It should be legal to stab poachers.

Saw a guy fishing off the beach at Fanuel Park in Pacific Beach while I was jogging with my dog. I asked him how he was doing and he pointed to the sail boat about 15 feet behind him. Laying there was this, what I'm 99.99% confident is a baby WSB. Same gills, same scales on the back and can't miss that wedged face. The only thing that had me confused is that it came out of mission bay, nowhere near the mouth of the bay.

He swore he said it was a Corbina. I know Corbina have that little whisker on their lower lip and tried to point it out. He didn't want to hear it, yet kept insisting it wasn't a WSB. I hadn't even mentioned I thought it was a WSB yet, so I assume he had suspicion it was. After I told him it was in fact a WSB he went on to tell me about some special little spot WSB have when they are born.

Lots of conversation back and forth and him telling me god sent him that fish since he just lost his job and can't afford to eat blah blah, I walked away. The fish was long gone so trying to safely return it to the ocean wasn't an option, I walked away and called DFG. Closest warden was 25-40 minutes away. I waited around watching from afar and didn't give him the heads up, but he quickly packed up and left. I tried to keep him around but he insisted he had to go. I really hate to be a snitch but poaching is a big no no in my book.

Also if you notice, he completely ripped its jaw apart getting the jig out. So even if he released it that thing didn't have a fighting chance at survival.

Anyway, I needed to vent.

[mtnbykr2]

wasabi alright...I haven't even kept a barely legal...I am stoked to have CnR'd three this year to thirty inches, which BTW I am highly encouraged to see this size and variety of fish here...but that's just wrong...

[lowprofile]

CorVina.

Both wsb and corvina are in the bay. Hard to tell though.

[danjor]

I completely agree that it should be legal to stab poachers!
They deserve it.

[October]

crap dude, I dont know, it does look like a short fin Corvina

http://www.bombolinis.com/shortfin-corvina.bmp


if it was, then ya he was all good and the DFG might have really embarrassed you. I cant really tell though, any WSB experts out there?

Originally Posted by lowprofile

CorVina.

Both wsb and corvina are in the bay. Hard to tell though.

Different fish I think

[vincentek9]

orange mouth corvina. i've caught them and i've caught shorty wsb before. juvi wsb has YELLOW tail and bars on their body. also have a bit smaller mouth. the 'vinas have some big mouths and BLACK tails. and the orange mouth with some fangs.

here is a picture comparison of corvina vs juvi wsb.

vina vina



baby seabass

[jorluivil]

Regardless, we should be allowed to stab poachers

[deepdvr]

Check for the zipper on the bottom of the fish. WSB will always have that raised ridge on the belly. Corvina don't. Can't tell from the photo.

[blitzburgh]

It looks like a Corvina BUT, you still did the right thing in my opinion. Let the authorities sort it out. He had no idea either if he said it was a Corbina. Besides, what do you wanna bet the reason that guy high tailed it outta there was because he didn't have a license anyway? Good job I say!

[Divad]

Originally Posted by deepdvr

Check for the zipper on the bottom of the fish. WSB will always have that raised ridge on the belly. Corvina don't. Can't tell from the photo.

Yep! WSB, I caught one before in Carlsbad Lagoon, and the raised ridge on the bottom was the give away!

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by deepdvr

Check for the zipper on the bottom of the fish. WSB will always have that raised ridge on the belly. Corvina don't. Can't tell from the photo.

Bingo

[lamb]

Originally Posted by deepdvr

Check for the zipper on the bottom of the fish. WSB will always have that raised ridge on the belly. Corvina don't. Can't tell from the photo.

x2

[T-Rex]

No visible bars, no belly ridge and no dark spot at base of pecs = corvina.

[RedSledTeam]

Hey!....How do you know it's not the last Totuaba?