Record Barred Surfperch

[Ken Jones]

Some have asked questions regarding the record barred surfperch seen in the story about Wylies and Ginny Wylie. The fish was caught by fishing legend Fred Oakley and weighed 4-pound, 2-ounces. He caught it in front of the Ventura Marina on March 30, 1976.

For nearly 50 years the mounted fish was proudly displayed on the wall of Wylie's Bait and Tackle in Malibu.​

 

[Ken Jones]

To answer a question I received: According to the OFFICIAL state records maintained by the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, two fish are tied for the California record, the Fred Oakley fish and one caught by Artie. J. Ferguson at Morro Bay on November 8, 1995. Both are listed at 4 Lb. 2 oz. The world record fish records maintained by the IGFA (International Game Fish Association) list a fish weighing 4 Lb. 12 oz. caught by Bert Uyemura at Guadalupe, CA on June 5, 2016.