Lobster?? I wish!!!
 

Went out to San Diego Bay on Monday night to test my luck from the pier. Not so lucky thus far this year from my yak and wanted to fish on the quick with short notice. Took 2 traps out and bought some macks and salmon heads. Thought I had a big one as I could feel movement in the trap as I was pulling. To my surprise, I saw something jump up and slither around like a snake. Had to do a double take and realized I caught an eel. Random as hell for me at least. No bugs! Some people I showed pictures of asked if I kept it and at the time wasnt sure what to do with it.. Tripped out and looked at it for a few minutes and released it. Heard you can eat them but not all that good. Plus they are very hard to clean. I couldnt imagine what I would do if I caught this while on my yack. Oh well!

What kind of eel is that?

I believe its a Moray. Not 100% sure though. Maybe someone could chime in.

I believe it's a moray, have pulled some of those in my hoops in la jolla, cool to look at but definitely want to keep your fingers away from its mouth!

Its California Moray Eel. They used to have a bunch at SeaWorld.

Moray

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Morays are delicious in my opinion, I'm not sure how that size would taste. But dragon rolls are pretty good.

That's a no on fish, probably on eels, too, but that's just a guess.

I would say eels classify as fish as far as the regs go on hoop nets. I caught a rather large sculpin in my net monday night and as much as I enjoy sculpin meat, it wasnt worth the risk and it went back in.

Eels are an Anguilliforme. A type of fish. I wouldn't risk it

Stay safe guys, I could be wrong but I believe you cannot keep any fish that is caught in a hoopnet. All fish have to be caught on hook and line.

You are not wrong. Really hate having to let the big sculpin go.

Difficult Release
 

I caught one of these critters on a hook & line at the Solana Kelp. Good fight but I was scared to put it in the kayak with me. It it looked like it could move around like a snake. It had big teeth and was striking out too. As I held it partly out of the water it twisted-up into some kind of ball wrapping much of my leader around itself. It would no stop wriggling around so I had no choice but to cut the line. This same Moray Eel experience happened again when I went fishing in Florida. I don't like to catch these.

question
 

I totally play by the rules, but if you do catch fish in a net that is of legal size and a good table fare, why would you release it if you have a rod and reel in your possession also?:D

No one would ever admit to that :D

True...and that is why I play by the rules.:D

There you go. People get busted for this stuff all the time. Unless they are bait or you have a rod and reel, you should not have any fish on your kayak while hooping.

Personally I would never bring a Eel that size onto a kayak, or touch it, good way to loose a finger or even something more valuable like your nuts.:doh:

Semi serious question :D
 

What if on the hoop line I have a few feet of fishing line attached with hook and bait?

Somewhere in the world a game wardens head just exploded