“Calm down. Ghosts don’t ring the doorbell.”
 

A first for me…
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Got to the launch around 445am and met Troy(zed), John(cabojohn) & Lea, got all rigged up and on the water just after 5. I’ve spent a good chunk of time fishing DP the last few springs searching for what everyone else is searching for, a springtime Seabass - but Troy & John know Dana really well and I was excited to learn a thing or five-hundred million from the seasoned vets who have fished there long before I ever did. Anticipation was high for this trip even more-so than normal when the conditions are looking good.

We all made easy greenbacks at the headlands good-sized 6-8” with a couple jumbo mixed in. John & Lea had a nasty seal try to board and raid their tank but john took care of that real quick with a swift 10 or so doinks with his paddle…..Worked the area off the kelp down to ritz point and back for nothing with a Carolina rig 2oz. Fishing was slow but there was a lot of life and bait was thick. At this point there was a decent wind building and so we made a long paddle to a new spot to set a drift in about 60’. We would drift out to about 85’ over some good structure the entire time - then paddle back to set the drift. We did this several times, but one of those times my number got called.
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I was drifting in about 75’ with my bait out and in the rod holder while I was fishing a jig. I made a cast with the jig and noticed a docile bait decide to wake up out of nowhere. I quickly retrieved the jig, staring at the rod in the holder until I could put the jig away and grab it. When I picked up the rod, the bait was just cruising along normally, it was there, I felt it and was letting it swim for a few seconds but was not swimming erratically like it was. Then the line went completely slack all of a sudden, I backspooled real quick but couldn’t catch up so I clicked the reel in gear. As I did that I saw the rod start to load up on its own. As the tip hit the water I took a swing and holy shit I was on.
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This thing brutalized me, I was telling Troy that I thought it was a shark. He said potentially a BSB – I didn’t care at that point, expecting a BSB but was just enjoying pulling on something. A few minutes into the fight I feel a heavy vibration in the line, definitely kelp but braid did its thing. When it finally comes to color, and I see what could potentially be my first-ever legal WSB, the only words I could muster were ‘it’s a white!’ The beauty came up still green after 3 huge runs. I gaffed it in the back half after a miss and Troy helped me out getting the fish secure on the game clip and safe on the boat with a few pesky spectators.
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A great day that I’ll never forget with good people – John thank you for letting me use the fish bag so clutch… need to get me one of those! Feel fortunate to have learned a ton and catch such a beautiful fish. Sorry for the long winded/pic-heavy report, if I seem excited – it’s because I am. Long time this fish has haunted my dreams...lots of empty trips spent 'targeting' them in my hometown. I dropped the head off at my local tackle shop who sent it off - stoked to get the stones back from this 52.5" 46lb beaut.

*eaten cbass several nights in a row - different every time. Going to be eating like a king for a while.
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Tight lines!

love it

Nice ghost..You were in good hands with those 2 fellows.

Right on! :luxhello: gonna be hard for me to sleep tonight :D:wsb::D

Sick! Nice report! I hate it when they swim straight at you like that... tough to know when to put the reel in gear.

Just like I was there. Toughest wsb Ive seen. Just had no give to it at all.

Nice fish! Good job! :luxhello:

The big smile on your face says it all.
Congratulations again Anthony! Well done.

*Your co workers are eating crow...while you eat wsb. :D

and that only makes those sweet fillets sweeter :sifone:


Thanks dudes!

Great write up, you can feel the stoke.

Great, genuine smiles ......

:cheers1:

Awesome report and awesome job. I hope to get my first WSB this year. I have not had any luck so far. But reports like this keep me motivated. Thanks :cheers1:

Great write up. Congrats. Easy to see why you would be so stoked. Great on the water pictures. I'm still hopping to get one of those. I keep going for yellows and maybe one one these times on the drop line I'll be surprised with a large WSB keeper. Thanks for sharing.

Great catch, awesome story, fantastic company AND some of the best eats in the world. Congratulations, well deserved.

Nice looking croaker. New moons in April and May have always been the sweet spot for me and others at DP. Congrats!

Epic!

WOW! Congrats! :wsb:

Nice fish, congrats.

Wow Anthony! You really can fish!
Im stoked for you. It's great when
veterans like John and Zed share
their stuff.

HUGE congrats on that beautiful croaker!!! :wsb:

I dream of catching one of these myself... I hope someday my dream comes true like yours did! Great job! Nice that you had some vets at your side too!

Thanks dudes! still pumped. this forum gets me motivated to get out on the water, finally i could contribute

Yani! thanks man! I know those dudes kick ass

I sent you pics of how a broke 25 yr old cooks cbass - need some help here....

Beautiful fish and great pics....congrats!!

:luxhello:

Great write up. You made the right decision that day. When I saw those pics, I was so stoked I thought I caught it. New avatar pic??....

great story!

Very dope :cheers1:

So f'n epic! Not too many guys on here have an OC finbait wsb to their name.

Fever is spreading...:cheers1:

Awesome report! Great catch, and great pics, your dishes are making me hungry! !


Sent from the Future

Nice report! Congrats!

Congrats, well deserved. Thanks for taking the time to share

Anthony! Very well done all the way around. More to come! Jim

:cheers1:

Thanks Duuuuudes!

Thanks Andre! I think it will be :D

Stoked beyond belief. Was told that you were spearheading this trip before a few things came up! Keeping one of those phase calendars on my desk from here on out.....

Nice :wsb:, and yep, you were in good hands. They know DP.

Nice paddle pic too...:D

Right on Bro- I saw you paddling in that Day- fist pumping, smile ear to ear, what it's all about. Sick!

I fished the following night from about 3 am -11 the next morning, trolled the same zone for zip. Even had some squid, although frozen. Calicos seemed to like it but, no wsb. Tonz of bait and good current, back end of the full moon, glad someone scored! Congrats bro.

hit me up if you ever want to go out, also in SC, I Fish with Charlie once in a while....

Yeeaaah buddyyyy! :cheers1:

Sweet !!! I can't wait to get my xfactor fixed... I picked up a new avet reels and a new rod from Fred Hall show that I'm itchin to put to use.

That paddle in the pic with " Loco pescadores" on it~~~ I used to have one of those stickers on my old pickup ... Anybody know where I can get another??

0 for 4 trips this past few weeks...........nuttin again yesterday, one shark had me fooled for 10 seconds as it dumped line a few trips back. This report is added motivation!

Nice job! Much respect on a good fish and a good report/

Congrats!!!

Great report and super fish! No apology necessary for a long winded, picture heavy report when it is presented so well - I could feel your excitement at my office computer! You were the main topic of the Sat. DP kayak tourney/BBQ and inspiration for my buddy and I to go out 2 days after your trophy catch. Didn't realize it then but we started out near your sweet spot and eventually cruised N to Ritz pt. w/out any takers. Later tried for calico and halibut but ended up a total skunk for the day. Some days you just have that magic touch (good for you!) and other days you just suck big time (bad for me)! Thanks for report.
Wayne

Nice catch