Sleigh Ride Sunday 11/19/06

[blackcloud9]

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.

[lamb]

Awesome!!!! 8)

[Dan]

HUGE is right. fun stuff.

[silverbullet]

How do you deflate the swim bladder? Make a small cut? Where?

I would hate to kill one and if I ever hook into a BSB I should know.

Sounds like a good day.
~B

[blackcloud9]

So here's what happened with the release. This fish was huge and when initially surfaced, had air blowing out the anal "vent" :shock: as bubbles,
which quickly subsided as I gasped at the size of the fish.

Even with that, the amount of air remaining inside this fish was enormous, like a big beach ball. Swimming forward deliberately at all times, he was
alert with lightning reactions and feeling fine I promise you, besides being upside-down and full of air....

Any touching of the mouth area elicited instant reaction. Anyway, I spent over 30-minutes with the fish on the surface, following, hoping that the air
would escape somehow on its own. I tried pushing him underwater with the paddle, the gaff handle etc, and would pop up like a giant cork after
half a tailbeat.

So I put three 8oz weights (all I had) together on a line with a small hook, lightly in the lip. You guessed it - didn't budge. I would have needed 10
lbs of lead, and I don't carry an anchor.

With no other options, no boats around and 20 ft visibility with fog, I had to go for a deflation attempt or tow him 2 miles to shore for help, which I
would have gladly done if I thought it would help. On a clearer day, towing Mr BSB to the nearest sportboat would be a good call too.

I carefully put my gaff under a scale way back near the anal fin (less organs way back there), and pulled it as gently as possible into the tight-
stretched skin. Air came rushing out of the spot for a few minutes, and, he deflated - seemed strong as he gave me one last splash and
headed down with strong tailbeats. I was expecting to see a trail of bubbles, but there were none.

I hope that he made it. I did the best I could, and I know there is always a risk of infection and complications from any release, complicated by my
3 oz bucktail inside the mouth or stomach somewhere(inhaled the thing), I couldn't even see the jig, and, cetainly couldn't boga grip that beast.

This was my first black seabass, and I'll try not to hook anymore!

Here's some video of Giants of La Jolla
http://youtube.com/watch?v=v7ag2mQehGc