LJ WSB, im gonna need a bigger gaff. - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

dfroggy54 · 04-17-2010, 03:52 PM

Arrived at LJ around 6:15 and felt like I was late..and I was! The night before, I even told myself I better go to sleep and stop servicing reels and rigging leaders. ( I was rigging for threshers. Last week my hook pulled out of a thresher using a 2/0 ringed gorilla) This time, I armed myself with another setup with fresh line, greased up drags, and a 5/0 hook just in case I see signs for the big uns!

The morning overcast light was coming up, and my kayak was still on the truck. Nobody was there launching at this time except two other people (in which I thought I was REALLY late!). I figured, im here already and I cant beat a nice day of paddling. So, as I approached the beach, I noticed that the sand receded about thirty yards..low tide. Finally got onto the water, cut through the surf, passed the Buoy line and released my sabiki for some bait. I was out the other week before it rained and that spot was blown up with bait, but not today. I ventured west for about 10 minutes towards some crashing birds. I dropped my sabiki down and brought up a full line of healthy greenbacks. I remember flipping on the switch to my bait tank, only to realize that either my battery had ran out or, something disconnected. Crap!... Bottom line was, I had no power. That meant, no bait tank, no fish finder...I knew I could do without both but, they are key to getting on the scattered bait. With my sabiki full with greenbacks (and no place to put em live), I noticed one of them was exceptionally larger than the others. I quickly grabbed my larger setup..30lb maxima, 40lb leader (smk blue mono), 5/0 hook, 1/2 ounce carolina. Stuck that beauty on the nose, and soaked it right in the same spot on the surface. I’m sure you all know what happens next...about five minutes later. I hear my trinidad singing the best song in the world...ZzzZzzZ!! I pick up the rod, and put it in free spool w/ clicker on, thumb carefully on spool...I let the fish take line. Once I knew he ate the mack, I put the reel into gear and then set the hook.... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!! Whatever it was, I pissed it off!!! Immediately, my kayak turned and fish on!I looked at the clock on my GPS 7:50 am. The fish pulled me about 30 yards and then did a nose dive. There, I was at a stalemate with the fish for what seemed the longest time. I remember ratdog swinging by and saying, "its definetly not a thresher, might be a black seabass". After pinned down to my kayak and my rod bendo, I was stuck, and honestly a little frustrated..

. This was my second bait in the water for that day, the previous being a sardine, got hung on the bottom, only to be released by hand lining it. In my mind I thought, maybe I should do the same, its probably just a thresher or black seabass. So...confident with my knots and new lines, I buttoned down the drag and put a lean on that rod like no other. A risky move.... my tip straightened and I was like...whew, im free off the bottom. As I reeled in though, I felt more tension yet again and a head shake! After one more brief run he had nothing left in him, or did I in my back! The fish finally showed its face and all I could see was a black shadow. I thought what the heck is that?!? As it circled on the left side of my kayak, and I see a big barred silver back and white purple flash, I came to the realization that I just hooked a big white sea bass.

I grabbed my gaff which belittled the fish and hauled his head onto my lap. I grabbed my knife and gave him a brain frappe. Game over.
Weight on the Digital scale at Dana landing. 55 lbs, 5' from nose to tail.

bellcon · 04-17-2010, 04:12 PM

Thats a beauty
Congrats

Best 10th post of all time?

dfroggy54 · 04-17-2010, 04:37 PM

has it been 10 posts already? man, ive come a long way. haha

WahooUSMA · 04-17-2010, 05:51 PM

Nice!

CobraTandem · 04-17-2010, 05:57 PM

Congrats! That's one nice fish.

old_rookie · 04-17-2010, 06:16 PM

That's awesome.

dorado123 · 04-17-2010, 07:01 PM

very very nice .....

Matt · 04-17-2010, 07:08 PM

Nice one!!

Limits · 04-17-2010, 07:08 PM

SICK! Congrats bro!

T Bone · 04-17-2010, 07:54 PM

Sweet! The grade of

right now is about as good as it could possibly be I think.

ratdog · 04-17-2010, 07:56 PM

What an awesome fish, great job bringing him up. The picture is good but it sure looked bigger on the beach. Congrats.

blitzburgh · 04-17-2010, 08:19 PM

Jeebus!

sandydiego · 04-17-2010, 08:23 PM

Nice fish.

Tman · 04-17-2010, 08:40 PM

Nice beeskit...

congrats...

TheNewGuy81 · 04-17-2010, 11:08 PM

very nice... nice story

bigbarrels · 04-18-2010, 08:36 AM

awesome! Congrats

lamb · 04-18-2010, 09:33 AM

Beautiful fish, great report!!!

Big time congrats

T-Rex · 04-18-2010, 01:53 PM

Nice

. Congrats on some good eats

j mo · 04-18-2010, 02:18 PM

Way to make it happen Rolly!

PS Your dad looks as stoked as you!

fknricter · 04-18-2010, 04:51 PM

nice one! i was parked over by you, good to meet you and congrats!

my report should be up in a bit!

04-17-2010, 03:52 PM	#1
dfroggy54 Rolly Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 245	LJ WSB, im gonna need a bigger gaff. Arrived at LJ around 6:15 and felt like I was late..and I was! The night before, I even told myself I better go to sleep and stop servicing reels and rigging leaders. ( I was rigging for threshers. Last week my hook pulled out of a thresher using a 2/0 ringed gorilla) This time, I armed myself with another setup with fresh line, greased up drags, and a 5/0 hook just in case I see signs for the big uns! The morning overcast light was coming up, and my kayak was still on the truck. Nobody was there launching at this time except two other people (in which I thought I was REALLY late!). I figured, im here already and I cant beat a nice day of paddling. So, as I approached the beach, I noticed that the sand receded about thirty yards..low tide. Finally got onto the water, cut through the surf, passed the Buoy line and released my sabiki for some bait. I was out the other week before it rained and that spot was blown up with bait, but not today. I ventured west for about 10 minutes towards some crashing birds. I dropped my sabiki down and brought up a full line of healthy greenbacks. I remember flipping on the switch to my bait tank, only to realize that either my battery had ran out or, something disconnected. Crap!... Bottom line was, I had no power. That meant, no bait tank, no fish finder...I knew I could do without both but, they are key to getting on the scattered bait. With my sabiki full with greenbacks (and no place to put em live), I noticed one of them was exceptionally larger than the others. I quickly grabbed my larger setup..30lb maxima, 40lb leader (smk blue mono), 5/0 hook, 1/2 ounce carolina. Stuck that beauty on the nose, and soaked it right in the same spot on the surface. I’m sure you all know what happens next...about five minutes later. I hear my trinidad singing the best song in the world...ZzzZzzZ!! I pick up the rod, and put it in free spool w/ clicker on, thumb carefully on spool...I let the fish take line. Once I knew he ate the mack, I put the reel into gear and then set the hook.... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!! Whatever it was, I pissed it off!!! Immediately, my kayak turned and fish on!I looked at the clock on my GPS 7:50 am. The fish pulled me about 30 yards and then did a nose dive. There, I was at a stalemate with the fish for what seemed the longest time. I remember ratdog swinging by and saying, "its definetly not a thresher, might be a black seabass". After pinned down to my kayak and my rod bendo, I was stuck, and honestly a little frustrated... This was my second bait in the water for that day, the previous being a sardine, got hung on the bottom, only to be released by hand lining it. In my mind I thought, maybe I should do the same, its probably just a thresher or black seabass. So...confident with my knots and new lines, I buttoned down the drag and put a lean on that rod like no other. A risky move.... my tip straightened and I was like...whew, im free off the bottom. As I reeled in though, I felt more tension yet again and a head shake! After one more brief run he had nothing left in him, or did I in my back! The fish finally showed its face and all I could see was a black shadow. I thought what the heck is that?!? As it circled on the left side of my kayak, and I see a big barred silver back and white purple flash, I came to the realization that I just hooked a big white sea bass. I grabbed my gaff which belittled the fish and hauled his head onto my lap. I grabbed my knife and gave him a brain frappe. Game over. Weight on the Digital scale at Dana landing. 55 lbs, 5' from nose to tail.

04-17-2010, 04:12 PM	#2
bellcon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Pedro Posts: 999	Thats a beauty Congrats Best 10th post of all time? __________________

04-17-2010, 05:51 PM	#4
WahooUSMA Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 753	Nice! __________________ GO ARMY BEAT NAVY! Bad decisions make great stories!

04-17-2010, 07:08 PM	#8
Matt Support your local pangas Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lj Posts: 976	Nice one!! __________________ Thanks Matt F.

04-17-2010, 07:54 PM	#10
T Bone Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Redlands CA Posts: 871	Sweet! The grade of right now is about as good as it could possibly be I think. __________________ Barachit Baralah,Elohim-In the beginning,God-Genesis 1:1 "Who among you,if your son asked for a fish would give them a serpent " Jesus Matt. 7:10

04-17-2010, 04:37 PM	#3
dfroggy54 Rolly Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 245	has it been 10 posts already? man, ive come a long way. haha

04-17-2010, 05:57 PM	#5
CobraTandem Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 76	Congrats! That's one nice fish.

04-17-2010, 06:16 PM	#6
old_rookie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Santee Posts: 904	That's awesome.

04-17-2010, 07:01 PM	#7
dorado123 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Garden Grove,CA Posts: 210	very very nice .....

04-17-2010, 07:08 PM	#9
Limits Kayak Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cypress, CA Posts: 200	SICK! Congrats bro!

04-17-2010, 07:56 PM	#11
ratdog Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 424	What an awesome fish, great job bringing him up. The picture is good but it sure looked bigger on the beach. Congrats.

04-17-2010, 08:19 PM	#12
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Jeebus!

04-17-2010, 08:23 PM	#13
sandydiego Rum Pirate Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Wilds of Mira Mesa Posts: 388	Nice fish.

04-17-2010, 08:40 PM	#14
Tman BRTF...bought & paid... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,247	Nice beeskit...congrats... __________________ Adios Tman Gaffer for Clay the Fishcatcher

04-17-2010, 11:08 PM	#15
TheNewGuy81 Junior Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Orange County Posts: 28	very nice... nice story

04-18-2010, 08:36 AM	#16
bigbarrels Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vista Posts: 1,111	awesome! Congrats

04-18-2010, 09:33 AM	#17
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	Beautiful fish, great report!!! Big time congrats __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

04-18-2010, 01:53 PM	#18
T-Rex Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita Posts: 770	Nice . Congrats on some good eats

04-18-2010, 02:18 PM	#19
j mo Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Encinitas Posts: 600	Way to make it happen Rolly! PS Your dad looks as stoked as you!

04-18-2010, 04:51 PM	#20
fknricter Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: redlands, ca Posts: 118	nice one! i was parked over by you, good to meet you and congrats! my report should be up in a bit!