77 replies to this topic

[BenCantrell]

If you didn't already see in the regional rep post, I've moved to southern California.  Last Saturday I headed to the coast to do some saltwater fishing, and here's what I caught! 

 

Spotted sand bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus)

 

Round stingray (Urobatis halleri)

 

Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador)

 

Opaleye (Girella nigricans)

 

Bay Blenny (Hypsoblennius gentilis)

 

Blenny sp. - also a bay blenny?

 

Barred Sand Bass (Paralabrax nebulifer)

 

Diamond Turbot (Hypsopsetta guttulata)

 

Same fish, other side

[BenCantrell]

Here's a few closeups.

 

 

 

 

 

[BenCantrell]

And scenery shots.

 

 

 

 

 

Also, this guy pulled my bait into the rocks when I was releasing the turbot and broke my line. 

 

[Isaac Szabo]

Cool catches!

[Chasmodes]

Excellent pics and report.  Of course, I love the blennies .  Very interesting how large the cirri are on your first blenny.  I guess that would be a large male, and the other blenny a juvenile or a female?  Either way, cool fish!

[BenCantrell]

Excellent pics and report.  Of course, I love the blennies .  Very interesting how large the cirri are on your first blenny.  I guess that would be a large male, and the other blenny a juvenile or a female?  Either way, cool fish!

 

Yeah, blennies are great.  I don't like messing with photo tanks because they take up precious fishing time, but I really need to bring one for the blennies at least.

[Chasmodes]

Yes, fishing time is at a premium!  Congrats on your move!

[mattknepley]

Man, those left coast fishes have no idea what a slop slappin' they're in for! Meanwhile, sighs of relief have been heard coming from every body of water east of the Mississippi as word gets out that Badbutt Ben has moved out...

[MtFallsTodd]

Cool pics, were these additions to your lifelist?

[BenCantrell]

Matt, I'm not sure how to respond to that.  Todd, the bay blenny and diamond turbot were new.

[mattknepley]

Translation from Matt-ese to regular English; "Fishes in California are totally unaware of the prodigious numbers of their kind that will be removed via hook and line from their watery homes. Meanwhile, fishes in the eastern US are grateful to learn that master angler Ben will no longer be harassing them. (Figuratively speaking,of course.)"

The roof on that building in the background kinda looks like the "Hotel Del", but I can't make any part of the rest of the building or scenery jibe. (Probably because I have only ever been to San Diego once in my life,and it was only for a day, almost 25 years ago!) Where ya was?

[Chasmodes]

I found it interesting that several fish have similar coloration, not unusual in an ecosystem, I guess.  Looking at your pics, yellow seems to be an important color, although one of the blennies has a splash or two of red.  I don't know if it means anything or is a coincidence, but it interests me...

 

...I'm easy to entertain, obviously!

[olaf]

Re: photo tank for blennies: Yes, please.

[BenCantrell]

Here are a couple from a surf fishing session at night.

 

Thornback Guitarfish (Platyrhinoidis triseriata)

 

 

 

Kelp Bass (Paralabrax clathratus)

 

And a few from the pier.

 

Pacific Bonito (Sarda chiliensis)

 

Sargo (Anisotremus davidsonii)

 

Dwarf Surfperch (Micrometrus minimus)

[gerald]

All amazing critters we would never have seen if Ben hadn't moved west!

[mattknepley]

I don't believe he's in Cali. The pic with the Bonito is all overcast. It doesn't ever get like that in San Diego. From the look of his pictures though, the invasive situation in Illinois has gotten out of hand!

[gerald]

Actually it's often foggy there in the mornings.  I was in S.D. for a week a few years years ago and it surprised me too.  A lot of plants and animals rely on that morning condensation as the only reliable water they may get for weeks.

[BenCantrell]

Occasionally it's cloudy all day *gasp!*.

[mattknepley]

Occasionally it's cloudy all day *gasp!*.

LIES!!!! LIES!!! Spread by jealous Northern Californians!!!

[BenCantrell]

Here's a new one from the beach tonight.

 

Shovelnose Guitarfish (Rhinobatos productus)

 

 

It's pretty awful out here.