Pete Thomas Outdoors

What is done with fish and game that is seized by wardens?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly California Outdoors Q&A column:

Question: What do the wardens do with the seized abalone, crab, cod, salmon, etc.? You can’t tell me that it gets thrown away! (Austin)

Answer: When unlawfully taken fish or game is seized, it is kept as evidence until the case is settled or until the judge orders it returned. In most cases though, if at all possible and in good condition, seized fish and game is given to the homeless shelters or soup kitchens that allow donations of wild fish and game. Because of inspection requirements, some facilities may not be able to accept these donations. If a suitable facility cannot be found, the evidence is thrown away or destroyed. In some commercial cases involving commercial size loads, the Fish and Game Code allows for this evidence to be sold and the proceeds may be used by the Department.


Q: I would like to do some shrimp fishing but when I read the regulations, they say shrimp traps can’t have an opening larger than a half-inch in diameter in waters south of Point Conception. This makes it impossible to catch any of decent size. Are there different regs for spot prawns which are quite large and could never fit through this size hole? (Jesse Link)

Could enormous Baja amberjack have been a world record?

The powerful amberjack was so massive it might have been a world record.

But the fisherman who battled the monstrous fish, and the Mexican crew that helped deliver it from the Sea of Cortez to a remote Baja California beach, were not thinking about records.

They marveled at the size of the fish and hefted their great prize as if to see if it could, indeed, be hefted—then carved it up for fish tacos and fillets for the grill.

(Note: This is a reprint from a Pete Thomas story on GrindTv Outdoor.)

The International Game Fish Association lists a 156-pound amberjack caught off Japan in 2010 as the all-tackle world record. The fish caught last week by Kevin Shiotani was conservatively estimated to weigh at least 135 pounds.

As anyone who has done a lot of weight-guessing knows, however, estimates can be wildly inaccurate.

Regardless of a possible record lost, Shiotani's amberjack is one of the largest ever caught, although it's likely that larger specimens have been hooked and lost in the rocks.

The catch was made after a 25-minute struggle near Cerralvo Island, the southern-most island in the Sea of Cortez. Shiotani is a regular customer of Tailhunter International Sportfishing, a La Paz-based charter business that trucks clients to a remote beach to fish Cerralvo and offshore waters out of pangas, or large skiffs.

Jonathan Roldan, who owns Tailhunter International and Tailhunter Restaurant, explained the catch to Phil Friedman Outdoors Radio.

"Kevin fought the fish for 25 minutes to a half-hour and got it to the boat and, of course, blew everyone away," he said. "They stuck a gaff in it, got it back to the beach, and started taking pictures. It's a magnificent fish."

Roldan said there was no scale on the beach and that he was not present when the fish was brought ashore. Had he been, he would have been sure to get the behemoth weighed on a certified scale.

He said that because amberjacks are so powerful and always lurk near structure, the larger fish are incredibly difficult to land.

"The largest we've put on a scale is 110 pounds, and 60- to 70-pounders have taken an hour or two hours to put on the boat, so this is just a fish that [Shiotani] happened to turn and put the wood to it, and got it back out of the rocks and got it to the boat.

"Like [with] a lot of world records, there was a lot of good luck and good angling."

There is one world record out of La Paz that seems as though it might last forever: a 114-pound roosterfish, a cousin of the amberjack, that was caught in 1960.

--Pete Thomas

--Photos of Kevin Shiotani's amberjack, being lifted by captains Mundo (top) and Nando are courtesy of Esteban Romero

Necessary to stow gear while transiting a marine reserve?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly California Outdoors Q&A column:

Question: I would like a definition of "stowed" in regard to fishing gear while transiting a state marine reserve. The reason I ask is that a sport fisherman reported he was stopped by a patrol boat at the Channel Islands and told he could have been cited for having his rods in the rod holders. He was told he should have had them in his small cuddy.

