Shaun, his son, and I had plans to look for tuna but conditions didn't look right for a long run and his son just wanted to "Catch Fish". With the closure looming and the regulations set to cut the rockfish bag limit in half, this was a great time to pull up some denizens.
The tide was SUPER high this morning. It looked way higher than a 6.33' as the water was up to the grass and there was a swell at the ramp!
(https://i.imgur.com/AOeVjSj.jpg)
Beautiful sunrise however.
(https://i.imgur.com/V8urmOc.jpg)
The ride to the 9 was cold! There were no sword fishermen out there, but quite a few cattle boats soaking for cod.
(https://i.imgur.com/KKUyVSf.jpg)
The action was steady and critters from 550' started coming over the rail. Mexicas... Green Blotched....
(https://i.imgur.com/wFEgBuq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/K4yj79g.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TrierwI.jpg)
Lots of Green Blotched.
(https://i.imgur.com/gC4tVUN.jpg)
Some that I think are Green Blotched but not sure.
(https://i.imgur.com/gg0rCRw.jpg)
Green Striped
(https://i.imgur.com/PpSu77X.jpg)
More than enough big dabs. A couple of varieties came up from the depths.
(https://i.imgur.com/K9GAK2E.jpg)
I thought we had a sablefish on our hands, but it only turned out to be a Pacific Hake. Still a new species none the less!
(https://i.imgur.com/zSW0JSR.jpg)
Then I thought I had a Tiger Rockfish, but quickly realized I had a new species! My first Cowcod! After a quick picture, we sent it down on the descending tool and never saw it come up, so the fancy gadget seemed to work!
(https://i.imgur.com/NYFqwaK.jpg)
Chillipeppers
(https://i.imgur.com/BY8vNwz.jpg)
I forgot what fun it is to catch nice a grade of rockfish, but dropping and reeling up 30 times from 550 feet was a bit annoying and tiresome. Time for an electric reel!
Thanks for reading and until next tide....
Congrats on the hake and cowcod!
Some of those greenblotches could potentially be greenspots, some of whose spots are patterned in a line. Kinda gotta squint at the photos to see it though.
Nice rockfish session.
Good haul! That hake is pretty cool.
I hate that I never think about rockfish until right before it closes. Definitely going to be giving them more attention next year.
The 9 has some nice fish, we got limits last trip as well, good time to fill the freezer for Winter 8) Not sure if I am understanding the Regs correctly, but it was explained to me that after Sept.15 2023
once a rockfish hits the deck of the boat (50 FATHOMS), you are no longer allowed to fish any other specie of fish ::) ::) How they know what fish was caught first I don't know, unless they see you, but a few Captains have said the fine isn't worth it. Not trying to be a Karen, just giving a heads up about how stupid some of these Regs are ??? Please correct me if I am wrong, I don't want to spread misinformation. Glad you got on some nice fish, Tom 8)
: Tim524 November 26, 2023, 09:19:11 p
The 9 has some nice fish, we got limits last trip as well, good time to fill the freezer for Winter 8) Not sure if I am understanding the Regs correctly, but it was explained to me that after Sept.15 2023
once a rockfish hits the deck of the boat (50 FATHOMS), you are no longer allowed to fish any other specie of fish ::) ::) How they know what fish was caught first I don't know, unless they see you, but a few Captains have said the fine isn't worth it. Not trying to be a Karen, just giving a heads up about how stupid some of these Regs are ??? Please correct me if I am wrong, I don't want to spread misinformation. Glad you got on some nice fish, Tom 8)
You're understanding them correctly Tim.
: jrodda November 26, 2023, 01:12:14 p
Some of those greenblotches could potentially be greenspots, some of whose spots are patterned in a line. \
Good eyes. I knew a few were different, but at the time needed to keep dropping while we were over the spot. He doesn't have spotlock unfortunately. lol
Deepwater rockfishing is underrated fun. I remember loading up on freezer filler trips back in 90s on the Indian during my days as the "reel boy" at H&M.