Headed out around 5am to a nearly empty launch with small waves.
Started making bait and couldn't keep away from the barracuda. Fun on 6 lb test but was trying to get some greenies. I ended up past the condo and made about 8 spanish and the one greenie I caught ended up thrashing the sabiki rig.
About 6:30am I started trolling, working my way out North. Spent about an hour trolling with no luck, so I decided to head South and work outside the kelp line. Around 8:30am the reel starts screaming. I reach back, adjust the drag and its on! I had about 80 yards out when it picked up the spanish and damn near spooled the rest on my saltist 20. After the first long run, I got back some line and then we played a little back and forth game till I see color. Got to put the new homemade gaff to use, fish was bled, gutted and inside by 9:30am.
Trolled around for another hour or so and had one more bite. Ended up passing this guy. He wasn't as lucky as I was today.
Fish measured 38 1/2 on the tape and was thick. Collars and sashimi for dinner.
Dedicated about half the fish to a salt cure.
