The tip on the rod in the forward holder jumped and after the initial chirp, the clicker started singing.
This was that big greenback on the Carolina rig so I resisted the temptation to put it in gear for an extra second or two. The fish had turned so I had to wait for the rod to load up. When it finally felt the hook it made a huge run away and then turned right at me. I was winding as fast as I could to keep any pressure on the fish. After passing under me it ran even further than the first run and I could not believe all my spectra was off the reel and I was in mono backing. I wanted that knot back on the reel badly and pedaled the Revo hard until I had about14/ of my braid back.
I kept gaining line although I felt a lot of rubbing on the line. Finally straight up and down at a stale mate. I pulled as hard as I dared and felt that pop, wound down to find I was still hung up. Every time I had about given up on the fish still on the end, she would run a bit and help cut through another stringer. Finally after many tense moments where I thought this would end in yet another sad story and I felt an obvious pop and the full weight of the fish snapping it's head coming up. At deep color there was a spit second where my heart sank as it looked like a shark. It came up for an easy gaff shot. The best fight a white seabass has ever given me that I won. My new persona best by 11 pounds. I have dreamed of the 60 pound club for a long time and was convinced this fish HAD to be over 60.
It was.
64.4 pounds No way this was going on the stern, I did the happy paddle in.
