CALCOD?
 

Hey guys, I went on a charter out of Ventura today and caught a huge red (or so I thought). When the deckhand got over to me, he immediately freaked out and said I have to throw it back. I asked him what it is and he said its a Cal Cod (?) and that they're endangered species. I tried looking up info on this but can't find anything. I'm guessing I'm not looking up the correct name.

I'd post a pic of the catch but they wouldn't even let me do that.

Sucks because I'm pretty sure i had the jackpot in the books.. :mad: even more annoying part was that the fish was dead when it reached the surface.

Looks like it's actually called a Cow Cod. Still can't find anything on it being illegal though..

Cowcod are definitely illegal and you cannot take or possess them.

It's too bad they didn't have a bottom descender device to revive it though. I think it should be mandatory for sport boats to have one and should be part of the deckhands responsibility.

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Cowcod

Lol cal cod

Cal cods taste good. Cowcods don't. :D

Yep, pulled up a 10lb cow cod last year. Threw that sucker back just to was a lion take it. Biggest rock fish of any species I've ever Landed. I hear they are very good eating fish.

Cows taste great. In Mexico.