Fish Identity
 

Most of my fishing has been on the East coast, lake fishing for pan fish (bass large and small mouth, bluegill, perch, trout, an occasional walleye).

My saltwater escapades so far have left me dumbfounded. My last trip out into the kelp beds @ LJ for some fun left me wondering what I had caught.

So after picking up the latest "Ca Ocean Sport fishing Regulations" from the DFG, I think I can finally say I caught 4 Sculpin, 2 Kelp bass, and what I believe was a young WSB. All fish were released, especially since I needed to study up on fish species and size limits.

I gotta say, I've got some learning ahead of me. The wide variety of saltwater fish has surprised me!

i think you might want to get familiar with the sculpin, it's barbs are poisonous and can be very painful. but they are good to eat ;)

http://www.plasticnavy.com/images/ar...re/sculpin.jpg

Yes, be careful of the spines, I noticed the sport boat I was on last weekend completely cuts the spines off before they are put in the fish hold.

At the same time I think people who have allergies are more prone to poison, I have been poked and did not feel a thing from it, but I still don't plan on playing catch with one of these things.

X2

Pretty much all of the rock fish have spines that will sting.

Handle with care.:)

Very true, also when keeping rock fish it's always best to bleed them out and if possible keep them on ice. This will help keep the meet nice and fresh.

all the deckhands carry a pair of dikes to remove the spines.

get to know the fish species, especially the black sea bass. don't go keeping those.