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-   -   Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID (http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=190506)

holmes 08-14-2016 02:19 AM

Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
Hello, this is my first post but I have gotten a lot of information from Spearboard over the years, so thank you all. I have been spearfishing in Palos Verdes for about a year and have gradually compiled fish ID info to share with new spearfishing buddies as a cheat sheet for what is legal to hunt and to help identify stuff we see. I am sharing this info so that it may help others as well.

Disclaimer: any of the limits and minimum sizes may be wrong or change, check the regs. Also this is just my opinion. I'm looking forward to hearing opinions/feedback.


Helpful links for fish identification

California Ocean Recreational Fishing Regulations:
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/...g-Map/Southern
Great newish site, shows you what is open. Also can access the protected area maps on the right.

Summary of the rules for "groundfish" such as rockfish:
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.a...62&inline=true

California Fishing Passport - Ocean:
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.a...35&inline=true

Safe eating guidelines:
http://www.oehha.ca.gov/fish/so_cal/socal061709.html

Selected Nearshore Fishes of California (drawings):
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.a...06&inline=true

Selected Nearshore Fishes of California (different doc, more nice drawings):
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.a...05&inline=true


LA/PV fish we hunt

Kelp Bass aka Calico Bass
Minimum size*: 14"
Limit*: 5 within any combination of Kelp Bass/Barred Sand Bass/Spotted Sand Bass

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/00.jpg

Gopro GIF of my best kelp bass snipe: http://giphy.com/gifs/6gVnYeMvykiBy.

Barred Sand Bass / Spotted Sand Bass (not pictured)
Minimum size*: 14"
Limit*: 5 within any combination of Kelp Bass/Barred Sand Bass/Spotted Sand Bass

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/01.jpg

Note: barred sand bass is on the "do not eat" list for LA.

California Sheephead
Minimum size*: 12"
Limit*: 5

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/02a.jpg
Male

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/02b.jpg
Female

Sheephead begin female and change to male.

Rockfish / Treefish
Minimum size*: none
Limit*: 10 in RCG group (Rockfish, Cabezon, Greenling)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/03a.jpg
Copper Rockfish

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/03b.jpg
Treefish

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/03c.jpg
Olive and yellowtail rockfish look kind of like kelp bass.

Bronzespotted rockfish, canary rockfish, cowcod, and yelloweye rockfish are no take. Don't see these much in PV.

Lingcod
Minimum size*: 22"
Limit*: 3

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/04a.jpg

What it'll really look like:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/04b.jpg

Cabezon
Minimum size*: 15"
Limit*: 3

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/05.png

Gopro GIF of shooting one, check out that camo: http://giphy.com/gifs/F3pfaejAyz6rm.
One identifying feature is the stalks behind their eyes, called a "cirrus".
Watch out, their eggs are toxic. They don’t have scales. Fillets can be blue.

California Scorpionfish aka Sculpin
Minimum size*: 10"
Limit*: 5

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/06a.jpg
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/06b.jpg

Gopro GIF of sculpin on the Valiant wreck at Avalon, Catalina: http://giphy.com/gifs/y2OIL2Ligp8li.
Careful, their spines are very venomous. Super painful or dangerous if you get stuck apparently.

White Seabass
Minimum size*: 28" or 20" alternate length.
Limit*: 3, except that only one fish may be taken in waters south of Point Conception between March 15 and June 15.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/07a.png
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/07b.jpg

California Halibut
Minimum size*: 22”
Limit*: 5

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/08.png

Sanddab
Minimum size*: None
Limit*: ?

