Last run of the year for those tasty rock critters
 

Did some bottomfishing today with Orca. Success and pure fun are the best terms to describe our day as we had a blast cranking up a mixed bag of bottomfish on jigs and cut bait. The species caught today included Sculpin, Sand Bass, Whitefish, Chucklehead Rockfish, Red Snapper, Brown Rockfish, Sand Dabs, Green Mackerel, Jack Mackerel (Aji), and the oh so lovable lizardfish.

All I can say is we were beat having covered over 8 miles today and cranking fish from the deep on heavy rods and heavy jigs. Oh, and the traffic we had going home was less than pleasant to say in the least. Hope to do it again!

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Enjoy the short video I made

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Took some fish home for a few meals and released everything that could not swim back down with a descending tool.

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Orca's giant Chucklehead. This thing was 6-7lbs est. 20"+ fish. We tried sending it back down, but I didn't have enough lead to do the job.

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Damn thing barely fit in my "high tech" livewell.

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World's smallest whitefish

Good eats!

Nice haul. I'm heading out of Dana tomorrow to try and get a feed too.

That was a great time. I'm going to have to devise a deepwater release rig with a 1lb weight. Lol, the hellish 3+ hour commute home was made somewhat bearable because I got to listen to some of my backlog of podcasts. I would have had a shorter commute time if I had joined Harry Hill and drove the longer distance down to SD.

Release tool
 

Here is a very simple rockfish release tool.
The bigger crate on the right is used on my skiff and the smaller basket is used from my PA. I put about 50' of rope on the basket and that gets it down past the first atmosphere and the fish can revive. I like this method because it's so much easier than having to handle and hook the fish on a descending device, plus I can drop two small fish at a time, or more than two on the skiff with the crate if a few guys are fishing.
Get those yummy fish tacos while you can...!:reeling:

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...0/IMG_5579.jpg

Let us know how you did. Good luck!

Brilliant. That's nice and simple. Thanks.

VERY NICE rockfish release basket for the yak. Gives me an idea for releasing Cabrilla and grouper in Baja. Thank you!!!

Yup, so simple and so brilliant. I will definitely be using your idea.

No luck on the rockfish but a great day on the water otherwise. Mini-macks were abundant outside the main breakwater which made for fun on the trout rod.

Thanks Jim! Not sure if I'll use the basket method since I don't have the luxury of large deck space like your PA. I'm thinking a fish grip and 16-24oz of lead should do the job.

For sure!

Gotta find that hard bottom and have some luck on your side lol!

Any day on the water is a great day. Macs on ul setups are great fun and the occasional bonehead makes it even more fun.

DIY
This works and takes up no room at all
Pinch the barb down on any hook
Use as much weight as needed

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ecenderJPG.jpg

I bought one of these, it works pretty good.

http://www.sheltonproducts.com/SFD.html

Thanks. That's what I've been using. I just didn't have enough weight on me that day.