Halloween comes early...ghost came out.

[Irishman]

Today was a day I will always remember. It's been ten trips to LJ for me, seeking yellow tail but always looking on in marvel when someone scores a white seabass. I have never caught one before...that is until today.
Started with my wingman Kevin at 05:30 at the launch, we had a plan of sorts, based on lots of reading and theories I am sure made up in our mind that made perfect sense.
Making bait was as usual, mix of Spanish and greenies. I got lucky on the greenie side of things. We paddled out to the place we thought we should be and fly lined from about 7am till noon, going here and there.
About 1pm I ask Kevin if he wants to paddle north a bit, plan was to go out northbound and then let the wind drift us back towards the kelp. While doing this I am replaying all the visual cues I remember from last Sunday. You know how it goes....I was here when I saw him catch that over there kind of thing.
I had planned on fishing the bottom while soaking a bait on top. So I did just that.
Second soak on the bottom and I am enjoying the day, thinking about what does the bottom surface look like...I can feel my 3oz sinker hit and then come loose for a 10-15' bump before hitting bottom again.
Well the reel started singing and singing and singing. I let out a yell after about 5 mins when I thought I was going to get spooled. But I got line back and enjoyed a sleigh ride and was blessed to have a fish decide to help me by using its swim bladder.
I can't thank Kevin enough for the assist in stowing this on my kayak, it was a two man job and I would have been in the weeds with this in my lap. The fish did it's best to elevate my gator hatch to new heights and made my kayak a little heavier and landing front heavy.
It's my personal best and I am too tired from smiling