WSB Heads - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

sasha · 07-06-2011, 11:14 AM

From the pic it looks like some part of a bone??? What part of the head are they from??? What are they for and why are they called stones???

If my dad saw me giving away a fish head he would beat me up.. Thats his favroit part of the fish to eat. Actualy it has more flavor then the rest fo the fish..

Sasha

Aaron&Julie · 07-06-2011, 11:29 AM

The stones are not bone, but rather a calcium growth located about 2 inches behind the eye-sockets in a liquid filled chamber. They make nice jewlery. I had earrings done for Julie and she loves them.
You can still eat the head after removing the stones. I cut the cheek meat off of Julie's fish she caught on July 2, before retrieving the stones. It was delicious, easily the best eating part of the fish, IMO.

GregAndrew · 07-06-2011, 01:48 PM

I believe the Stones are part of the inner ear of the fish. Located where the spinal collumn meets the skull.

sasha · 07-06-2011, 09:19 PM

Thanks guys for the explantion..

T Bone · 07-07-2011, 04:02 AM

where they be...

PapaDave · 07-07-2011, 08:27 AM

When I turned mine in at Hogan's in Dana Point, I was asked if I wanted the stones mailed to me, so I said sure and they took my info down. Said it would take about 30 days to get them.

chris138 · 07-07-2011, 10:35 AM

Looks like there's a lot of variability in how people extract the stones at home. I use a much different method than what is pictured in the thread...

I'll split the top of the head directly down the middle between the eyes then open it up from the top like a hotdog bun. With a sharp heavy knife, you can cleanily split the skull lengthwise. Then you just stick your fat little fingers in the cavities behind the eyes and the otoliths will just fall out. But be carefull to cut right down the center though, or you might damage the stones. Some guys will use a hacksaw for this cut.

The chumash indians who hunted the waters of southern california considered the otoliths to linked to the spirit of the animal, and that they bring good luck. They were also used by the chumash as a form of currency. I know once I got my first pair, many more followed in short order!

07-06-2011, 11:29 AM	#2
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	The stones are not bone, but rather a calcium growth located about 2 inches behind the eye-sockets in a liquid filled chamber. They make nice jewlery. I had earrings done for Julie and she loves them. You can still eat the head after removing the stones. I cut the cheek meat off of Julie's fish she caught on July 2, before retrieving the stones. It was delicious, easily the best eating part of the fish, IMO. __________________ "Never say die"

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07-06-2011, 11:14 AM	#1
sasha Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 275	From the pic it looks like some part of a bone??? What part of the head are they from??? What are they for and why are they called stones??? If my dad saw me giving away a fish head he would beat me up.. Thats his favroit part of the fish to eat. Actualy it has more flavor then the rest fo the fish.. Sasha

07-06-2011, 01:48 PM	#3
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	I believe the Stones are part of the inner ear of the fish. Located where the spinal collumn meets the skull.

07-06-2011, 09:19 PM	#4
sasha Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 275	Thanks guys for the explantion..

07-07-2011, 08:27 AM	#6
PapaDave Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 1,474	When I turned mine in at Hogan's in Dana Point, I was asked if I wanted the stones mailed to me, so I said sure and they took my info down. Said it would take about 30 days to get them.

07-07-2011, 10:35 AM	#7
chris138 donkey roper Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 968	Looks like there's a lot of variability in how people extract the stones at home. I use a much different method than what is pictured in the thread... I'll split the top of the head directly down the middle between the eyes then open it up from the top like a hotdog bun. With a sharp heavy knife, you can cleanily split the skull lengthwise. Then you just stick your fat little fingers in the cavities behind the eyes and the otoliths will just fall out. But be carefull to cut right down the center though, or you might damage the stones. Some guys will use a hacksaw for this cut. The chumash indians who hunted the waters of southern california considered the otoliths to linked to the spirit of the animal, and that they bring good luck. They were also used by the chumash as a form of currency. I know once I got my first pair, many more followed in short order!