Linda Mar 7/9 (WHITE SEA BASS)

My dad and I left Sacramento at 2:30am to meet Joel at 5:30.  Joel said, " I've never seen the conditions this good."  Started trolling for salmon with Apex's. After a while Joel suggested we head out towards the nipple for rockfish.  My dad was a little leary of going out so far, so he decided to stay in the bay and continue to troll his Apex. Joel and I caught a couple of rockfish and one ling. I was puking the whole time but continued to fish, finally I couldn't take it anymore and ask Joel if he didn't mind if we started heading back.  On the way back in Joel and I ran into a diver who said, " You guys have to check out this huge white sea bass some dude has on shore." As were paddeling back I see a bunch of guys around my dad and instantly thought he got injured trying to land in the surf.
  Joel and I get back to shore and relize my dad (Roger) is the dude who caught the whiter sea bass. Here is my dads recollection of the battle with the fish:  " After Joel and my son decided to paddle out rockfishing, I decieded to say and troll for salmon.  Since it was my first time fishing from a kayak I was hoping I didn't catch anything. I had a small hit and it came off. A couple of minutes later I had a monster hit that made my reel start singing.  A good thing Joel had mentioned if I catch anything I should keep the rod parrell with the kayak. I did as Joel instructed and the fish spun me around in a complete circle.  I fought the fish for at least 15 minutes. Finally it surfaced and I relized how big it actually was. I sturggled to get my net which I soon relized was worthless due to the size of the fish. Then I decided to use the net to sweep him towards me and grab him by the gills.  I then pulled him on deck and started bashing him in the head. Once he seemed dead, I decided to head back to shore with the fish just lay on deck not tied to anything.  When I got to the surf I thought I should secure the fish by putting a rope through his gills and BAMM he came back to life, so back to the head bashing. I safely made it through the surf and back to shore.  A local came down and said he watched me battle the fish from his house and knew it wasn't a salmon or stripper and was curious to see what I had caught.  He was the first person to identify the species of the fish,  which was a white sea bass.  Soon surf fishermen were gatherd around me and couldn't believe my catch. Joel weight the fish with his digital scale and it was 30 pounds and 45 inches long.
  Needless to say this won't be my last kayak fishing trip. Although, I may never top the experience of battle the white sea bass gave me that day.

Outstanding! Is it just me or has there been a lot of WSBs caught this year? I heard of a few being caught at the Alameda Rockwall as well.

Congrats to Scott and Roger on their catch! Scott got his first keeper Ling - 12 # and 32 inches long and Roger with his 30 # WSB   And Roger was generous enough to share some of the fillets with others!!Thanks for that kind gesture Roger!!!

Pretty dam good for a first-time kayak fishing trip to the Ocean!!

Roger now earns the title of "Linda Mar Legend" for his efforts of catching and landing a rare WSB = all by himself - with a barbless apex!!!    (When I saw the WSB on his deck, I told him it was Giant King Fish and that it needed to be released  ) Pics to follow.

Congratulations also to Craig (paddles a yellow Cobra Explorer) He caught a 22 # Striper trolling an apex right by the surfers   I think he caught another one but lost it by the yak.

Gordon caught a good size striper (drifting with live bait) off his zodiac. Congrats!

We aslo saw a couple of divers with a nice stringer of Halibut and starry flounder. And because the tide was very low, there were several guys poke poling for monkey face eels. Two of them had a sack full which also included a nice fat cabby  

Congrats to all, but I'm dying to see some pictures like everyone else.

Hey Joel.... so what's your excuse for not having a camera again?

Scott just posted the pics on the photo gallery = CHECK IT OUT

Hey Joel.... so what's your excuse for not having a camera again?

I'll get one in two weeks  

Holy @#@#!
Now, that's what I'm talking about.
You guys are my heros.    

Hey,

This is Craig that caught the striper on Saturday!!!  I was wondering if someone could email me the photo of the fish and me so I can print that one out?  

Thanks

Some good variety out there at linda mar!

This thread is a fishing wet dream come true.  I grew up at Linda Mar and I am dying to come down and fish with you guys.  I looked ahead to the weekend forcast and was wondering if it looks fishable or not.  I know a lot can change over the week but I'm not sure how much more of this I can take without driving down to give it a try.  When I was a kid my dad and I used to launch a zodiac off the beach right where you guys are standing by the little creek and fish for stripers and salmon all summer long.  But nobody EVER caught a WSB.  That is insane
D

All the local guys who were fishing for stripers from the shore were amazed as well  

Like Josh said - there's definitely a little bit of everything in this little cove - gotta love it!!  

Let us know when you come down Dave!

it looks like the surf will be up for the weekend, but i think a lot of us will be there sat.