Halloween comes early...ghost came out.
 

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

Additional photo....new at this

So I'll keep at it this way then

51.1lbs

SWEET DUDE!!!!

Need to figure this out

Nice going!!!! Got his brother the other day (BSB) and off to live another day.

way to go!

Wow! Toad!!!! Nice work. I always ask myself if I should drag a bait when I'm out there trolling. I think u answered my question.

A real beauty, big congrats. On another note...I sure wish I had a fish cleaning table like yours, I'm so jealous...Jim

Way to go!!!

She is beautiful!
 

Fish of a lifetime right there. Enjoy my friend. They are amazing table fare. Congratulations!

:cheers1:

Janine

:cheers1:

Hell yeah congrats. :cool:

wow!

Very nice ghost!

Congratulations on your PB. That is a pig and will be hard to top. Tight Lines.

You're the man Allen! Glad i could help get that beast in your gator hatch. Glad i had a scale to ensure your spot in the 50 lb club too. Little disappointed that i didn't hook up yesterday for my 3rd time in la jolla, but glad you did. Right after he dropped that mac and hooked up, i was trying to do the same. But the Damn wind kept blowing me into the kelp. That sea bass was caught at about 110ft, over Sandy bottom just outside the kelp. I asked if Allen needed help gaffing it, then it surfaced just behind him with the air bladder popping out about 8 inches from his mouth, and I said "holy shit", and Allen was like, "what, what is it. ....... oh Damn, i just got a huge sea bass"!!!! He put it on the game clip, then we tried to stow it in the gator hatch. I grabbed his clip and slid it up into the hatch, and just as i went to put the lid on, he starts flopping around. Trying to put the lid on was almost impossible as this 51 lb beast kept knocking it up about 3-4 inches each kick. Finally got it buckled down and started fishing again. I wanted one now, but my rigs were all jacked up and tangled. Finally got everything straightened out, then found Thomas and Joe again. Thomas said he got a yt on the bass gear but broke off. I continued with my flyline mac, but a baby seal stole it, then called it a day around 2:30. Fun day fishing with you Allen, great job on that monster!