10/25 Deeper LJ - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

miguelitro · 10-27-2009, 09:26 AM

I would say that is a pretty accurate statement^as well a viable solution

I do fish for them in baja but there are some lunkers down there

-scallywag- · 10-27-2009, 10:44 AM

I think the main reason to leave rockfish alone is that most species take a very long time (5-10years?) to reach sexual maturity, that and the survival rate of the fish we let go is obviously not that good...ohh yeh...and they will hit anything that moves...i've caught plenty of 6" rockfish on a 6xjr while jiggin structure.

On another note, i can't believe that the MLPA/seal lovin, whale killin weenies don't even seem to care about protecting the rockfish..

-scallywag- · 10-27-2009, 10:46 AM

but i guess there is one good reason to target them....they're delisious!!!!

stairman · 10-27-2009, 04:34 PM

I have seen many methods of releasing rock fish brought up from the depths but this is the best method i have used.

simply use the rig you caught them with.remove the hook from their mouth and carefully barely rehook them.this means that you just hook them by a little mouth or other skin as you can and send them back down.this will recompress their swim bladder and eyes too.when the weight reaches bottom a sharp jerk on the line wil break the tiny area of skin you hooked and release them at the pressure they came from.
puncturing the stomach to let the gas out will admit bacteria to the abdominal cavity as a ruptured apendix will in humans..this is not good!

bender0240 · 10-28-2009, 11:05 AM

Seems like you can't catch fish around here without catching haters to go along with it.

Nice reds Larry. Can't wait to catch me some!!

bigbarrels · 10-28-2009, 11:53 AM

good eats!

blackcloud9 · 10-28-2009, 10:04 PM

>>>> better yet leave the poor rockfish alone!!
I agree.

Go catch the yellowtail and seabass.

-----------------------------

If you MUST fiddle with your electronics over deep water, like me, and
MUST pull on a vermillion occasionally, like me, the key may be to
minimize catching ANY little rockfish if you are targeting the bottom.

There are effective ways to accomplish that.

You may have seen the article in Pacific Coast Sportfishing, I provided a
couple tips on how to avoid catching (and subsequently trying to release)
small rockfish, as we all need to be very environmentally conscious these
days, extra especially. There are two main things to avoid.

- Avoid using any bait or scent;
- Avoid using a "jig", meaning iron like Salas or Tady or Iron Man;
The first attracts every little rockfish down there right to the hook, and,
the second snags the little ones often, especially when you "jig" it.

As many of you know, I always use a 2 to 3 ounce 5+ inch plastic or
bucktail with a good sized hook and I only "set" the hook when I feel a
strong thump. Keep it near the bottom in rocky areas. That's it. It's not
easy, and, you will not catch a ton of fish. But it's fun.

P.S. This weekend, all of what I released were sculpin, except
for one barberpole, but nothing "little". Sculpin can handle the 100 foot
release well, and even the little ones will POUND on the plastics.

I hope this was helpful.

10-27-2009, 04:34 PM	#4
stairman Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	sending rockfish home I have seen many methods of releasing rock fish brought up from the depths but this is the best method i have used. simply use the rig you caught them with.remove the hook from their mouth and carefully barely rehook them.this means that you just hook them by a little mouth or other skin as you can and send them back down.this will recompress their swim bladder and eyes too.when the weight reaches bottom a sharp jerk on the line wil break the tiny area of skin you hooked and release them at the pressure they came from. puncturing the stomach to let the gas out will admit bacteria to the abdominal cavity as a ruptured apendix will in humans..this is not good!

10-27-2009, 09:26 AM	#1
miguelitro Team Bad Habits Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 119	I would say that is a pretty accurate statement^as well a viable solution I do fish for them in baja but there are some lunkers down there

10-27-2009, 10:44 AM	#2
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	I think the main reason to leave rockfish alone is that most species take a very long time (5-10years?) to reach sexual maturity, that and the survival rate of the fish we let go is obviously not that good...ohh yeh...and they will hit anything that moves...i've caught plenty of 6" rockfish on a 6xjr while jiggin structure. On another note, i can't believe that the MLPA/seal lovin, whale killin weenies don't even seem to care about protecting the rockfish..

10-27-2009, 10:46 AM	#3
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	but i guess there is one good reason to target them....they're delisious!!!!

10-28-2009, 11:05 AM	#5
bender0240 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 118	Seems like you can't catch fish around here without catching haters to go along with it. Nice reds Larry. Can't wait to catch me some!!

10-28-2009, 11:53 AM	#6
bigbarrels Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vista Posts: 1,111	good eats!

10-28-2009, 10:04 PM	#7
blackcloud9 Kayaker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Big Rock, WindanSea, La Jolla Posts: 413	>>>> better yet leave the poor rockfish alone!! I agree. Go catch the yellowtail and seabass. ----------------------------- If you MUST fiddle with your electronics over deep water, like me, and MUST pull on a vermillion occasionally, like me, the key may be to minimize catching ANY little rockfish if you are targeting the bottom. There are effective ways to accomplish that. You may have seen the article in Pacific Coast Sportfishing, I provided a couple tips on how to avoid catching (and subsequently trying to release) small rockfish, as we all need to be very environmentally conscious these days, extra especially. There are two main things to avoid. - Avoid using any bait or scent; - Avoid using a "jig", meaning iron like Salas or Tady or Iron Man; The first attracts every little rockfish down there right to the hook, and, the second snags the little ones often, especially when you "jig" it. As many of you know, I always use a 2 to 3 ounce 5+ inch plastic or bucktail with a good sized hook and I only "set" the hook when I feel a strong thump. Keep it near the bottom in rocky areas. That's it. It's not easy, and, you will not catch a ton of fish. But it's fun. P.S. This weekend, all of what I released were sculpin, except for one barberpole, but nothing "little". Sculpin can handle the 100 foot release well, and even the little ones will POUND on the plastics. I hope this was helpful.