First kayak fish ever... White Sea Bass Monster from Tomales Bay

How deep were you?

Congrats - what a first fish! 

Holy shit man!!!! What a score!!!! As everyone said before you may as well as quit now!! Or who knows you could just be one lucky dude and keep that ball Rollin!!!!! Psyched for you!! Congrats!!

Right place, right time.....and getting the job done!  Fricking awesome!

i'm calling bs on first fish.   
you's a slayer pro, dawgggg

Congrats on your White Devil Bass. That must have been awesome fight. Awesome first kayakfish.

First, thanks for the comments.  I'd like to reply individually but the only way I see to do it is all at once. I didn't see a button to reply to individual posts other than private messaging. I'll learn this system at some point.. anyway:

CptSloppywood
Were you on one of the two kayaks heading out when I got back? One of the guys on the kayaks identified the fish for me as a Sea Bass... I thought it was mutant salmon. Eeeek!

Agoodhi
Here's my fish story: I was fishing in a hole about 40' deep to the west of Hog Island. Its part of the north-south channel running through the bay. I found the spot on a Tomales Bay chart and then used Google Earth to get a GPS cooridinate (I saved the KMZ file) 

When the fish gods smile on you everything goes right: I didn't have my bait in the water 5 minutes before it got grabbed! (Although getting live bait took me two hours) I let it take the bait for a few seconds when I hit it and it went for fast, crazy run.  I watched for about 20 seconds and when I looked at my spool I started peddling like crazy to catch up and try to get on top of it.  It seemed like it ran for ever. I thought it was a halibut and then the way it stayed down and kept running I thought maybe it was large shark or something. I spent the last 15 minutes right over it trying to pull it up. I had 30# line and an old Penn bait caster so I felt geared up OK but I really started to freak out about by knots as time wore on. I ended up about a quarter mile south of where I hooked up

When it came up it rolled on it's side. I didn't want to gaff it and it wouldn't fit in my net.  I got one of those diving stringers through its mouth, tied it off and started towing it to the dock. As I started towing a sea lion popped up and I knew the fish would be a goner - so I hauled it onto my chest and lap and paddled to the dock. The Hobie Pro Angler (2 weeks old!) was amazingly stable as I pulled the fish in. I put the fish back in the water right before the dock to maneuver in. I spent all morning today washing fish goo out of everything.

What an great way to bless your new kayak with fish goo

That's amazing, especially for a first kayak fish. The first time I was on the water I couldn't figure out which hand to hold the rod with, and wouldn't have had a chance getting a WSB aboard.  Thank God they come up finished!  And I had to laugh at "cleaning fish goo" - exactly what I had to do with my first WSB - so I bought some 51" heavy-duty contractor plastic bags to wrap the next one in, and sure enough, the next one was 51" long!  I've been carrying those bags for 3 years looking for the next one. 

2nd time on the water - got skunked out there for live bait and Halibut last Thursday. Couldn't stop thinking over the weekend of giving it another try.  It worked out.

Yeah that was me and my buddy. He identified the species for you. I was to busy playing with my new kayak, when I heard my friend say you had a WSB and It was your very first kayak fish. I thought "that lucky fucker".lol. and I paddled a little closer to take a look.  Sure enough you had the elusive gray ghost. Will you please send some of that luck over my way. I am riding the skunk like a mutha. I am 0 for 5 at Tomales this year. Way to go and see ya on the water. 

Holy smokes, "We Have A WINNER, ding, ding, ding!!!!"

So...now that you've had some reflection time, "Whaddaya think a dis K-yak fishin
ting?"

Wow, what a first fish of the yak!!! Epic catch for sure!  You are ruined for life now...some people have been chasing that damn fish for years and years and struck out.   

Thanks for the fish porn.

Way to go!!!! Great fish and enjoyed the story.  I hate work and need to go fishing. 

Holy smokes, "We Have A WINNER, ding, ding, ding!!!!"

+1