Bunch of comedians out there eh?
Ok, heres the picture
Heres the short story.
Weight- 50 lbs on shimano spring scale
Length- 53 in
Girth- 30 in
Depth- 70ft
Bait- Fishtrap
Line- 20 lb
Time- 1 hr+
Profanity- so much
and here is the long story
After trying my hand at surfing yesterday and being unsuccessful in every way imaginable, I decided to go fishing. You guys had done a pretty good job scaring me out of the surf launch, so I decided to skip the yellowtail action and go try my hand at dana point for some c+r calico action. It seriously has been killing me to read your reports the past few weeks, WFO YT action, although Im a school teacher and only work 180 days a year, it seems that those are the only 180 days a yr that YT bite!!!
Got a late start on the day, hit the water at about 8:00am
Started out the harbor, it was a little unnerving to see the waves crashing over the breakwater, while I was still in the harbor.
Got out and the swell is pretty bad, every once in a while a rogue wave would crash out in open water that would scare the piss out of me.
I have had pretty good luck trolling swim baits over kelp for calicos in the past so that is the plan today. Of course I only have the light rods and line to make it fun.
Got to the spot and was surprised to find no kelp… Is kelp seasonal?
Tons of eel grass floatin around though. I keep my 2 swim baits in the water while searching for some kelp, noticed that one had gotten clogged with eel grass. As I stop in about 70ft or water to reel it in the other bait sinks and gets NAILED!!!! I thought it was a sealion, because I had seen a bunch earlier. I only have 20lb test so I get Immediately spooled. Button down the drag and start the sleigh ride. I was lucky the fish was swimming mostly straight out and not straight down. Get towed in circles for half and hour and then start the up down pumping game. Meter the fish at 50 feet, get spooled. Meter the fish at 25 ft, get spooled. Im tired now, fortunantly so was the fish. Finally get it to color, realize that I didn’t even think to pack my gaff for the calicos. Let her tire out and finally when she is close enough, do the patented tail grab maneuver. As soon as I do that, my swim bait pops loose. Reach for the boga and get a good lip grab berofe she goes ballistic. Didn’t want to take any chances so I pulled her up on deck and gave her a bear hug for 2 minutes as she went ballistic. She is also purring like chewbaca the whole while. After she calms down I start the hooting and hollering, my first WSB!!!
She was too big to put on the deck so I make the SLOW paddle back while dragging my fish.
Was seriously wishing for a professional photo BIATCH, but settled for some guy in a canoe.
I seriously do not think that any part of me landing this fish was skill, things just went in my favor, or maybe God was repaying me for the anguish I experience from reading all of your WFO YT reports. Today was my lucky day, sucks because Im going to vegas next wk! Either way I was/am sooooooo stoked!!!
