Ghost Fever... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

THE DARKHORSE · 03-23-2009, 02:12 PM

Well, it's that time of year again as we transition from sixty-five degrees and sunny everyday to seventy three degrees and sunny everyday...spring is here. The water temp is holding right around sixty, but you can just feel the change in the air. The first wave of Barricuda has showed up with what seems like a new wave of life. I'm still hopeful we'll get that last big Northwest swell, but the way most of the winter went I'm glad I have fishing to keep my mind off the swells that never came. That said, I'm thankful we had a lackluster surf season because the fishing from last fall through the colder months has been spectacular. I'm not saying you could just plop yourself in front of the condo with a dead-stick iron or simply drag around some Mackerel to no avail, but for those who pay attention to the ever changing patterns and willing to hunt, the stock of fish in La Jolla is thriving. As of late I could see beautiful bird piles outside that would of had me pedaling as fast as I could two weeks ago, but Yellowtail are available year round and I try to prioratize my trophy hunts. This is the time of year to put that fresh spectra on. Maybe spend a little more time with the weighted carolina rigs along the kelp and hunt for that elusive fish who might take you years to catch. White Seabass are the Bluefin Tuna of kayak fishing, equally annoying as they are beautiful. Fishing for them reminds me of when I was a deckhand on private boats with Bluefin jumping all around the boat and boiling on all the Anchovies I threw in the water, but wouldn't even touch 15 lb flourocarbon...smart fish. White Seabass are much smarter than most will ever know. Sure, during a squid-bite in water over a hundred feet, with live squid on the bottom and a limited amount of light in the early morning hours, your chances go up a notch. But, for those who have spent years waking up at 4:00 a.m. and trolling the kelp until they're blue in the face with nothing to show, you probably get the Bluefin analogy.

Some people tend to confuse the amount of White Seabass swimming around by the small number of them caught. We all know the stock of these fish has been on the rise since the gill nets have been pulled, but the hard work from the awesome people at Hubbs is obviously working. Being a sight fisherman, trust me, over the years I'm blown away by the increasing numbers of fish I see swimming below. White Seabass in particular are so damn smart, even with the skilled divers who have quite the advantage over the guys with spectra and patience, their numbers are without a doubt destined to explode in the years to come. Even if we didn't close one inch of precious coastline from "the only people who really care about this fishery", the fisherman themselves.

Here's a fish who let his guard down for a split second, the question is will you be there for that moment in time?

A local angler who I respect for more than his fishing skills recently mentioned the proposal of a possible plan B, maybe focusing on the legal route to save our precious fishery from the obviously corrupt, over funded bias jury we face. I know quite a few anglers who'd be willing to donate a healthy chunk to something that made us feel like we have a shot. From what I've gathered we have plenty of evidence from investors who would qualify as having a "conflict of interest". Not to take away anything from what our great representatives are doing for the kayak community now, but a battlefield has many fronts to cover. Paul you cover the front, we'll flank them from the back.

Here's a fish of a lifetime that even though they're in great numbers most will never see one attached to their hook.

Released to fight another day...probably paired up by now with an attractive male.

I'm well aware of the survival rate of these fish, even though supposedly properly handled with circle-hooks, netted and carefully taken to large fish tanks a percentage of them don't survive. Some will say "you see, even if you let them go they will die". My opinion is if you take a magnificent, brilliant fish, away from their home with the schools of fish they consider family I'm surprised any of the larger smarter fish survive the shock of relocating to a confined tank. I'm very thankful to the awesome people at Hubbs for the obvious effect they've had on the current White Seabass stock. The fish that are relocated to tanks are responsible for more fish being put back into the system than a whole school in the wild if you consider the quantum leap advantage they have by taking away the predators during the formative years the fingerlings face. I'm in no way saying you should lift a big White Seabass out of the water for a photo opportunity, especially if you haven't handled thousands of fish before. This fish was brought to the surface in a minute, hooked in the corner of the mouth, dragged with oxygen rich water for a couple of minutes, then carefully lifted for a super quick photo opportunity. This fish had a giant belly that I would of loved to show off with a lifted pose, but notice that belly is fully supported by my leg and hidden. If done properly and quickly it's possible to slide the fish up and over your leg with a tiny fraction of their weight and less stress on the fish. I've heard the crap about "oh she came to the surface belly-up, I had to take her", but so do Black Seabass even if brought to the surface in a couple of minutes from 30' of water. I think it's the instinct of playing Opossum as much as it could be fatigue. I've released countless Black Seabass without ever having to puncture the air bladder (a big no-no due to the probability of infection) and plenty of trophy White Seabass over the years. I'm confident that any white Seabass who didn't have to endure baby-drag for an extended period of time will release just fine with proper handling. Especially if caught from shallow water and dragged for a while with fresh oxygen over the gills.

