Fishing for White Sea Bass? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Lucky · 03-19-2011, 12:16 AM

And finally catching a White Sea Bass. What a concept!

This is my first post on Big Waters Edge, but I have been following this site for years. Great site! And I have learned a lot from some really great fishermen. Thank you. One of the best lessons I've learned is to stop reading about it and just go fishing! Sounds easy, right? Well that is easier said then done. Like many, I don't get out on the water as much as I would like to. So, when I go fishing I really need to make it count. Just like most of the people that read these posts I am passionate about fishing but life, kids, wife, family, work, money, ect... get in the way.

After doing a lot of research all the clues pointed in one direction it seemed. Like many of you, after trying for some time on my own, I had to swallow a little pride and finally decided to hire THE DARKHORSE. If I had to give one word to describe my experience with him: Amazing!! I learned more with him in two trips at La Jolla then I have my entire life as a fisherman.

My first trip with him was pretty enlightening. It was mid Winter and everyone I spoke with told me it was dead out there. And even Josh was reluctant to get my hopes up when giving me realistic odds of success at the time. We set out on a crisp cool day and he showed me a number of spots to focus my attention in the future. While doing so, I got to pull on some big fish! Not exactly what we were looking for at the time, but big fish none the less. One of which being a big Black Sea Bass and the other being a Thresher Shark. Both of which were released to fight another day. A great warm up as he put it.

I stayed in contact with him and was dieing to catch that trophy fish which has eluded me for so long. Josh told me to come back in March and he "would put me on a White Sea Bass". He said it with such conviction I believed him, but who says that? My next trip I found out who. The surf was large on this day and the wind was howling by the time we made it to the point. I had my doubts as I spoke with the anglers coming in. None of the reports were good and I was even warned to not go out while on the beach. Josh's eyes were glued to the sonar most of this trip, but when he told me fish were below the boat......I hooked up! At one point we had a double going but after extended battles these fish were lost. We both got our hooks back and the fish swam away cleanly. I could feel the head shakes and the fish simply shook the hook before they met the gaff. I was distraught! Josh reminded me to get my head back in the game...so I did.

And it paid off with another strike........my new fifty pound screen-saver!!!

After the fish was safely on deck I was beaming with stoke. It was a ridiculous experience really.......and I asked Josh when do you just call it catching? At what point can you stop calling it fishing and start calling it CATCHING? He just gave me a smile in response. Josh is a professional Kayak CATCHING guide. If you ever get tired of just fishing I'd suggest giving him a call. With his help I was finally able to get my trophy!!

RedSledTeam · 03-19-2011, 01:31 AM

Congratulations on a fish of a lifetime .....Lucky!

jorluivil · 03-19-2011, 03:58 AM

WOW!!!!

roadx · 03-19-2011, 05:46 AM

looks like money well spent, congrats! i have been dreaming of a fish like that.

you may have been lucky, now you will have to change your name to skilled

good luck on the next one

man what a fish!

erinoo · 03-19-2011, 06:50 AM

Now thats a nice fish...way to go.

driftwood · 03-19-2011, 07:36 AM

And who said money can't buy happiness???

Yes, signing up with Josh is money well spent! Last year with Josh's help
i cauhgt

in just one day. I released 4 and kept 1.

Congrats!! thats another whale.

deepdvr · 03-19-2011, 07:38 AM

Well done! I heard about the nasty conditions the day you were out. Way to stay focused.

Croaker Dave · 03-19-2011, 08:57 AM

Congratulations on an awesome WSB! That's a huge fish.

What did he hit on?

Jimmyz123 · 03-19-2011, 09:03 AM

Nice catch.

bigbarrels · 03-19-2011, 09:27 AM

Congrats

Thanks for the report! I know what I'm doing in the near future

wade · 03-19-2011, 09:31 AM

Congratulations nice

Lucky!!!!
i heard about a few big uns being removed!.....

theluckypig · 03-19-2011, 10:44 AM

great fish!

Hypoxic1 · 03-19-2011, 10:50 AM

Congratulations on that fish of a lifetime. Welcome to the club !

Josh is a great teacher of technique and patience.

Hope the next great fish comes along soon !!

Chris

old_rookie · 03-19-2011, 10:52 AM

Awesome catch!! Well done.

lterrero · 03-19-2011, 10:51 AM

What? a Feeling!!! Congratulations

THE DARKHORSE · 03-21-2011, 12:18 AM

You did everything perfect on those fish. Some fish are just better at getting away than others. You've got to love those head shakes, though.
Now we can move on to big Yellowtail.

Disclaimer: All this talk about money---even with my polarized glasses on I still can't see it

.

Fiskadoro · 03-21-2011, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE DARKHORSE

Disclaimer: All this talk about money---even with my polarized glasses on I still can't see it

.

No-one ever said you'd get rich fishing but I imagine you sure would have a good time trying to do it

Congrats on the quality fish. Maybe I'll see you down there soon.

Jim

dfroggy54 · 03-21-2011, 02:12 PM

Thats a Tank...are you sure theres not another seabass in that belly? WTG

-scallywag- · 03-21-2011, 07:39 AM

Nice work guys!!!

Gotta love pull'in on fish in the slop without a soul in sight

bellcon · 03-21-2011, 08:49 AM

Fishing for WSB with the DARKHORSE... a couple hundie $$ ?
Catching that WSB... PRICELESS

Congrats
on the experience!