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/09.png

Yellowtail
Minimum size*: 24" fork length, except 5 fish under 24" fork length can be taken.
Limit*: 10

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/10.png


Invertebrates we hunt

Spiny Lobster
Minimum size*: 3 1/4" carapace
Limit*: 7
Season*: From the Saturday preceding the first Wednesday in October through the first Wednesday after the 15th of March.
2016/2017 season: Saturday, October 1, 2016 through Wednesday, March 22, 2017

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/33.jpg

GoPro video from Catalina lobster diving just after 12 AM opening night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-i3ZqyuBQ4
More info in the CA Fish & Wildlife FAQ: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conserva...brates/Lobster

California Two-spot Octopus

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/11.jpg

Gopro GIF of grabbing one: http://giphy.com/gifs/rqAC7CYBJGRq0.

Urchin
Minimum Size*: None
Limit*: 35

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/12.jpg

* Check the current California fishing regulations to verify any size and limit info in this post is still valid!

holmes 08-14-2016 02:20 AM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
Part 2:

Disclaimer: any of the limits and minimum sizes may be wrong or change, check the regs.

Fish some spearos hunt

I either do not go after these or my experience is limited.

Opaleye
Minimum size*: ?
Limit*: ?

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/13.jpg

Surfperch
Minimum size*: none, except redtail surfperch 10.5"
Limit*: 10

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/14.png

Common Surfperches of California PDF with identification photos:
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.a...17&inline=true

Ocean Whitefish
Minimum size*: none
Limit*: 10

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/15.jpg

Kelp and Rock Greenlings
Minimum*: 12”
Limit*: 10 in RCG group

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/16.jpg

Barracuda
Min size*: 28"
Limit*: 10

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/17.jpg

GoPro GIF of a barracuda off PV: https://giphy.com/gifs/J5c94tuvzEm6A.


Other creatures we commonly see in LA/PV

Garibaldi
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/18.jpg

Seņorita
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/19.jpg

Blacksmith
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/20.jpg

Halfmoon Surfperch
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/21.jpg

Rock Wrasse
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/22.jpg

Giant Kelpfish
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/23.jpg

Giant Sea Bass aka Black Sea Bass
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/24.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/24b.jpg
Juvenile Giant Sea Bass

GoPro GIF of Giant Sea Bass at Catalina: http://giphy.com/gifs/6DbsfhgB4QOA.
Protected. Huge friendly fish.

Finescale Triggerfish
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/25.jpg
I saw a big old one of these at one of the coves in PV this summer. Not sure if these aggro like tropical cousins?

Moray Eel
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/26.jpg

Bat Ray
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/27.jpg

Thornback Guitarfish
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/28.jpg
These are fun to pick up off the bottom and use to scare your buddy.

Broadnose Sevengill Shark
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/29.jpg
GoPro GIF of a sevengill: http://giphy.com/gifs/HcvCpfFs2DVwQ.

Leopard Shark
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/30.jpg

Horn Shark
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...sh%20ID/31.jpg

* Check the current California fishing regulations to verify any size and limit info in this post is still valid!

norcalsurfer 08-14-2016 11:25 AM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
Cool, thanks man! It's nice to have all these in one place. I'm new to San Diego from norcal so I'm brushing up on all these new fish.

whale tale 08-14-2016 12:04 PM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
Thanks for the links and pics, I was just looking for this stuff the other day. It's always fun recognizing a fish in the water and I like knowing their spawn seasons/gender markings.

apeogre 08-14-2016 04:01 PM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
Great post! Thanks for putting it all together.

danaslayer 08-14-2016 05:35 PM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
This should be a sticky, great stuff. Might want to add grass rockfish and brown rockfish and to the list, as well as bonito. The croakers too (spotfin, yellowfin, black) and corbina. And maybe soupfin shark, swell shark, shovelnose/banded guitarfish, angel shark, turbot, and round stingray.

fishzilla 08-14-2016 06:05 PM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
Awesome info, maybe for the invertebrates you can add rock crabs, sheep crabs, dungeness crabs and possibly kelp crabs for people to know the difference? Scallops and other shellfish as well?

U/C Spearo 08-14-2016 10:20 PM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
Thanks for giving back to the sport !! Nice job

holmes 08-14-2016 10:32 PM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
Thanks guys! This is fun. I maxed out the 20 pics limit in both posts before, so here's a follow up post with 20 more.

