Sleigh Ride Sunday 11/19/06

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Launched the Adventure from Big Rock around 11
AM after taking a morning beach walk with the
kids, goofing around with gear, and some
honeydoos. Yawn.

Beautiful sunny day, glassy and pretty flat.
Current was strong from the north, decided to
get some excercise - check my rockfish areas.
Headed out to where there were some boats, and
metered deep bait spots over 2 miles out at 283
degrees around the lobster traps in 130'.

Fishing this white plastic, I caught 2 reds and
2 just short lings in 20 minutes. Fun stuff on
the little Calcutta 250 and bass rod.







While drifting south, I rigged a 4 oz bucktail
on the AVET SX (pretty light gear) and dropped
that down for the drift, hoping to get a
rockfish or ling as I fished the leadhead on the
bass rod.

Suddenly, I found myself on the mother of all
sleigh rides, wondering if I was going to wake
up from a dream. The 8 foot rod was full-bendo
for a good 40 minutes as I was towed all over
and around a few lobster ropes as the fog moved
in.

Realizing this was a huge fish that needed extra
pullin' and my 20# topshot was still holding
well, I put the lever drag up to FULL and got
every inch of line I could get, when I could.

It was an incredible battle that I thought
may never end.

After over an hour, the fish finally came up to
color. I got a glimpse of the big Black Seabass
underwater, just before it popped belly up for
pictures. It was like 5 feet long, I won't even
guess at the weight. Huge.






My foot, size 11










After much care, I was able to deflate the swim
bladder, and the monster swam back to the
depths. Biggest thing I've caught from the
kayak besides that big Thresher in spring. What
a ride!



And tacos too.