Fishing for White Sea Bass?

[Lucky]

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!!