It does not seem reasonable to require my buddies and I "stow" all our rods and reels in my cabin every time we need to make a move across a state marine reserve. Or when we are at an island, we should not be required to drive six miles out, then whatever distance across, and then back in another six miles … at $4 or more a gallon. All of this would be quite a hardship for those of us fishing from private sport boats just to stow our fishing gear when maneuvering around state marine reserves. (Fred H., Anaheim)

Answer: There is no requirement for equipment to be stowed under the Marine Life Protection Act laws covered in section 632 of the California Code of Regulations Title 14. CCR Title 14, section 632(8) covers the law you are referring to as follows:

Transit or Drifting. Vessels shall be allowed to transit through marine protected areas and marine managed areas with catch onboard. Fishing gear shall not be deployed in the water while transiting through a state marine reserve. Fishing gear, except legal fishing gear used to take species identified as allowed for take in subsection 632(b), shall not be deployed in the water while transiting through a state marine recreational management area, state marine park or state marine conservation area.


Q: My Italian grandmother asked my brother and me to bring home some fresh octopus so that she can make her favorite pasta dish. The only problem is we don’t know how to catch them. Can you help us out? (Joe K.)

Alabama angler's enormous striped bass is a world record

An Alabama angler has learned that a humongous striped bass he landed in late February has been approved as a world record.

James Bramlett, 65, caught the 69-pound, 9-ounce striper in Alabama's Black Warrior River.

The catch, weighed on a certified scale, exceeds the previous record, set in 1959, by 15 pounds

Joe Songer of AL.com met with Bramlett soon after the catch and took the photo that accompanies this post.

Songer also broke the news this week that Bramlett was notified by the International Game Fish Association about his record submission being approved in the landlocked striped bass category.

Bramlett's striper, caught after his ailing wife had persuaded him to go fishing, measured 44.1 inches long and boasted a girth of 37.75 inches.

Songer's photo is an eye-catcher and when we posted the story of Bramlett's catch on March 6, several people commented that the photo looked fake because there's no way Bramlett could have held up so large a fish so easily.

If you look closely, though, the fish is hanging on a stringer.

Bramlett landed the behemoth after a 25-minute struggle while several witnesses watched from boats and shore.

--Pete Thomas

Photo is courtesy of Joe Songer/Al.com

Bizarre-looking catch off Cabo San Lucas is a Pacific stargazer

The great thing about fishing is that you never know what you might catch.

The problem is, there are types of fish you probably would be better off not catching.

The Pacific stargazer is one of them.

On Thursday off Cabo San Lucas, one of the bizzarre-looking specimens was reeled in aboard the panga Gloria.

Mario Bañaga, who has fished southern Baja California waters for 18 years, had never seen a stargazer and did not know what it was. The "mystery fish" had an upturned face, like that of a bulldog, and an enormous mouth.

It wasn't until Bañaga, who charters boats via the Cabo San Lucas Marlin Club, posted photos of the 7-pound fish on Facebook that a correct identification was produced.

"Dang, that's out of Star Wars," one comment read.

It turns out, Pacific stargazers are bottom-dwelling, ambush denizens that live at 50 feet or deeper and are seldom seen by humans.

They're capable of delivering an electrical shock of about 50 volts--not enough to harm a human, but a jolt nonetheless.

(If you look closely at the top photo, you can see the electric organs bulging behind the eyes.)

Bañaga and his friends did not know this fish was electric, or that Pacific stargazers possess Poisonous spines above their pectoral fins and behind their gill covers.

Reads a passage in a species profile on Mexfish.com: "Caution! Venom from this fish has been reported to cause death in humans and therefore it should not be handled."

Nobody was harmed during the handling of the stargazer caught Thursday, but Bañaga stated via email: "Something told me to handle this fish very carefully."

