Random as hell for me at least. No bugs! Some people I showed pictures of asked if I kept it and at the time wasnt sure what to do with it.. Tripped out and looked at it for a few minutes and released it. Heard you can eat them but not all that good. Plus they are very hard to clean. I couldnt imagine what I would do if I caught this while on my yack. Oh well!

buddha · 10-10-2013, 10:31 AM

What kind of eel is that?

Joker619 · 10-10-2013, 10:32 AM

I believe its a Moray. Not 100% sure though. Maybe someone could chime in.

sdfisher · 10-10-2013, 11:09 AM

I believe it's a moray, have pulled some of those in my hoops in la jolla, cool to look at but definitely want to keep your fingers away from its mouth!

Dail14 · 10-10-2013, 11:55 AM

Its California Moray Eel. They used to have a bunch at SeaWorld.

beef78 · 10-10-2013, 12:18 PM

Moray

Sent from my Event using Tapatalk 4

beergillz · 10-10-2013, 01:34 PM

Morays are delicious in my opinion, I'm not sure how that size would taste. But dragon rolls are pretty good.

Raskal311 · 10-10-2013, 01:50 PM

Is it legal to keep fish and eels caught via hoop nets?

Aaron&Julie · 10-10-2013, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raskal311

Is it legal to keep fish and eels caught via hoop nets?

That's a no on fish, probably on eels, too, but that's just a guess.

William Novotny · 10-10-2013, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron&Julie

That's a no on fish, probably on eels, too, but that's just a guess.

I would say eels classify as fish as far as the regs go on hoop nets. I caught a rather large sculpin in my net monday night and as much as I enjoy sculpin meat, it wasnt worth the risk and it went back in.

iethinker · 10-10-2013, 07:24 PM

I caught one of these critters on a hook & line at the Solana Kelp. Good fight but I was scared to put it in the kayak with me. It it looked like it could move around like a snake. It had big teeth and was striking out too. As I held it partly out of the water it twisted-up into some kind of ball wrapping much of my leader around itself. It would no stop wriggling around so I had no choice but to cut the line. This same Moray Eel experience happened again when I went fishing in Florida. I don't like to catch these.

wiseguy · 10-17-2013, 09:56 AM

I totally play by the rules, but if you do catch fish in a net that is of legal size and a good table fare, why would you release it if you have a rod and reel in your possession also?

wiredantz · 10-17-2013, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseguy

I totally play by the rules, but if you do catch fish in a net that is of legal size and a good table fare, why would you release it if you have a rod and reel in your possession also?

No one would ever admit to that

wiseguy · 10-17-2013, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredantz

No one would ever admit to that

True...and that is why I play by the rules.

10-10-2013, 10:28 AM	#1
Joker619 Junior Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 15	Lobster?? I wish!!! Went out to San Diego Bay on Monday night to test my luck from the pier. Not so lucky thus far this year from my yak and wanted to fish on the quick with short notice. Took 2 traps out and bought some macks and salmon heads. Thought I had a big one as I could feel movement in the trap as I was pulling. To my surprise, I saw something jump up and slither around like a snake. Had to do a double take and realized I caught an eel. Random as hell for me at least. No bugs! Some people I showed pictures of asked if I kept it and at the time wasnt sure what to do with it.. Tripped out and looked at it for a few minutes and released it. Heard you can eat them but not all that good. Plus they are very hard to clean. I couldnt imagine what I would do if I caught this while on my yack. Oh well! Attached Images

10-10-2013, 12:18 PM	#6
beef78 Large Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: San Diego Posts: 316	Moray Sent from my Event using Tapatalk 4 __________________ "I shall not tiptoe through life to arrive safely at death."

10-10-2013, 01:50 PM	#8
Raskal311 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Santa Ana/Westminster Posts: 1,256	Is it legal to keep fish and eels caught via hoop nets? __________________ Kevin Yellow PA12

10-10-2013, 07:24 PM	#11
iethinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Inland Empire Posts: 370	Difficult Release I caught one of these critters on a hook & line at the Solana Kelp. Good fight but I was scared to put it in the kayak with me. It it looked like it could move around like a snake. It had big teeth and was striking out too. As I held it partly out of the water it twisted-up into some kind of ball wrapping much of my leader around itself. It would no stop wriggling around so I had no choice but to cut the line. This same Moray Eel experience happened again when I went fishing in Florida. I don't like to catch these.

10-17-2013, 09:56 AM	#12
wiseguy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Long Beach Posts: 427	question I totally play by the rules, but if you do catch fish in a net that is of legal size and a good table fare, why would you release it if you have a rod and reel in your possession also?

10-10-2013, 10:31 AM	#2
buddha Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: chula vista Posts: 907	What kind of eel is that?

10-10-2013, 10:32 AM	#3
Joker619 Junior Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 15	I believe its a Moray. Not 100% sure though. Maybe someone could chime in.

10-10-2013, 11:09 AM	#4
sdfisher Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 179	I believe it's a moray, have pulled some of those in my hoops in la jolla, cool to look at but definitely want to keep your fingers away from its mouth!

10-10-2013, 11:55 AM	#5
Dail14 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 123	Its California Moray Eel. They used to have a bunch at SeaWorld.

10-10-2013, 01:34 PM	#7
beergillz Junior Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 11	Morays are delicious in my opinion, I'm not sure how that size would taste. But dragon rolls are pretty good.