4 lb 18" Opaleye

[DockRat]

Fish with this guy (for a skunk, again) at JCS KH and he showed me this

GIANT OPALEYE in his truck :Shocked: I had to bust out my scale and snapped a pic.

He caught it on a big wad of Asian Seaweed at the Zapot Jetty in Redondo.

The thing was still alive after one hour later in a plastic bag with no water.

JCS report; Tossed Kcoc, LC, Bubble and Fly.
No Macs, Bones, Nada, but the water was crystal clear.
DR

[reptile dude007]

Where is the pic? I guess it diddn't happen.

[Ifishtoolittle]

Make sure you post that pic DR. I've always heard about giant Opaleyes, but I've yet to see an American one.

[BrandonFish]

big o OPALEYE ill post pics.

[BrandonFish]

http://i761.photobucket.com/albums/xx259/brandonfish/2011.jpg

http://i761.photobucket.com/albums/xx259/brandonfish/201.jpg

[Ifishtoolittle]

Dayamn that's a huge Opaleye. Thanks for the pic.

[cjmedina]

That thing is a beast

[DockRat]

Thanks, Brandon. I am suprised nobody asked where ZAPOT Jetty is ?
DR

[smokehound]

Whoa! That's a fattie!

Fun fact: Opaleyes can breathe air. When stranded, opaleye can survive for hours, provided they dont dry out.

[DockRat]

Whoa! That's a fattie!

Fun fact: Opaleyes can breathe air. When stranded, opaleye can survive for hours, provided they dont dry out.

That explains the thing alive in a plastic bag in a backpack for a hour alive. Thanks SH


This guy had a Big Wad of Seaweed the size of a half dollar.
I was thinking way too much bait for Opaleye, he proved me wrong.
DR

[Ifishtoolittle]

That explains the thing alive in a plastic bag in a backpack for a hour alive. Thanks SH


This guy had a Big Wad of Seaweed the size of a half dollar.
I was thinking way too much bait for Opaleye, he proved me wrong.
DR

I'd say a clump of seaweed is about right for a 4lb Opaleye!

[Ifishtoolittle]

Hey DR maybe you should go in pursuit of big eyes'.

[probass123]

thats beast man the biggest opaleye i ever caught was a 13" at carslbad laggon salwater of course off shrimp

[reptile dude007]

My lord, I believe. I BELIEVE!!!!

[Hometown]

I have seen 3lb to 4lb opaleyes before but that was a long time ago.Im sure There still out there just not the same #'rs blue perch get big to and both are fun on light tackle

[DockRat]

Orange County Register
Friday, October 30,1964

" 13 -LB Opaleye bagged by skindiver

officials of the state F&G disclosed Thursday that the 13.46 pound fish taken a Laguna Beach by skindiver David Williams of Pico Rivera, has been identified as a Opaleye

The weight of the fish surprised and amazed fishery biologist, because normally this popular game fish reaches a weight of about six pounds.

Before William's fish was authenticated the heaviest Opaleye on record with the F&G was a 6-1/8 pounder"

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

Do you want to be in the record books ? Surf and harbor records ?
1st Read the rules

Sargo OPEN - Minimum size requirement: 2 lb
Surfperch, Calico OPEN - Minimum size requirement: 1 lb
Surfperch, Rainbow OPEN - Minimum size requirement: 1 lb
Surfperch, Walleye OPEN - Minimum size requirement: 1 lb

Other records to make a run for.

Surfperch, Redtail 2 lb 15 oz 2003 Edward Mitsui
Jacksmelt 1 lb 8 oz 1998 William J. Rogers
Seaperch, Striped 2 lb 3 oz 2008 Floyd Underwood
Seaperch, Rubberlip 4 lb 4 oz 1995 Joe Manalac
Surfperch, Barred 4 lb 2 oz 1995 Artie J. Ferguson
Surfperch, Barred 4 lb 2 oz 1996 Fred Oakley
Croaker, Yellowfin 3 lb 14 oz 2000 Fred Oakley

