Staying afloat...
 

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Staying afloat isn't much of a challenge, but this day proved otherwise.

The process of strapping a fifty pound White Seabass to the back of the Revolution is quite easy most of the time. By using the rudder strap to simply hold the tail in place works quite well and provides a secure platform for the happy pedal home. The process of finding that particular grade of fish proposes the greatest challenge, I'm sure most others would agree. The game of hide and seek is something I've grown to love and that thrill of victory makes all the hard work worthwhile. On this particular day I did something I've never done and something I'll never do again. I used my rudder strap to tie up my rear toggle, in an effort to stop that annoying occasional bump sound (while trying to be deathly quiet ;)). After some maneuvering with my gaff I managed to "eventually" secure my new trophy.
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The ride home was more fun than usual while doing my new favorite kayak maneuve, the wheelie :D. A maneuver made possible thanks to this 55.5 lbs of post-spawn fury, measuring 56".

Now that's a trophy! Nice work in the dark.

BEAST, WTG:wsb:

what are those markings towards the tail of the fish?

As long as you don't ask where I caught her, no problem.
 

The diagonal mark is a pretty serious wound that healed nicely. The mark going straight across the tail section is from the rudder strap...tail over the rudder dragging the water :).

Is conservation measured in how many we release or in how many we keep....nice trophy.........:wsb:.:luxhello:

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I will never figure out how you managed to pull that fish out in front me while i was still fighting mine. I thought for sure major knot! All i remeber is you yelling and saying.... "put your rod down so i can go over you" How ju du dat? :confused:

nice :wsb:

What is that this year, eight, nine wsb kept? 6 or 7 pre-spawn? How many released? You figure a 60% survival rate, what, 4-5 more dead? How many broken off? How many of those don't manage to untangle and then die?

Ethical fishing. Think about it. How much is a "trophy" worth? Evidently for some, it's $300. For others, it's the future of our fishery.

Trophy fishing is for people with something to prove.

And the Donkey has spoken LOL

Don't mind the HeeHaw........ congrats on the very nice catch!:cheers1:

Nice fish
Don't listen to the donkey he's just jealous

Sorry to interrupt your fan club, but how much meat do you need? Fish should only be kept for subsistence. There's a responsibility in being an angler, not to mention a guide. That responsibility is to protect the resource. Do not over-harvest, especially with pre-spawn fish. You can say what you want about numbers released, which don't all survive. Also those targeted, but broken off don't all survive. The bottom line is, keep what you can reasonably use for subsistence, not what you feel you need to prove that you caught by carrying it to the beach to see what it weighs.

Very nice quality fish! :wsb:
Pay no attention to the haters, I'm sure you put the meat to good use anyways. :you_rock:

Congrats on another sweet biscuit! I'm sure family and friends enjoy the fresh fillets!

Don't you just love getting lectured by a jealous peta lovin jackass, er.. Donkey? :alberteinstein:

Nice fish Josh! You da man! :)

Nice catch Josh , thanks for sharing.

Is Donkeypunch French for Jackass?

" the happy pedal home" That sez alot.What a good feeiling.Josh congradulation on a nice catch..........

:confused:That was quite the Donkey Show :biggrinjester: .

Nice fish Josh. I always enjoy your post.

Great fish Josh, :wsb:
Your catching is what inspires our fishing.
In all the time I have known you I have never seen you ever waste a piece of bait let alone a pound of excellent eating fish.
Keep it up.:you_rock: