Cabrillo Friday 8-16-2013

The short version:

1 Black Sea Bass (released - pix below) <== caught this on the inside! 
1 short calico bass (released - no pix) 
1 short lizard fish (reluctantly released) 

The longer version:

I was OTW at 6:45 am.  Lots of fog to the east.



Went straight to the bait receiver - got live squid



Started fishing farther out - got a short calico right off the bat, tangled in some kelp.  (no pix ) 

Lost several set-ups on the bottom in the kelp in the deeper water. 

Decided to fish shallower by the boat ramp, hoping for a repeat of last week … but, alas … nothing 

Back out to deeper water ...

Lizard fish! 

I kept working the deeper water and thought I'd snagged the bottom again, but when I went upwind of it I realized I had a fish on … a huge fish -- a taking line fish … a fish taking me for a ride headed north west.

I thought I had a monster halibut.  I was not making any headway on it but luckily it ran towards the channel.  When it finally tired out I started making some headway.

Then I got it close to the surface and I realized I had to throw this one back.  It was a black sea bass!.
Now I did NOT take it out of the water, since I knew I was going to release it.  I treated it as gently as possible, but I got a few pix.    I guess it was probably about 20-24 inches long but JEEZE what a fight.













So I couldn't take it home to eat -- but what a thrill …

After I released it (And it took off to the bottom like a shot) I continued fishing … Got out around noon for a break, saw the game warden at the ramp, showed him the pix.  He said they used to catch those off the pier.  Wow.

Kept fishing until 2:30, when the wind came up and I decided to call it a day.  -- Coming home with nothing but a smile, a few pix, and a good story. 

My first black sea bass.   

Definetly not a skunk day for you   WAY TO GO!!

That's AWESOME, Dave!  Congrats and WTG!  Your Cabrillo adventures have been getting good.   

Congrats on the rare catch.  Thanks for the report and pictures Dave.