Barracuda, California 15 lb 15 oz 1957 C.O. Taylor
Bass, Barred Sand 13 lb 3 oz 1988 Robert Halal
Bass, Kelp 14 lb 7 oz 1958 C.O. Taylor
Bass, Spotted Sand 6 lb 12 oz 1994 Matt Bergherm
Bonito, Pacific 21 lb 5 oz 2003 Kim Larson
Cabezon 23 lb 4 oz 1958 Bruce Kuhn
Corbina, California 7 lb 1 oz 2005 Scott Matthews
Croaker, Spotfin 14 lb 0 oz 1951 Charles Dusart
Croaker, Yellowfin 3 lb 14 oz 2000 Fred Oakley
Dolphinfish 66 lb 0 oz 1990 Kim Carson
Flounder, Starry 11 lb 4 oz 1993 Steve Doshier
Greenling, Kelp 2 lb 9 oz 1993 Ray Hardy
Halibut, California 58 lb 9 oz 1999 Roger W. Borrell
Jacksmelt 1 lb 8 oz 1998 William J. Rogers
Lingcod 56 lb 0 oz 1992 Carey Mitchell
Mackerel, Jack 5 lb 8 oz 1988 Joe Bairian
Mackerel, Pacific (Chub) 2 lb 8 oz 2005 Thomas Hilgert
Marlin, Blue 692 lb 0 oz 1931 A. Hamann
Marlin, Striped 339 lb 0 oz 1985 Gary Jasper
Opah 163 lb 0 oz 1998 Tom Foran
Opaleye 6 lb 4 oz 1956 Leonard Itkoff
Perch, Black 1 lb 11 oz 2006 Matthew Michie
Perch, Pile 1 lb 15 oz 2007 Ronald Schmidt
Prickleback, Monkeyface 6 lb 1 oz 2005 Kirk Lombard
Ray, Bat 181 lb 0 oz 1978 Bradley Dew
Rockfish, Black 9 lb 2 oz 1988 Trent Wilcox
Rockfish, Blue 3 lb 14 oz 1993 Terry Lamb Jr.
Rockfish, Bocaccio 17 lb 8 oz 1987 Sam Strait
Rockfish, Brown 6 lb 15 oz 2008 Robert Gibbons
Rockfish, China 3 lb 4 oz 1998 Joe Newman
Rockfish, Copper 8 lb 5 oz 1985 Kenny Aab
Rockfish, Grass 5 lb 6 oz 2006 Kyle Spragens
Rockfish, Greenspotted 2 lb 5 oz 2005 John Wallick
Rockfish, Olive 5 lb 14 oz 1991 Haady Forbes
Rockfish, Vermilion 14 lb 9 oz 1996 Bobby Cruce
Rockfish, Yellowtail 5 lb 8 oz 1991 Alberto Cortez
Salmon, Chinook (King) 65 lb 4 oz 2002 Franklin T. Cox
Sargo OPEN - Minimum size requirement: 2 lb
Scorpionfish, Calif. (Sculpin) 3 lb 0 oz 1997 Nathan Weatherson
Seabass, White 78 lb 0 oz 2002 David L. Sternberg
Seaperch, Rubberlip 4 lb 4 oz 1995 Joe Manalac
Seaperch, Striped 2 lb 3 oz 2008 Floyd Underwood
Shark, Blue 258 lb 8 oz 2008 Josh W. Bollinger
Shark, Leopard 47 lb 1 oz 2007 Ronald Schmidt
Shark, Sevengill 276 lb 0 oz 1996 Cliff Brewer
Shark, Shortfin Mako 1,059 lb 6 oz 2006 Marylin Stephens
Shark, Thresher 575 lb 0 oz 2007 Daniel D. Lara
Sheephead, California 28 lb 14 oz 1978 Tibor Molnar Jr.
Sole, Fantail 8 lb 8 oz 2001 Allan Sheridan
Squid, Humboldt OPEN - Minimum size requirement: 40 lb
Surfperch, Barred 4 lb 2 oz 1995 Artie J. Ferguson
Surfperch, Barred 4 lb 2 oz 1996 Fred Oakley
Surfperch, Calico OPEN - Minimum size requirement: 1 lb
Surfperch, Rainbow OPEN - Minimum size requirement: 1 lb
Surfperch, Redtail 2 lb 15 oz 2003 Edward Mitsui
Surfperch, Walleye OPEN - Minimum size requirement: 1 lb
Swordfish, Broadbill 452 lb 8 oz 2003 David M. Denholm
Treefish 4 lb 3 oz 2003 Joseph Kokrak
Tuna, Albacore 90 lb 0 oz 1997 Don Giberson
Tuna, Bigeye 240 lb 0 oz 1987 Steve Hutchinson
Tuna, Bluefin 243 lb 11 oz 1990 Karl E. Schmidbauer
Tuna, Skipjack 26 lb 0 oz 1970 William Hall
Tuna, Yellowfin 239 lb 0 oz 1984 Ronald R. Howarth
Whitefish, Ocean 13 lb 12 oz 1988 Bob Schwenk
Yellowtail

[DockRat]

Hey DR maybe you should go in pursuit of big eyes'.

I would love to fish Big Eye http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb150/JnyBob/fish%20id/bigeyetuna.jpg
:LOL: DR

[klocked]

I would love to fish Big Eye http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb150/JnyBob/fish%20id/bigeyetuna.jpg
:LOL: DR

Maybe start with a Walleye Surfperch... that slot is still open :LOL:

[murrieta angler]

That's a nice looking opal eye.
I've seen some big ones in the water at a spot at......I'm not telling..:Cool:
Robert
<><

[Ifishtoolittle]

I would love to fish Big Eye http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb150/JnyBob/fish%20id/bigeyetuna.jpg
:LOL: DR

Ha, good luck getting that kind of eye' in KH. :Big Grin:

[Natural Lefty]

I must say that is the biggest Opaleye I have ever seen. Maybe someday I will catch one like that. We all must have our dreams.

Regarding the 1 lb. 8 oz. Jacksmelt record, I think I have caught one or two about that large. Probably a lot of people have, but we usually don't pay much attention to less desirable fish like Jacksmelt. The one that the Pelican ripped off my line in Santa Barbara last Friday may have been of record size, for that matter.