opal eyes

kelppaddie · Jun-20-2009, 02:26 PM

hey guys I need some opals for my research I am heading to Santa Barbara can anyone help me out with where the best chances would be. Bringing them back to Monterey could be the larger hurdle. Thanks for any input.

**lunchbox** · Jun-20-2009, 06:51 PM

do you need them alive? do you have boat/kayak access?

easiest would be to spear some. campus point, devereaux, 1000 steps, ledbetter, etc. look in the mixed Egregia/Macrocystis. if you need them alive and have a kayak, fish the same areas. frozen peas work great - chum a few to get them going. if you don't have a boat I'd try the rocks around the harbor.

umoa · Jun-20-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunchbox

do you need them alive? do you have boat/kayak access?

easiest would be to spear some. campus point, devereaux, 1000 steps, ledbetter, etc. look in the mixed Egregia/Macrocystis. if you need them alive and have a kayak, fish the same areas. frozen peas work great - chum a few to get them going. if you don't have a boat I'd try the rocks around the harbor.

where are you studying fish eco?

**lunchbox** · Jun-21-2009, 12:13 AM

SDSU. did my undergrad and 4 years as a lab/dive tech at UCSB though.

HTA · Jun-21-2009, 08:06 AM

Jeff sent you a pm with some info I hope it helps you with your research

kelppaddie · Jun-21-2009, 09:20 AM

never got a PM and yes i need them alive for video taping of feeding. Spear would have been great but i need them alive maybe snorkel fishing?

HTA · Jun-21-2009, 11:05 AM

Sorry Clinton sent the info to the wrong person. MY mistake.

**lunchbox** · Jun-21-2009, 01:35 PM

Yah, I'd definitely give snorkel fishing a try. Fellow researchers and I have used it successfully for sheephead and rockfish. If you bring a 5-6 ft rod with you and thread the line through the guides it's easier to get the bait out away from your body. It takes a few tries to get the technique down for setting the hook but it's kind of like a flyfishing strip strike.

Opaleye schools will swim right up to you. I suspect it's antipredatory behavior and they're letting you know that you've lost the element of surprise. But, I'm sure you could convince them to eat a hook bait with a little chum.

morales731 · Jul-14-2009, 10:01 AM

I caught some of la Jolla shores close where the baby seals are... And my bait was frozen peas.