I just saw a speared GSB from Catalina on Instagram

[CuzzA]

There is a smaller hole above the gills. Why would he gaff it twice? Either way, it's an endangered species and shouldn't have been shot or gaffed.

Here's an example. Random YouTube video. Not mine. Yes, I agree, he should not have taken the fish.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

The dentist either didn't know about Giant Sea Bass or didn't think anyone would notice, but the photo is now missing from their post.
Digital Smiles on Instagram: “While fishing in Catalina our Long Beach patient, Richard, broke a tooth. Unlike sharks he didn’t have a second row waiting to take its…”

 

[CuzzA]

You know Max, I think the pic might have been Photoshoped. The dentist probably grabbed a random picture off the internet and put his mug over it for social media marketing, not realizing it was a GSB.

If you look closely at the picture the beanie cap is lightened gray, his face has a stark contrast on the background, the depth of his face and the deck is weird, especially at the bottom and the real dead giveaway is a piece of his neck is missing. Someone got impatient with the eraser blending tool.

I could be wrong, but the photo looks a little odd to me. You're a photographer so maybe you would know better.

 

[paowdan]

Looks like the fish is on a fillet table not on the deck:
BLACKTIP 31" Fillet Table | West Marine

Fish looks to be about 14-16" long?

 

[bperc]

That looks like an opaleye on a filet table to me.

 

[paowdan]

That looks like an opaleye on a filet table to me.

Was wondering yesterday if possibly a mistaken ID but couldn't think of another dark fish.

Didn't realize that opaleye could NOT have spots! I've always identified them by the bright white spot on the back (per image below "occ. absent in large fish"). Suspect fish pectoral fin shape does look similar to DFW Fish ID image for opaleye vs black sea bass... but suspect fish looks more elongated vs round?

Opaleye

California Marine Sportfish Identification: Other Fishes:

Black Sea Bass

California Marine Sportfish Identification: Sea Bass


Hoping that it was just a misidentified opaleye and not a small black sea bass!

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I found some photos of dead opaleyes and the spots are still visible as well as the shape being more rounded than a GSB. I hope I was wrong about the original post, but I'm not sure.

 

[AZTinman]

I don't see any evidence of the photograph being Photoshopped. It looks like a selfie composed to show the guy's broken tooth and the fish on the fillet table. The cap just has a lighter edge on the 'roll' because it's picking-up more sunlight. The guy's neck is missing because it's not in the picture; it's a partial facial shot. The area below the table has some shadowing on it. Hope this guy didn't take a GSB!

 

[kablooey]

Here's the fish from the dentist's image rotated and with the perspective partially corrected.
May make identification easier.

I'm no expert, but based on the fillet table size, this would be a juvenile, yes?
Most juvenile GSB I've seen tend toward a light gray color with spots.
I don't recall seeing any completely black juveniles.
Maybe like most of us, I'm just hoping it's not a GBS.

Paging Dr. Bill... Paging Dr. Bill...

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Most fish turn dark when they are pulled from the water. GSBs can change color and hide spots within seconds underwater, so I'm still not sure.