Finally, my turn.... WSB 4/19

[seaquinn]

Headed out last Thursday 4/19. I didn't launch until after 9:00am. One guy was coming in with about a 15 pound WSB. Only two power boats, and about 6-7 kayaks. overcast and some decent sized waves crashing. I took out my 10+ year old Cobra Tandem, just for fun. First drop, 5 nice macs, perfect size.

I only took one trolling rod, no weight. Just pinned on one mac, trolled about a half hour, three times he got caught in kelp. Then after a little while, sure enough, a solid bite, stopped, ran again, twice, and then after the count to seven, line getting low, put in gear and fish on.

I knew it was big, and figured it wasn't a YT, due to the strike.

Fought awhile, a couple seals came around and I was scared to lose whatever it was. Then it got tied up in kelp. Wow, looooooong time pulling on kelp, with no headway, but I kept feeling it pull now and then. One guy came by, and said, "patience". I had 50lb braid and 25" flourocarbon, and that braid is strong! I ended up after about an hour, literally, of tugging on kelp, just about as hard as I could. I even spent time reading the brand of my rod, praying to spirits, hoping the kelp would eventually break, and sure enough, after about an hour some line came in, and I pulled up a whole stringer of kelp, with this guy attached.

My personal best WSB before was only about 15 pounds, (only two before in my life), and the last one was about 7 years ago! (Heads go to Hubbs SeaWorld)

This guy was driven down to Dana Landing and weighed in at 60.2 pounds! Oh my god.... it feels good to FINALLY land a big one! And a month ago my biggest halibut ever, at only 11 pounds, but the year is starting out nice. And limits of rockfish two weeks ago with my two sons..... 30 nice ones. Yee-hah!