Anyone been rockfishing?

Some friends of mine went out on a small boat about 19 days ago out of Point Richmond close to Oakland for Sturgeon but it was too windy. So the Capt. told them they would be fishing for Stripers in and around the bay and up to the sloughs in the north of bay. They did really good that day and kept 2 each, the biggest ones were almost the same size and looked to be around 18-20 inchers I would guess. They brought home some good eating fish that day.

Brian
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Rockfish isn't open up here yet so we have to settle on some ocean Redtail perch fishing. It's been excellent when the waves lay down.

We're going to try using the kayaks this weekend. Should be interesting.

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eelgrass, could you post a picture of how such a fish is cut and made Table ready..?

I spent years to decades going after Stripers until I began going out on my friends large boat out the Golden Gate and catching Deep Sea Fish. I never returned to inland waters. I never caught fish as you displayed and wondered about the table presentation.
 
Jagerdad, sure will. Next time I get a mess. It's the classic fillet though. This is how I do it (I usually have my pants zipped up though. unlike this guy in the video :)

This is how I fillet rock fish and lingcod too.

 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-24-16 AT 02:09PM (MST)[p]Eel, That's what i'm talking about!!

Most of the fishing i've done was, much like hunting, all about just getting outdoors and having a great day, fish caught or not. Some of the best days though, include good fishing and the opportunity or option to put some excellent and valuable food in the freezer.

I'm not sure that a lot of Rockfishing trips these days are productive vs. the money spent,.. as it used to be. Lots of charter reports and Pic's i see these days are of smaller and smaller bags. I suppose places where you are might be an exception and DIY trips being so much more within the budget, again, if a guy don't catch much, he's not out the fuel, charter, and other related costs that can really add up.

But a catch like you posted above, lots and lots of fine eating there and most of it can be headed to deep cold storage for future fine meals down the road. That's productive right there, a guy needs it like that every once in awhile, that's what i'm talking about! :) Nice!!

Joey

Keep your slimy Paws Off My, Yours, Our,.. Public Land!!!
 
Thanks! I know California has its problems but I try to look for opportunities to get out and enjoy the outdoors. It helps a lot to have friends who like to go too. My friend in the photo moved to California a few years ago from Indiana. He thinks living in California was like moving to heaven. For a large diversity of stuff to do, I agree.

The F&W opened the Dungeness crab season yesterday. We were going to throw a few pots out this morning and let them soak for a couple hours while we perch fished, but the wind and the seas were up, so it's looking like Tuesday or Wednesday.

Redtail perch make the very best fish tacos, IMO. Kind of a sweet taste that goes great with the Mango sauce they sell at Winco. Add some grated cabbage and cilantro. Oh, Baby! LOL!
 
Yeah Eel, again nice! So you bankfish these red-tails? Probably fairly stout rigs in case you hookup something bigger?

I think in our lifetimes, we've both been able to take advantage of the wonderful varied outdoor opportunities that this State has to offer. Even when i lived in the East Bay area,there was something neat to do outdoors almost year round, excepting late winter rain and even then you could go soak clams for catfish or go shooting at the range. The next couple generations, it don't look so good but there's hope and people willing to go to bat for our cause.

Look at all these states that guys get all jacked because they finally drew a bear or turkey tag... Boar? Deer hunting alone, a guy can hunt blacktail every year and Muleys every other. Steelies or Salmon? It sucks the upland ain't what it used to be but there's guys out getting their Chucker, doing pretty good too. It just goes on and on, so much, all varied, what a guy can do here in the outdoors.

I think many blame the State but most of it is because they happen to live in a crappy part of the state for their wants. So they blame the State. It's not the State that's keeping you guys from the Outdoors, It's you, where you live, and how much you want it.

They can move away, i don't care. Change can be good.

Joey

Keep your slimy Paws Off My, Yours, Our,.. Public Land!!!
 
Yes Joey we normally bank fish Redtails. They come in close to the beach at high tide in search of sand crabs that live in the sand. I use 10-15 lb. line when fishing in the surf. Mainly because you need up to 4 oz. weight at times to keep the bait from rolling in the surf. You can also catch Redtails in certain spots in the Bay....spots close to the ocean where there is a sandy bottom with sand crabs. You only need about 1/2 oz. weight in the Bay.

Occasionally you'll hook a Bat Ray (up to about 3' across) while fishing in the Bay, but we release them if they don't break off. Fun to hook but that's about it.

You can catch Redtails from a boat in the Bay, out farther than you can cast from the shore, at times. A kayak is ideal. Since you can catch Dungeness crabs in the Bay we thought we would try both. Usually crabs season is winding down by the time the Redtails show up in the Spring, but this year the crab season has been closed all winter so there should be plenty of legal crabs to catch.

I'll take my camera when we do the Dungeness crab/perch combo trip. :)
 
little fish caught a limit but all were small ,,,,, lost a ling waiting on a gaff that might have went 8 pounds everyone that saw it thought it was huge thinking next trip i will go full day or long range and see if fish are bigger
 

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