NOAA photo by E.J. Pastula
Two new ocean angling records were logged into the books last year. On July 31, 2013 Matt Michie landed a 2 lb. 4 oz. pile perch (Rhacochilus vacca) off Monterey to capture that species’ state record, beating the previous record by five ounces. And on February 24, 2013 Richard Chew reeled in a 1 lb. 8 oz. calico surfperch (Amphistichus koelzi) from Rio Del Mar State Beach in Santa Cruz County, to capture the state angling record for that species. Mr. Chew was the first person to submit a state record claim for calico surfperch. Prior to Mr. Chew’s fish, calico surfperch was one of a handful of “open” species awaiting an initial record fish. Current open species in the angling category include Humboldt squid (min. weight 40 lb.), rainbow surfperch (min. weight 1 lb.), and walleye surfperch (min. weight 1 lb.). Like many other perches, the minimum weight requirement for calico surfperch was also 1 lb., which Mr. Chew’s fish exceeded by half a pound.
A new ocean diving record was also set on September 7, 2013 when Jim Russell speared a 7 lb. 5 oz. monkeyface prickleback (Cebidichthys violaceus) off Carmel in central California, beating the previous state diving record by 2 lb. 9 oz. In the diving category, the starry flounder state diving record is open (min. weight 8 lb.) and awaiting its first qualifying fish.
Congratulations go out to all our new 2013 state record holders! For more information about state recreational fishing and diving records, see the CDFW Record Sport Fish web page.
post by Mary Patyten, CDFW Research Writer
Marine Management News 