Black Sea Bass

[baysidejim]

I saw a guy hook about a 5' black sea bass in north county San Diego a few days ago.  He thought it was illegal to keep.  True?

Thanks.  Jim

[EFISH]

Big ticket and fine!!!!!  Black seabass is a protected fish... 

[baysidejim]

Thanks.  Any idea what the fine is?  A friend said maybe jail time...anyway, Thanks

[EFISH]

A few grand I would think, adleast.  Don't know about jail time.  Nothing I would ever want to deal with.
Peace
EFISH

[jscott]

Could potentially be jail time....it is considered poaching.  It is not just a 'short' fish-- it is a protected fish.  Like killing a bald eagle.  Especially if the DFG could prove intent or a history.  Could be pretty serious.  Moral of the story--- Don't do it!

[Iceman]

http://www.cdnn.info/news/eco/e050426.html

[Spike]

Taken from a dive web site- "Omid Adhami pled guilty to the "illegal taking of a protected giant sea bass." He got three years probation, 30 days of community service and ordered to pay $1,100 in fine. The judge told him that if he violated his probation, he would go directly to jail, and also took his gear."

Here's a reprint on the guy who didn't get in too much trouble...
Adhami has a criminal history that includes six felony convictions from 1992-2000 for receiving stolen property, burglary, auto theft and filing false insurance claims, Lange said. He was sentenced to two years in state prison.

You'd think our courts would take it more seriously.  I wonder if he re-offended on probation.

[baysidejim]

I thought it was a pretty serious penalty.  Thanks all.

[Spike]

Florida Fishing Weekly is fast becoming my FL WON.  With Sportfishing Magazine and a few others, I get a good national fishery assesment.
http://www.floridafishingweekly.com/email/november08/whats-new-article.aspx

[Lou Dog]

Here's an old family recipe I thought I'd share, it's tradition in our family to eat this after a succesful day of Condor hunting.  We usually whack a big ol' tom Mt. Lion and use it for bait, the Condors love eating kitty cat.  We just sit back and chew on Bald Eagle jerky until a dumb old Condor shows up and wham, it's over. And for the record these non lead bullets are just as deadly as the lead ones were, the Condors can't tell the difference. Well anyway, here's the recipe:

Blackened Black Sea Bass:

3/4 lb. butter (3 sticks)
1 tbsp. paprika
2 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. red pepper
3/4 tsp. white pepper
3/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. oregano
8-10 oz. Black Sea Bass, 1/2 inch thick

Melt butter in large skillet very, very hot. Combine fish in melted butter, then coat heavily with seasoning. Put into hot skillet. Pour little butter on top of fish (careful butter may flare up). Cook uncovered until scorched; turn fish and pour more butter until fish is done, about 2 more minutes. Repeat with remaining fish. Serve piping hot with melted butter on side.
Caution - this method of cooking produces intense smoke. I suggest you cook outside on gas grill.

Note this recipe also works well with Garibaldi and is usually better served south of the border and I don't mean Taco Bell!