10/25 Deeper LJ - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

TCS · 10-26-2009, 07:41 PM

The biggest one I caught the other day was about 8 or 9 inches long. I don't believe there is a size limit from DFG.

-scallywag- · 10-27-2009, 06:13 AM

first of all if ur going to target rockfish read the DFG regs!! There are alot of rules assosiated w/these fish, along with a few species that are protected.
Fizzing the fish seems to work ok although i dont like to handle them that much if im returning them to the ocean....we have always used a sabki with one barbless hook....gently reverse hook the fish and drop him back down...easy!...better yet leave the poor rockfish alone!! IMO, they are the most stressed fish population off our coast. If you wanna catch dinky fish go to the bay!!!

dsafety · 10-27-2009, 09:22 AM

I agree with Scallywag. I only keep fish I plan to eat and there can't much meat on a 9" rock fish. Why run the risk of killing a bunch of fish that are too small to use.

It has been many years since I have fished deep for rock fish. Unless my memory has failed me, the rock fish I used to catch were quite large, several pounds at least. Have we depleted this population to the point where the big fish are no longer around? If so, maybe we should voluntarily stop targeting rock fish.

If anyone knows something about this issue, please wade in.

Bob

miguelitro · 10-27-2009, 09:26 AM

I would say that is a pretty accurate statement^as well a viable solution

I do fish for them in baja but there are some lunkers down there

-scallywag- · 10-27-2009, 10:44 AM

I think the main reason to leave rockfish alone is that most species take a very long time (5-10years?) to reach sexual maturity, that and the survival rate of the fish we let go is obviously not that good...ohh yeh...and they will hit anything that moves...i've caught plenty of 6" rockfish on a 6xjr while jiggin structure.

On another note, i can't believe that the MLPA/seal lovin, whale killin weenies don't even seem to care about protecting the rockfish..

-scallywag- · 10-27-2009, 10:46 AM

but i guess there is one good reason to target them....they're delisious!!!!

stairman · 10-27-2009, 04:34 PM

I have seen many methods of releasing rock fish brought up from the depths but this is the best method i have used.

simply use the rig you caught them with.remove the hook from their mouth and carefully barely rehook them.this means that you just hook them by a little mouth or other skin as you can and send them back down.this will recompress their swim bladder and eyes too.when the weight reaches bottom a sharp jerk on the line wil break the tiny area of skin you hooked and release them at the pressure they came from.
puncturing the stomach to let the gas out will admit bacteria to the abdominal cavity as a ruptured apendix will in humans..this is not good!

10-26-2009, 07:41 PM	#1
TCS Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 478	How big a rockfish is considered a keeper? The biggest one I caught the other day was about 8 or 9 inches long. I don't believe there is a size limit from DFG.

10-27-2009, 06:13 AM	#2
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	returning rockfish... first of all if ur going to target rockfish read the DFG regs!! There are alot of rules assosiated w/these fish, along with a few species that are protected. Fizzing the fish seems to work ok although i dont like to handle them that much if im returning them to the ocean....we have always used a sabki with one barbless hook....gently reverse hook the fish and drop him back down...easy!...better yet leave the poor rockfish alone!! IMO, they are the most stressed fish population off our coast. If you wanna catch dinky fish go to the bay!!!

10-27-2009, 04:34 PM	#7
stairman Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	sending rockfish home I have seen many methods of releasing rock fish brought up from the depths but this is the best method i have used. simply use the rig you caught them with.remove the hook from their mouth and carefully barely rehook them.this means that you just hook them by a little mouth or other skin as you can and send them back down.this will recompress their swim bladder and eyes too.when the weight reaches bottom a sharp jerk on the line wil break the tiny area of skin you hooked and release them at the pressure they came from. puncturing the stomach to let the gas out will admit bacteria to the abdominal cavity as a ruptured apendix will in humans..this is not good!

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10-27-2009, 09:22 AM	#3
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,122	I agree with Scallywag. I only keep fish I plan to eat and there can't much meat on a 9" rock fish. Why run the risk of killing a bunch of fish that are too small to use. It has been many years since I have fished deep for rock fish. Unless my memory has failed me, the rock fish I used to catch were quite large, several pounds at least. Have we depleted this population to the point where the big fish are no longer around? If so, maybe we should voluntarily stop targeting rock fish. If anyone knows something about this issue, please wade in. Bob

10-27-2009, 09:26 AM	#4
miguelitro Team Bad Habits Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 119	I would say that is a pretty accurate statement^as well a viable solution I do fish for them in baja but there are some lunkers down there

10-27-2009, 10:44 AM	#5
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	I think the main reason to leave rockfish alone is that most species take a very long time (5-10years?) to reach sexual maturity, that and the survival rate of the fish we let go is obviously not that good...ohh yeh...and they will hit anything that moves...i've caught plenty of 6" rockfish on a 6xjr while jiggin structure. On another note, i can't believe that the MLPA/seal lovin, whale killin weenies don't even seem to care about protecting the rockfish..

10-27-2009, 10:46 AM	#6
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	but i guess there is one good reason to target them....they're delisious!!!!