First ocean fish from my kayak

Well this is my fist ocean fish from my kayak . I'm new to ocean fishing caught many trout in lakes but only been out in the ocean twice so far .
I dont even know my species very well so wasn't sure what I caught or if it was legal size . it was 15 inches but wasn't sure if it was a Quill back rockfish or cabezon so I sent it back to its home .
Is there a size limit on Quill back's ?
Anyone tell me what species ? After I got back toy car and read the regs I'm pretty sure it was a quill back and I could have been eating it for dinner . oh well it was an awesome day to actually catch a nice fish out of my kayak in the big ocean .
By the way this was in brookings I decided to just go out alone . I was nervous but decided I can live life or stay at home and wish I was living life .

Looks like a nice keeper black rockfish.  There is no size limit on those.

We cannot keep Quillbacks starting this year.

These are two different fish.

Its so hard to tell the fish apart . I decided it wasn't worth the risk of a ticket to guess on species . thats why I need to fish with other people that know the difference .

I couldn't find anything in the Oregon regulations that say quill backs are illegal to keep . to be honest Oregon regulations are not very good describing what's allowed and not allowed . they dont even have a full image of the rock fish available . Washington has a good species ID card . way better than Oregon

 At last years ORC, a laminated rockfish ID card was put in all of the Captain's bags. Maybe you can find someone near you that can dig one up to help you out.  I don't know where the cards came from but it would will help you identify most species that are local.

 

Well I'm hoping to be at the sunset bay tournament if I can get someone to watch my dogs for me . hopefully I can get educated there .

Get hold of the ODFW(541-867-4741) and ask for a blue & black rockfish identification index card. They might even have some for red snapper and salmon, then while waiting for it to arrive go to their web site and look up marine fish species it list all fish species off the Oregon Coast.

I couldn't find anything in the Oregon regulations that say quill backs are illegal to keep . to be honest Oregon regulations are not very good describing what's allowed and not allowed . they dont even have a full image of the rock fish available . Washington has a good species ID card . way better than Oregon

Please read.  Just scroll down to "Bottom fish"
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/RR/marine/

Also page 99 of the regs.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/docs/2015/2015%20Marine%20Zone%20Sport%20Fishing%20Regs_r11-5-14.pdf

And again found in the "in season" updates/changes.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/reg_changes/marine.asp


To help with fish identification.  Kinda wordy, but gets the job done.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/FishID/FishIDRockfish.asp

More with pics.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/finfish/sp/rockfish.asp

Blue rockfish.  (Print and laminate for use on your yak)
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/FishID/images/Sebastes_mystinus.jpg

Black rockfish. (Print and laminate for use on your yak)
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/fishid/images/Sebastes_melanops.jpg


That should get you going. 

Send a small donation to these guys. They will send you a laminated ID card and a baro trauma decender.

http://www.oceaned.org

Or find them at a expo.

Awesome thanks guys

Nice job, Steve. Glad you were able to get out this weekend, like you wanted. 

Being able to identify them all is not easy, but you should know what you are targeting before you go. I scanned their chart. Copyrights are held by the owner of this material.

Send a small donation to these guys. They will send you a laminated ID card and a baro trauma decender.

http://www.oceaned.org

Or find them at a expo.

Yes, you can get the laminated ID card from OCEAN.  By the way OCEAN is a fantastic organization that has more-or-less singlehandedly made barotrauma release devices popular in Oregon.  And since all Oregon rockfish limits are driven by the status of the Yelloweye Rockfish population, that has allowed the rockfish season to remain open year-round.  OCEAN works tirelessly to keep us fishing.

Nice job, Steve. Glad you were able to get out this weekend, like you wanted. 

Yeah I got out but it cost me my life savings to finish the kayak to my liking but it was worth it .

The ODFW put this out this year (or it's the first time I noticed it). It includes the new rules and the most popular groundfish species. It's a great chart.

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/regulations/sport_fishing/docs/what_can_i_keep_how_many.pdf