03-19-2011, 12:16 AM	#1
Lucky Junior Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 2	Fishing for White Sea Bass? And finally catching a White Sea Bass. What a concept! This is my first post on Big Waters Edge, but I have been following this site for years. Great site! And I have learned a lot from some really great fishermen. Thank you. One of the best lessons I've learned is to stop reading about it and just go fishing! Sounds easy, right? Well that is easier said then done. Like many, I don't get out on the water as much as I would like to. So, when I go fishing I really need to make it count. Just like most of the people that read these posts I am passionate about fishing but life, kids, wife, family, work, money, ect... get in the way. After doing a lot of research all the clues pointed in one direction it seemed. Like many of you, after trying for some time on my own, I had to swallow a little pride and finally decided to hire THE DARKHORSE. If I had to give one word to describe my experience with him: Amazing!! I learned more with him in two trips at La Jolla then I have my entire life as a fisherman. My first trip with him was pretty enlightening. It was mid Winter and everyone I spoke with told me it was dead out there. And even Josh was reluctant to get my hopes up when giving me realistic odds of success at the time. We set out on a crisp cool day and he showed me a number of spots to focus my attention in the future. While doing so, I got to pull on some big fish! Not exactly what we were looking for at the time, but big fish none the less. One of which being a big Black Sea Bass and the other being a Thresher Shark. Both of which were released to fight another day. A great warm up as he put it. I stayed in contact with him and was dieing to catch that trophy fish which has eluded me for so long. Josh told me to come back in March and he "would put me on a White Sea Bass". He said it with such conviction I believed him, but who says that? My next trip I found out who. The surf was large on this day and the wind was howling by the time we made it to the point. I had my doubts as I spoke with the anglers coming in. None of the reports were good and I was even warned to not go out while on the beach. Josh's eyes were glued to the sonar most of this trip, but when he told me fish were below the boat......I hooked up! At one point we had a double going but after extended battles these fish were lost. We both got our hooks back and the fish swam away cleanly. I could feel the head shakes and the fish simply shook the hook before they met the gaff. I was distraught! Josh reminded me to get my head back in the game...so I did. And it paid off with another strike........my new fifty pound screen-saver!!! After the fish was safely on deck I was beaming with stoke. It was a ridiculous experience really.......and I asked Josh when do you just call it catching? At what point can you stop calling it fishing and start calling it CATCHING? He just gave me a smile in response. Josh is a professional Kayak CATCHING guide. If you ever get tired of just fishing I'd suggest giving him a call. With his help I was finally able to get my trophy!!

03-19-2011, 05:46 AM	#4
roadx . Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,155	looks like money well spent, congrats! i have been dreaming of a fish like that. you may have been lucky, now you will have to change your name to skilled good luck on the next one man what a fish! __________________

03-19-2011, 09:03 AM	#9
Jimmyz123 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,385	Nice catch. __________________ No better time than being on the water, God Bless, JimmyZ

03-19-2011, 09:31 AM	#11
wade Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,214	Congratulations nice Lucky!!!! i heard about a few big uns being removed!..... __________________

03-19-2011, 10:50 AM	#13
Hypoxic1 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oceanside Posts: 215	Best first post Ive seen in a long time! Congratulations on that fish of a lifetime. Welcome to the club ! Josh is a great teacher of technique and patience. Hope the next great fish comes along soon !! Chris

03-19-2011, 01:31 AM	#2
RedSledTeam Daddeo Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: OC Posts: 660	Congratulations on a fish of a lifetime .....Lucky!

03-19-2011, 03:58 AM	#3
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	WOW!!!!

03-19-2011, 06:50 AM	#5
erinoo Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Carlsbad,,Halfway up the Hill Posts: 486	Now thats a nice fish...way to go.

03-19-2011, 07:36 AM	#6
driftwood Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SAN DIEGO Posts: 1,086	And who said money can't buy happiness??? Yes, signing up with Josh is money well spent! Last year with Josh's help i cauhgt in just one day. I released 4 and kept 1. Congrats!! thats another whale.

03-19-2011, 07:38 AM	#7
deepdvr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 591	Well done! I heard about the nasty conditions the day you were out. Way to stay focused.

03-19-2011, 08:57 AM	#8
Croaker Dave Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: OC Posts: 171	Congratulations on an awesome WSB! That's a huge fish. What did he hit on?

03-19-2011, 09:27 AM	#10
bigbarrels Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vista Posts: 1,111	Congrats Thanks for the report! I know what I'm doing in the near future

03-19-2011, 10:44 AM	#12
theluckypig Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: San Pedro Posts: 694	great fish!

03-19-2011, 10:52 AM	#14
old_rookie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Santee Posts: 904	Awesome catch!! Well done.

03-19-2011, 10:51 AM	#15
lterrero Leo Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: La Jolla, CA Posts: 482	What? a Feeling!!! Congratulations

03-21-2011, 12:18 AM	#16
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	Awesome job, Jared! You did everything perfect on those fish. Some fish are just better at getting away than others. You've got to love those head shakes, though. Now we can move on to big Yellowtail. Disclaimer: All this talk about money---even with my polarized glasses on I still can't see it . __________________

03-21-2011, 02:12 PM	#18
dfroggy54 Rolly Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 245	Thats a Tank...are you sure theres not another seabass in that belly? WTG __________________ I Fish. I catch. I Eat.

03-21-2011, 07:39 AM	#19
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	Nice work guys!!! Gotta love pull'in on fish in the slop without a soul in sight

03-21-2011, 08:49 AM	#20
bellcon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Pedro Posts: 999	Fishing for WSB with the DARKHORSE... a couple hundie $$ ? Catching that WSB... PRICELESS Congrats on the experience! __________________