--Pete Thomas

--Photos are courtesy of Mario Bañaga

Legal to practice archery by shooting down a dirt road?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly California Outdoors Q&A column:

Question: My neighbor who lives a few houses down from me has a 15-year-old son who shoots his BB gun in his backyard. I used to shoot my bow in my backyard until my dad found out it’s illegal. I am 13 and live in the mountains of Southern California (close to San Bernardino) and am hoping it might be legal to practice my archery by shooting down a dirt road? Can you please let me know ASAP? Thanks. (Ashmanger)

Answer: Generally, Fish and Game Code laws only regulate the use of archery equipment or firearms while hunting. However, the same rules for firearms apply to archery equipment in this situation – you may not shoot over or across a road or within 150 yards of a neighbor’s home, barns or outbuildings, even if just archery target shooting (Fish and Game Code, section 3004). If you are on a private road on private property (off the public roadway), no Fish and Game Code law prohibits target practice with your bow and arrow. Beyond this, different counties and communities may have more restrictive ordinances that they enforce so you should check with your local law enforcement office for this information.

The most important factor to always keep in mind is public safety. Well-traveled roads and highways, or even those occasionally traveled, are not appropriate places to shoot. If you were to injure another person or livestock, or damage property, you could be subject to civil and possibly criminal prosecution. While shooting even just off a road may be legal, it may not be safe.

Q: When fishing for salmon from the bank in the San Francisco Bay with spinning lures, is a single barbless hook ok or does it have to be a barbless circle hook attached to the spinning lure? (Terry D.)

A: Barbless circle hooks are only required when fishing with bait and angling by any means other than trolling. Since you’re not using bait, no circle hooks are required, even though you are not trolling. You must be doing both things – using bait, and fishing in a manner that is not trolling – to be required to use barbless circle hooks. In addition, you should be using no more than two single-point, single-shank barbless hooks with your spinning lure (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 27.80.)


Q: I have heard that using WD-40 as a fish attractant works well. Is it legal to use? There seems to be much confusion as to what is actually in WD-40. I would also like to know if the sunscreen I put on before entering the water is hazardous to marine life. (Ray I.)

Playboy playmates add sex appeal to Bimini fishing contests

If interest in tournament fishing is waning, organizers in Bimini might have found the perfect bait to lure more participants: Playboy playmates.

The Bimini Big Game Club's recent Wahoo Smackdown was successful, at least from a fun standpoint, largely because of the presence of Shawn Dillon, Miss February 2013, as hostess.

Next up is the Billfish Bonanza, which will feature a meet-and-greet with Shelby Chesnes, Miss July 2012 (pictured at right).

The Bonanza is scheduled May 15-18, and teams are shelling out $1,450 per boat.

Said Big Game Club GM Michael Weber in the online publication, FishTrack: "Fishing and Playboy just seem to be great combination. And Bimini is the perfect scenic backdrop that completes the picture."

A little research reveals that Chesnes, 21, is from Jupiter, Fla., She's a minnow of a girl, standing 5 feet 3 and weighing just 100 pounds. Her measurements, for those who are interested, are 34c-25-34.

Presumably, she'll stick around the waterfront for the entire three days of the tournament, representing a sight for sore eyes for those who get skunked out on the fishing grounds.

--Photo of Shelby Chesnes is from her Facebook page. Credit: Joel Flora

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Rare opah catch made aboard Newport Beach half-day boat

A rare catch of an opah was made this week aboard the Western Pride out of Davey's Locker Sportfishing in Newport Beach.

Capt. Jeff Patrick reeled the beautiful (and delectable) fish from a depth of about 250 feet during a half-day rockfish trip on Wednesday (see photo).

The landing issued a news release about the catch Friday night, stating that the large, moon-shaped fish took a sardine and was initially thought to be a thresher shark.

Opah catches off Southern California are extremely unusual. There is no commercial fishery for the deep-water denizens, which do not swim in schools.

They're caught incidentally by longliners off Hawaii and in tropical and temperate seas around the world.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program advises consumers to avoid opah caught internationally because of the indiscriminate and destructive nature of longline fishing.

Seafood Watch lists U.S.-caught opah as a good alternative to imported opah because U.S. longliners "have made great strides in reducing interactions in recent years through changes in regulations and modifications to longline fishing gear."

The opah caught aboard the Western Pride was estimated to weigh more than 120 pounds.

