CCA California took part in releasing close to 1200 juvenile white sea bass off the coast of Dana Point. Rick Jensen of Sportfishing Financial has been maintaining the grow out pens and the fish that have been in them for the past four months or so leading up to the release.
In years past, the juvenile fish were released straight from the grow out pens into the harbor. This time around, the Sum Fun and Clemente out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing helped out and loaded the fish into their bait tanks and took them out past the break wall in Dana Point Harbor and released them in a local kelp bed.
“They were more vulnerable to being eaten by sea lions or caught by people fishing in the harbor,” said Jensen. “This year, Dana Wharf Sportfishing was generous enough to provide vessels to facilitate their release into the ocean.”
You can watch our recap video from the day below:
Big thanks to CCA CAL State Board Member Donna Kalez, Rick Jensen of Sportfishing Financial, Mark Drawbridge and Mike Shane from Hubbs-Seaworld Research Institute, CCA OC Chapter Board Member and Captain of the Sum Fun Brian Woolley, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Sportfishing Association of California, Sportfish Restoration, and all of our volunteers who came out and helped!
Once any white sea bass is caught off the coast of California, anglers are encouraged to turn in their White Seabass heads to any of the freezer locations up and down the coast. To find a location, please click on this link.