Here's video of the best possible feeling derived from a fishing adventure, a feeling most will never let themselves enjoy.
http://larryl.com/images/WhiteSeabas...Spring2009.wmv

linghunter · 03-23-2009, 02:28 PM

F work

! Next time I leave my phone in the car.

Paul

Dan · 03-23-2009, 02:33 PM

Way to push the Limits!

esdees · 03-23-2009, 02:37 PM

Very cool vid. Thanks for sharing.

Sebastian · 03-23-2009, 03:36 PM

Awesome video!

Fiskadoro · 03-23-2009, 03:54 PM

Great Video... especially the end

Jim

jimbo · 03-23-2009, 04:25 PM

Well done!

blackcloud9 · 03-23-2009, 04:29 PM

Nice fish Josh. Just amazing to watch.

Better Quality Remix - http://larryl.com/images/WhiteSeabas...Spring2009.wmv

Well, it was like a dream to watch her swim away like that. Happy.

Obviously I got to witness this unique event, and the timing is perfect. I'm
looking forward to presenting three Kayak White Seabass Seminars at
the Fred Hall Show, Del Mar, this weekend.

Show times are this Friday at 5:30 pm, Saturday at 12:30 pm and Sunday at
12:30 pm

Lots of great speakers and information, new kayaks and gear, I encourage
everyone to come join the fun. (Waterboarding is strictly prohibited, I
actually saw nothing.)

It's time.

Larry

Geoffkoop · 03-23-2009, 04:53 PM

Very cool photos and video!

JPSURF · 03-23-2009, 05:24 PM

Very cool stuff right there Sir!!!!!!!!!!

JP

joyjiggin' · 03-23-2009, 05:58 PM

Thank you for filming and posting that video! Feels like I was there!

DESTROYER · 03-23-2009, 06:32 PM

Insane! Nice Release Josh! I got's to get me one of them this year. 45# is my biggest. Absolutely Fish Porn....

Moyer

blackcloud9 · 03-23-2009, 06:41 PM

Blumpkin, reasoning was probably that he was helping friends catch bait,
and got bit reeling the bait in.

I seen it.

[Josh fwiw don't take the bait, act like a WSB]

Matt · 03-23-2009, 06:52 PM

Well Josh, doesn't need to take the bait. The fish was released and swam off just fine. I know Josh and will hands down say he is one of the most ethical fisherman I know plain and simple. Larry was there and just testified to what happened 'nuff said.

OH YEAH NICE FISH, BETTER THAN THE DINNER I WENT TOO!!!

Tman · 03-23-2009, 06:52 PM

Nice feeesh there Josh...

see ya soon...

driftwood · 03-23-2009, 07:19 PM

So that's what i missed out on. I should of just dealt with the wind and gone for it and met you at the spot. WOW! catch and release - the fish Gods are smiling. Thanks for helping me hook up my first 50 lb WSB last Wednesday. Did you like the way i realeased it?

im sure it survived to live another day. Your fishing techniques are very methodical and definetly not main stream. Which for me now makes the WSB, and in the words of Hemingway, "elusive but quite attainable"!

ps - My wife says that I need to keep the next one I catch because she loves WSB.

bellcon · 03-23-2009, 07:51 PM

way to go Josh... you should think about starting a guide service...i am just saying

and the video was cool
thanks blackcloud9 i could not get the first link to work

Vikingj · 03-23-2009, 08:11 PM

Magnificent! Thanks for taking time to present such a thoughtful post with video & photos.

yakrider · 03-23-2009, 08:47 PM

what a day ...I hope to get to come down and play again soon...
the fish will just have to wait for the work to get done...

great story and awesome release...
two years ago...
the fish in my avatar was a result of an epic two week bite...
I had the good fortune to experience some C&R on some nice WSB..
what a great feeling...thank you for reminding me of my experience...
can't wait for the day I get to release a 40lb yellow...
'cause if I do, it'll mean the freezer's full....

Pescavore1 · 03-23-2009, 08:54 PM

That's amazing work with precision of a surgeon. Awesome!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by driftwood

So that's what i missed out on. I should of just dealt with the wind and gone for it and met you at the spot..

Too bad you did not meet up with Josh. That fish could have been yours. Come to think of it, Josh's last 2 WSB could have been yours.

Stop putting off your trophy hunt and get out there!!!

