BajaNomad

fish observation

islandhop - 6-16-2008 at 07:21 PM

Hi guys. On my most recent spring baja trip my friend speared a big yellowtail. We were on the beach with no scale and he asked me how much I thought it weighed. I said it was at least 35 lbs confidently.

I've caught a number of these big guys with hook, and were able to weight them.

I think,no I'm sure, that above around 30 or 35 lbs the face, ya thats right I said the fishface of a large yellowtail becomes more hideous looking. The faces and whole fish to around 25 lbs are more beautiful. Does anybody agree?

Pescador - 6-16-2008 at 08:18 PM

I can not tell you the number of 50 lb yellowtail that have been caught at Santa Rosalia. The only problem was that they lost about 25 pounds between the catching and the weighing.

David A. - 6-17-2008 at 11:13 AM

150 qt cooler, tail touching one end and lips touching the other end. 25 lbs.:bounce:

BMG - 6-17-2008 at 12:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David A.
150 qt cooler, tail touching one end and lips touching the other end. 25 lbs.:bounce:


Thanks a lot! I've had to modify all the photos of my cooler to keep my stories accurate!!

150 qt. Cooler.JPG - 28kB

Cypress - 6-17-2008 at 12:27 PM

And the big 'un got away!:tumble:

Capt. George - 6-18-2008 at 05:10 AM

well, I've dated a few, and I think they're all beautiful!

Skipjack Joe - 6-18-2008 at 08:56 AM

Measure the length of the fish and it's a pound per inch starting with 5lb for a 25inch fish. Not true for all species but probably close for yellowtail as it has that fusiform shape.

25" = 5lbs
26" = 6lbs
27" = 7lbs
..
..
30" = 10lbs
..
..
etc.

rdrrm8e - 6-18-2008 at 01:07 PM

Length (squared) x Girth...divide by 1200

Length x Girth (squared)....divide by 800

But nothing beats a scale...........

Cypress - 6-18-2008 at 01:25 PM

Those jelly fish are a pain.:lol:

flyfishinPam - 6-18-2008 at 03:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by islandhop
Hi guys. On my most recent spring baja trip my friend speared a big yellowtail. We were on the beach with no scale and he asked me how much I thought it weighed. I said it was at least 35 lbs confidently.

I've caught a number of these big guys with hook, and were able to weight them.

I think,no I'm sure, that above around 30 or 35 lbs the face, ya thats right I said the fishface of a large yellowtail becomes more hideous looking. The faces and whole fish to around 25 lbs are more beautiful. Does anybody agree?


I know what you mean. As an individual of a species grows closer to its upper size limit its face and lips start to appear distorted looking. On the Yellowtail (California YT) this doesn't happen even past 50 pounds (I saw a 53 pounder once). If I remember correctly their upper size limit is over 100 pounds so a 35 pound fish looks pretty normal looking. I've seen lots of YT from 30-40+ pounds and their faces all look pretty normal.

islandhop - 6-18-2008 at 05:02 PM

Thanks Pam, I agree with you. Also ,as I grow to an upper limit , my face and lips become more distorted..

I'm hoping to post a photo soon then we can have a guessing game...

Ugly Yellowtail?

bill erhardt - 6-18-2008 at 06:32 PM

Here are a couple of pics of a yellowtail around 40#, + or -. Ugly? A little pi$$ed at the circumstances in which he found himself before the hook was removed and he was sent on his way, but he looks beautiful to me.

ytface94.JPG - 47kB

Ugly Yellowtail

bill erhardt - 6-18-2008 at 06:34 PM



ytface (Small).jpg - 49kB

Paulina - 6-18-2008 at 07:02 PM

Bill,

The last fish actually looks kind of mad.

I once bought myself a fish scale for Mother's day. One of the best present I ever got.

P<*)))>{

Pescador - 6-18-2008 at 07:56 PM

Here is a picture of the biggest fish I saw caught this year at Santa Rosalia area. It measured 47 lbs and 8 oz. I think everything looks pretty balanced and it was a pretty healthy looking fish. I did catch quite a few fish this year that had abnormalities not only in the mouth area but fins as well as other body parts. Perhaps this is because a lot of these fish have to run the gauntlet of fishermen, nets, spearguns and God only knows what else. It is a constant challenge if you are not on the absolute top of the food chain.

[Edited on 6-19-2008 by Pescador]

[Edited on 6-19-2008 by Pescador]

Budfish.jpg - 44kB

bill erhardt - 6-18-2008 at 08:53 PM

This 49 pounder, caught by a friend fishing out of Mulege, is the biggest yellowtail that has been caught on my boat. Its head seemed to be disproportionately large compared to a smaller fish. It was also skinny and probably would have appeared more in proportion with a full belly.

tt90.JPG - 48kB

Skipjack Joe - 6-18-2008 at 10:44 PM

When yellowtail start to look like carp... Well, it's time to go to bed.

rdrrm8e - 6-19-2008 at 12:26 PM

Here's an 84 pounder! I am 6'4" and 275#

http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/500/NZ_Auckland_2_2502.jp...

EDIT:Can't post pic?

[Edited on 6-19-2008 by rdrrm8e]

bill erhardt - 6-19-2008 at 01:52 PM

8e....... That is a monster 'tail! Where did you catch it?

rdrrm8e - 6-19-2008 at 02:08 PM

Ranfurly Bank, New Zealand