Northern SLO So So...

Northern SLO So So...

Launched @ 9:00 little bit of wind & very long period NW windswell to 5ft, i would guess.

Fishing pretty slow, did get a 18 Verm., my first good sized one of the season. I had a bucket full of those last year, not this year, but I'm happy to finally get a good one.

Fished in 50 FOW for intermittent scraps & then WHAMMO I hooked a monster of some kind. Practically ripped the rod out of my hand, I dropped my paddle starting reeling & drifting.  The thing took a huge run across the bottom, I accidently had my drag down tight w/ 20lb test.  He stopped for a sec. & while I was trying to pull the rod around the nose of my boat he went on another big run, couldn't get to free spool, my rod tip was a couple feet under water & bam he popped off.

An educated guess would be that he was around a 28" or larger, Ling to pull that hard in that shallow of water.  I was bummed, try to keep fishing all around that area & never got anything else.

I've heard from everyone that the inshore is slow this year in our neck of the woods.  They say it will get better as the summer comes on.  Your run in w/ Mr. Whammo sounds interesting- Like you say it could have been a scrappy ling or possibly A WSB- were you on the edge of the kelp?  What was your terminal tackle?  Live/dead  bait?

Andy,

I was drifting inbetween patches of kelp, closer to the outside edge of the kelp.  Current was heading South & all the kelp strands were trailing that way.  I dropped down my blue & white 5.5" fishtrap w/ a white 1.5oz leadhead, to the bottom then drifted by a thick kelp bed.  Same thing i showed you last week.

The thing hit, pulled a little run for a minute then stopped.  A few seconds later it took off pretty darn hard.  I've caught a good share of 26" to 30" lings & this felt that heavy but when it went, it went.  It headed straight into the kelp bed.

Surfs been up, swell was head-high pumping yesterday late @ Arroyo Laguna.  It does seem like there's been more surf & wind than there was last year.  Hope it mellows soon.

PJ

Pic from last year...