03-23-2009, 02:12 PM	#1
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	Ghost Fever... Well, it's that time of year again as we transition from sixty-five degrees and sunny everyday to seventy three degrees and sunny everyday...spring is here. The water temp is holding right around sixty, but you can just feel the change in the air. The first wave of Barricuda has showed up with what seems like a new wave of life. I'm still hopeful we'll get that last big Northwest swell, but the way most of the winter went I'm glad I have fishing to keep my mind off the swells that never came. That said, I'm thankful we had a lackluster surf season because the fishing from last fall through the colder months has been spectacular. I'm not saying you could just plop yourself in front of the condo with a dead-stick iron or simply drag around some Mackerel to no avail, but for those who pay attention to the ever changing patterns and willing to hunt, the stock of fish in La Jolla is thriving. As of late I could see beautiful bird piles outside that would of had me pedaling as fast as I could two weeks ago, but Yellowtail are available year round and I try to prioratize my trophy hunts. This is the time of year to put that fresh spectra on. Maybe spend a little more time with the weighted carolina rigs along the kelp and hunt for that elusive fish who might take you years to catch. White Seabass are the Bluefin Tuna of kayak fishing, equally annoying as they are beautiful. Fishing for them reminds me of when I was a deckhand on private boats with Bluefin jumping all around the boat and boiling on all the Anchovies I threw in the water, but wouldn't even touch 15 lb flourocarbon...smart fish. White Seabass are much smarter than most will ever know. Sure, during a squid-bite in water over a hundred feet, with live squid on the bottom and a limited amount of light in the early morning hours, your chances go up a notch. But, for those who have spent years waking up at 4:00 a.m. and trolling the kelp until they're blue in the face with nothing to show, you probably get the Bluefin analogy. Some people tend to confuse the amount of White Seabass swimming around by the small number of them caught. We all know the stock of these fish has been on the rise since the gill nets have been pulled, but the hard work from the awesome people at Hubbs is obviously working. Being a sight fisherman, trust me, over the years I'm blown away by the increasing numbers of fish I see swimming below. White Seabass in particular are so damn smart, even with the skilled divers who have quite the advantage over the guys with spectra and patience, their numbers are without a doubt destined to explode in the years to come. Even if we didn't close one inch of precious coastline from "the only people who really care about this fishery", the fisherman themselves. Here's a fish who let his guard down for a split second, the question is will you be there for that moment in time? A local angler who I respect for more than his fishing skills recently mentioned the proposal of a possible plan B, maybe focusing on the legal route to save our precious fishery from the obviously corrupt, over funded bias jury we face. I know quite a few anglers who'd be willing to donate a healthy chunk to something that made us feel like we have a shot. From what I've gathered we have plenty of evidence from investors who would qualify as having a "conflict of interest". Not to take away anything from what our great representatives are doing for the kayak community now, but a battlefield has many fronts to cover. Paul you cover the front, we'll flank them from the back. Here's a fish of a lifetime that even though they're in great numbers most will never see one attached to their hook. Released to fight another day...probably paired up by now with an attractive male. I'm well aware of the survival rate of these fish, even though supposedly properly handled with circle-hooks, netted and carefully taken to large fish tanks a percentage of them don't survive. Some will say "you see, even if you let them go they will die". My opinion is if you take a magnificent, brilliant fish, away from their home with the schools of fish they consider family I'm surprised any of the larger smarter fish survive the shock of relocating to a confined tank. I'm very thankful to the awesome people at Hubbs for the obvious effect they've had on the current White Seabass stock. The fish that are relocated to tanks are responsible for more fish being put back into the system than a whole school in the wild if you consider the quantum leap advantage they have by taking away the predators during the formative years the fingerlings face. I'm in no way saying you should lift a big White Seabass out of the water for a photo opportunity, especially if you haven't handled thousands of fish before. This fish was brought to the surface in a minute, hooked in the corner of the mouth, dragged with oxygen rich water for a couple of minutes, then carefully lifted for a super quick photo opportunity. This fish had a giant belly that I would of loved to show off with a lifted pose, but notice that belly is fully supported by my leg and hidden. If done properly and quickly it's possible to slide the fish up and over your leg with a tiny fraction of their weight and less stress on the fish. I've heard the crap about "oh she came to the surface belly-up, I had to take her", but so do Black Seabass even if brought to the surface in a couple of minutes from 30' of water. I think it's the instinct of playing Opossum as much as it could be fatigue. I've released countless Black Seabass without ever having to puncture the air bladder (a big no-no due to the probability of infection) and plenty of trophy White Seabass over the years. I'm confident that any white Seabass who didn't have to endure baby-drag for an extended period of time will release just fine with proper handling. Especially if caught from shallow water and dragged for a while with fresh oxygen over the gills. Here's video of the best possible feeling derived from a fishing adventure, a feeling most will never let themselves enjoy. http://larryl.com/images/WhiteSeabas...Spring2009.wmv __________________ Last edited by THE DARKHORSE; 03-24-2009 at 01:51 PM.

