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04-21-2015, 11:22 AM | #1 |
Thread Killer - sorry
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: San Clemente
Posts: 256
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“Calm down. Ghosts don’t ring the doorbell.”
A first for me…
Got to the launch around 445am and met Troy(zed), John(cabojohn) & Lea, got all rigged up and on the water just after 5. I’ve spent a good chunk of time fishing DP the last few springs searching for what everyone else is searching for, a springtime Seabass - but Troy & John know Dana really well and I was excited to learn a thing or five-hundred million from the seasoned vets who have fished there long before I ever did. Anticipation was high for this trip even more-so than normal when the conditions are looking good. We all made easy greenbacks at the headlands good-sized 6-8” with a couple jumbo mixed in. John & Lea had a nasty seal try to board and raid their tank but john took care of that real quick with a swift 10 or so doinks with his paddle…..Worked the area off the kelp down to ritz point and back for nothing with a Carolina rig 2oz. Fishing was slow but there was a lot of life and bait was thick. At this point there was a decent wind building and so we made a long paddle to a new spot to set a drift in about 60’. We would drift out to about 85’ over some good structure the entire time - then paddle back to set the drift. We did this several times, but one of those times my number got called. I was drifting in about 75’ with my bait out and in the rod holder while I was fishing a jig. I made a cast with the jig and noticed a docile bait decide to wake up out of nowhere. I quickly retrieved the jig, staring at the rod in the holder until I could put the jig away and grab it. When I picked up the rod, the bait was just cruising along normally, it was there, I felt it and was letting it swim for a few seconds but was not swimming erratically like it was. Then the line went completely slack all of a sudden, I backspooled real quick but couldn’t catch up so I clicked the reel in gear. As I did that I saw the rod start to load up on its own. As the tip hit the water I took a swing and holy shit I was on. This thing brutalized me, I was telling Troy that I thought it was a shark. He said potentially a BSB – I didn’t care at that point, expecting a BSB but was just enjoying pulling on something. A few minutes into the fight I feel a heavy vibration in the line, definitely kelp but braid did its thing. When it finally comes to color, and I see what could potentially be my first-ever legal WSB, the only words I could muster were ‘it’s a white!’ The beauty came up still green after 3 huge runs. I gaffed it in the back half after a miss and Troy helped me out getting the fish secure on the game clip and safe on the boat with a few pesky spectators. A great day that I’ll never forget with good people – John thank you for letting me use the fish bag so clutch… need to get me one of those! Feel fortunate to have learned a ton and catch such a beautiful fish. Sorry for the long winded/pic-heavy report, if I seem excited – it’s because I am. Long time this fish has haunted my dreams...lots of empty trips spent 'targeting' them in my hometown. I dropped the head off at my local tackle shop who sent it off - stoked to get the stones back from this 52.5" 46lb beaut. *eaten cbass several nights in a row - different every time. Going to be eating like a king for a while. Tight lines! |
04-21-2015, 11:26 AM | #2 |
Currently @ MLO Territory
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Under the Shadow
Posts: 2,290
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love it
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Team: Disbanded You only have one chance in this life...make the right decision(s)...so you don't regret it
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04-21-2015, 11:34 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Carlsbad,,Halfway up the Hill
Posts: 486
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Nice ghost..You were in good hands with those 2 fellows.
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04-21-2015, 11:55 AM | #4 |
Administrator
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: 1-2 miles off the point
Posts: 6,948
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Right on! gonna be hard for me to sleep tonight
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04-21-2015, 12:00 PM | #5 |
donkey roper
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Pacific Beach
Posts: 968
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Sick! Nice report! I hate it when they swim straight at you like that... tough to know when to put the reel in gear.
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04-21-2015, 12:11 PM | #6 |
BANNED
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: W of 5
Posts: 1,265
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Just like I was there. Toughest wsb Ive seen. Just had no give to it at all.
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Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man and he'll eat for a week. |
04-21-2015, 12:23 PM | #7 |
Emperor
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Buena Park
Posts: 3,649
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Nice fish! Good job!
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There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog. |
04-21-2015, 02:55 PM | #8 |
Marginally Irrelevant
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Bahia Asuncion
Posts: 936
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Nice looking croaker. New moons in April and May have always been the sweet spot for me and others at DP. Congrats!
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"When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean’s skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang. " — Herman Melville Y'all come see me now, hear! |
04-21-2015, 03:11 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SGV
Posts: 848
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Epic!
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04-21-2015, 03:15 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Near Palos Verdes
Posts: 198
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WOW! Congrats!
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04-21-2015, 03:50 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,384
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Nice fish, congrats.
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04-21-2015, 05:58 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 715
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Wow Anthony! You really can fish!
Im stoked for you. It's great when veterans like John and Zed share their stuff. |
04-21-2015, 06:09 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Posts: 164
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HUGE congrats on that beautiful croaker!!!
I dream of catching one of these myself... I hope someday my dream comes true like yours did! Great job! Nice that you had some vets at your side too!
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- Ken Redondo Beach, CA 2011 Malibu Stealth 14 |
04-21-2015, 07:31 PM | #14 | |
Thread Killer - sorry
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: San Clemente
Posts: 256
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Thanks dudes! still pumped. this forum gets me motivated to get out on the water, finally i could contribute
Quote:
I sent you pics of how a broke 25 yr old cooks cbass - need some help here.... |
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04-21-2015, 07:55 PM | #15 |
CEO of Team Roby
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 905
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Beautiful fish and great pics....congrats!!
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04-21-2015, 08:33 PM | #16 |
Team Get $$
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 841
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Great write up. You made the right decision that day. When I saw those pics, I was so stoked I thought I caught it. New avatar pic??....
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The "Y" is silent 2012 Olive PA 12 2011 Papaya Outback |
04-21-2015, 10:41 PM | #17 |
192.168.0.1
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 397
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Very dope
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04-21-2015, 10:47 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,921
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So f'n epic! Not too many guys on here have an OC finbait wsb to their name.
Fever is spreading... |
04-22-2015, 11:38 AM | #19 |
BRTF...bought & paid...
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,247
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Nice , and yep, you were in good hands. They know DP.
Nice paddle pic too...
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Adios Tman Gaffer for Clay the Fishcatcher |
04-21-2015, 09:27 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mission hills
Posts: 133
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great story!
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