[Ken Jones]

http://kenjonesfishing.com/2017/12/avalon-in-christmas-time/

[Mahigeer]

Nice report.

Fun trip even with the cold weather.

[makairaa]

I know them as a glass eye squirrelfish. Actual common or scientific name?

[makairaa]

Relative to the popeye catalufa.

[makairaa]

http://www.fishbase.org/summary/3517

Still not 100% sure on exact species, but this is the family. The markings on that one are stress colors. Sorry having fun looking it up while at the in-laws for christmas eve.

[Ken Jones]

The more information the better. Milton thought it was probably in the same family as the popeye catalufa.

Wish now that we had kept the fish. I knew it wasn't an illegal California species but our natural inclination was to return it to the water.

[EgoNonBaptizo]

Some species of big eye. The hawaiians call them āweoweo. It is either in Priacanthus or Heteropriacanthus. I'm leaning towards the latter due to the shape of the markings and fins. As for exact species I am not entirely sure. Either way that is an extremely lost fish. They are also apparently good eating.

[Ken Jones]

EgoNonBaptizo,

A little off topic, but I wonder how many on the board recognize the history behind your signature?

Ego non baptizo te in nomine patris, sed in nomine diaboli!

As Ahab in Moby Dick baptizes his harpoon with his own blood he says — "Ego non baptizo te in nomine patris, sed in nomine diaboli" ("I baptize you not in the name of the father, but in the name of the devil)."

[Mahigeer]

Good to know. I sure learned something new.


Thanks.

[Ken Jones]

There have been many interesting signature names over the years. They would make an interesting list.

[Ken Jones]

An initial (and speculative) guess at this time is that the fish may be a heteropriacanthus carolinus, a tropical fish that lives in the South Pacific and points west. It's never been reported from California.

However, the pictures have been sent to the "expert" on that family and we will see what develops. Maybe yes, maybe no.

I wish (and Milton wishes) that I had kept the fish.