--Opah photo courtesy of Davey's Locker Sportfishing

Why do turtles sold as pets have a size limit?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly California Outdoors Q&A column:

Question: Is there a size limit on the sale of turtles that are sold as pets? (Robert Bruce, Antioch)

Answer: Yes, federal and state laws require that turtles must have a carapace (shell) length of at least 4 inches to be imported, sold or distributed (California Code of Regulations Title 17, section 2612.1). This restriction was brought into effect under the Public Health Services Act by the Food and Drug Administration in 1975 to address the problem of Salmonella infections in children. I have heard this size was determined to help prevent children from putting these small reptiles into their mouths. Prior to the ban there were an estimated 250,000 cases of turtle Salmonellosis in children and infants that were associated with pet turtles in the United States (Source: http://exoticpets.about.com/od/reptilesturtles/a/turtlesales.htm.)


Q: I frequently fish at the Point Arena pier but am not clear on a specific rule. I know you may only have two hooks on one fishing line, but is it legal to use a Sabiki rig with multiple small hooks to catch bait fish? (Steve Lum)

A: When fishing from Point Arena pier, you can use a fishing rod with multiple hooks as long as you don’t have rockfish, cabezon, greenling or lingcod in your possession. If you happen to catch one of these species while using more than two hooks on your line, you must release the fish.

You are limited to no more than one line and two hooks when fishing for rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod, or if these species are in possession. On a public pier, you can use up to two fishing appliances (rod and reel, hoop net, crab trap, etc.) with no restrictions on the number of hooks (unless you are targeting the species mentioned above or have them in your possession).


Q: Are there any regulations prohibiting someone from giving me a bear skull or claws if legally taken either in California or out of state? No money or goods would be exchanged. Would I need to have proof to show where the parts came from or who gave them to me? (Tom H.)

Restrictions on using remote-controlled aircraft in California wildlife reserves?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly California Outdoors Q&A column:

Question: I am a conservation advocate and an avid wildlife photographer. Over the last several years, I have been photographing birds and landscape views of Southern California’s wildlife areas. I am interested in expanding this documentation with video, and in particular aerial video taken from a remote-controlled electric helicopter. While I am very aware of the need to not disturb or harass local wildlife, I am wondering if there are regulations that restrict or prohibit the use of RC-aircraft in or around the perimeter of ecological reserves and conservation areas? (Bill K.)

Answer: There is no general prohibition against using radio-controlled "vehicles" in wildlife areas (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 550). However, in ecological reserves, prohibitions against: 1) disturbing any bird, mammal, etc.; 2) operating vehicles; and 3) operating any type of aircraft or hovercraft without permission may apply (CCR Title 14, sections 630(a)(1) & (a)(4) and (a)(17)). There is also a provision that prohibits the use of any motorized, hot-air, or unpowered aircraft or other device capable of flight or any earth orbiting imaging device to locate or assist in locating big game mammals beginning 48 hours before and continuing 48 hours after any big game hunting season in the same area (CCR Title 14, section 251(a)). In addition, a permit could be required if there are concerns your aircraft will " … herd or drive… or disrupt animal’s normal behavior patterns, which includes, but is not limited to breeding, feeding or sheltering …"

Please contact the Regional Manager for the area you intend to visit for information on the application of these laws. For a list of contact numbers available, please go to www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/.

Q: My husband and I are residents of both Humboldt and Sutter counties. We occasionally dive for abalone in Humboldt where we live. If we don’t consume them right away, we freeze them whole in the shell as the local game warden advised us years ago. I also work for a nonprofit hospice in Sutter County and they are having a fundraiser in May at a private house, where many of our staff will prepare appetizers for 100 guests. I want to prepare abalone appetizers from three abalone that we already have tagged and frozen from last season. The event is being professionally catered for the meal and dessert and so they are selling tickets, but no one is paying for or making money from the abalone I want to cook. The abalone is such a minuscule part of the meal. I just want to make sure I am allowed to bring it to an event like this and I was not able to find anything specific about that in the regulations. Please advise. Thank you. (Amy M., RN)