03-23-2009, 02:28 PM	#2
linghunter skunk Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 61	You da man! F work! Next time I leave my phone in the car. Paul

03-23-2009, 04:25 PM	#7
jimbo Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: san diego Posts: 97	double! Well done! __________________ that's why they call it fishing

03-23-2009, 04:29 PM	#8
blackcloud9 Kayaker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Big Rock, WindanSea, La Jolla Posts: 413	Nice fish Josh. Just amazing to watch. Better Quality Remix - http://larryl.com/images/WhiteSeabas...Spring2009.wmv Well, it was like a dream to watch her swim away like that. Happy. Obviously I got to witness this unique event, and the timing is perfect. I'm looking forward to presenting three Kayak White Seabass Seminars at the Fred Hall Show, Del Mar, this weekend. Show times are this Friday at 5:30 pm, Saturday at 12:30 pm and Sunday at 12:30 pm Lots of great speakers and information, new kayaks and gear, I encourage everyone to come join the fun. (Waterboarding is strictly prohibited, I actually saw nothing.) It's time. Larry Last edited by blackcloud9; 03-24-2009 at 06:10 AM. Reason: Shameless plug; new video

03-23-2009, 06:52 PM	#14
Matt Support your local pangas Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lj Posts: 976	Well Josh, doesn't need to take the bait. The fish was released and swam off just fine. I know Josh and will hands down say he is one of the most ethical fisherman I know plain and simple. Larry was there and just testified to what happened 'nuff said. OH YEAH NICE FISH, BETTER THAN THE DINNER I WENT TOO!!! __________________ Thanks Matt F.

03-23-2009, 02:33 PM	#3
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,053	Way to push the Limits!

03-23-2009, 02:37 PM	#4
esdees The Good Clone Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Clairemont Posts: 520	Very cool vid. Thanks for sharing.

03-23-2009, 03:36 PM	#5
Sebastian Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 35	Awesome video!

03-23-2009, 03:54 PM	#6
Fiskadoro ....... Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,509	Great Video... especially the end Jim

03-23-2009, 04:53 PM	#9
Geoffkoop Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: So. Orange County Posts: 302	Very cool photos and video!

03-23-2009, 05:24 PM	#10
JPSURF Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 86	Very cool stuff right there Sir!!!!!!!!!! JP

03-23-2009, 05:58 PM	#11
joyjiggin' Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 109	Thank you for filming and posting that video! Feels like I was there!

03-23-2009, 06:32 PM	#12
DESTROYER Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: "The Table" Posts: 976	Insane! Nice Release Josh! I got's to get me one of them this year. 45# is my biggest. Absolutely Fish Porn.... Moyer

03-23-2009, 06:41 PM	#13
blackcloud9 Kayaker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Big Rock, WindanSea, La Jolla Posts: 413	Blumpkin, reasoning was probably that he was helping friends catch bait, and got bit reeling the bait in. I seen it. [Josh fwiw don't take the bait, act like a WSB]

03-23-2009, 06:52 PM	#15
Tman BRTF...bought & paid... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,247	Nice feeesh there Josh...see ya soon... __________________ Adios Tman Gaffer for Clay the Fishcatcher

03-23-2009, 07:19 PM	#16
driftwood Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SAN DIEGO Posts: 1,086	So that's what i missed out on. I should of just dealt with the wind and gone for it and met you at the spot. WOW! catch and release - the fish Gods are smiling. Thanks for helping me hook up my first 50 lb WSB last Wednesday. Did you like the way i realeased it? im sure it survived to live another day. Your fishing techniques are very methodical and definetly not main stream. Which for me now makes the WSB, and in the words of Hemingway, "elusive but quite attainable"! ps - My wife says that I need to keep the next one I catch because she loves WSB.

03-23-2009, 07:51 PM	#17
bellcon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Pedro Posts: 999	way to go Josh... you should think about starting a guide service...i am just saying and the video was cool thanks blackcloud9 i could not get the first link to work

03-23-2009, 08:11 PM	#18
Vikingj Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dana Point area Posts: 438	Magnificent! Thanks for taking time to present such a thoughtful post with video & photos.

03-23-2009, 08:47 PM	#19
yakrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 611	what a day ...I hope to get to come down and play again soon... the fish will just have to wait for the work to get done... great story and awesome release... two years ago... the fish in my avatar was a result of an epic two week bite... I had the good fortune to experience some C&R on some nice WSB.. what a great feeling...thank you for reminding me of my experience... can't wait for the day I get to release a 40lb yellow... 'cause if I do, it'll mean the freezer's full....