Disclaimer: any of the limits and minimum sizes may be wrong or change, check the regs.

More Fish ID

Grass Rockfish
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/200.jpg

Brown Rockfish
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/201.jpg

Pacific Bonito
Minimum size*: 24" fork length or 5 lbs, except that 5 fish less than 24" fork length or less than 5 lbs may be taken.
Limit*: 10

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/202.jpg

California Corbina
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/203.png

Yellowfin Croaker
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/204.jpg

Spotfin Croaker
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/205.jpg

Black Croaker
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/206.jpg

CO Turbot
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/207.jpg

Soupfin Shark
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/208.jpg

Swell Shark
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/209.jpg

Shovelnose Guitarfish
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/210.jpg

Banded Guitarfish
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/211.jpg

Angel Shark
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/212.jpg

Pacific Electric Ray aka Torpedo Ray
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/213.jpg

Round Stingray
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/214.jpg

Dungeness Crab
Minimum size*: Five and three-quarter inches measured by the shortest distance through the body from edge of shell to edge of shell directly in front of and excluding the points (lateral spines).
Limit*: 10
Maybe not always in season? Maybe subject to temporary closures?

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/215.jpg

See more on identifying vs close relatives here: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/...Dungeness-Crab.

Rock Crab
Minimum size*: Four inches measured by the shortest distance through the body, from edge of shell to edge of shell at the widest part, except there is no minimum size in Fish and Game Districts 8 and 9.
Limit*: 35
Maybe not always in season? Maybe subject to temporary closures?

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/216.jpg

Sheep Crab
Minimum size*: ?
Limit*: ?

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/217.jpg

Kelp Crab
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/218.jpg

Sea Hare
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...h%20ID/219.jpg

* Check the current California fishing regulations to verify any size and limit info in this post is still valid!

norcalsurfer 08-15-2016 12:14 PM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
Are the grassies and browns the most common rock fish around here in the shallows?

How do the kelp crabs taste?

danaslayer 08-16-2016 03:10 AM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by norcalsurfer (Post 2114450)
Are the grassies and browns the most common rock fish around here in the shallows?

How do the kelp crabs taste?

Yep, and tree fish too.

FreediveCA 08-16-2016 11:49 AM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
Nice post.

Something I have been curious about is when they say minimum size is "x," except "y" amount of fish can be taken under "x." What the hell does that mean? The way I read it is as long as you have "y" amount of fish under the minimum size you're fine. I never trusted my interpretation and have always gone with the minimum size, but I am curious if I am reading that right.

phil herranen 08-16-2016 12:19 PM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by FreediveCA (Post 2114535)
Nice post.

Something I have been curious about is when they say minimum size is "x," except "y" amount of fish can be taken under "x." What the hell does that mean? The way I read it is as long as you have "y" amount of fish under the minimum size you're fine. I never trusted my interpretation and have always gone with the minimum size, but I am curious if I am reading that right.

That rule means , you can have X number of that type of fish , undersized , or all of legal size . The only fish with that rule are yt and Bonita. On both the limit is ten , the rule is just there so you don't have a limit of 12" yt , but you can still take a couple rats home for dinner if it's a slow day

FreediveCA 08-16-2016 12:29 PM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by phil herranen (Post 2114538)
That rule means , you can have X number of that type of fish , undersized , or all of legal size . The only fish with that rule are yt and Bonita. On both the limit is ten , the rule is just there so you don't have a limit of 12" yt , but you can still take a couple rats home for dinner if it's a slow day

Thanks. Guess I was reading it right. Just didn't sound right.

Trimbandit 08-16-2016 01:22 PM

Re: Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) Fish ID
 
I'm sure this will be helpful for people. If you are going to have limits posted, you might want to note that the WSB bag limit is 1 for 3 months of the year. Or you may want to remove the info about limits, as they tend to change over time and the internet is forever.


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