In Search of Point Zero

Pt. Zero...the infamous surf spot on the Hollister Ranch.  Had to take a trip down south to see a friend & talk business.  The weather had been so dang nice I figured I'd be bummed if it stayed glassy all day & I didn't have my boat with me.

Sure enough close to the end of the day, I had time for a go out & the weather was insane-85 degrees on the coast.  Had checked some charts of the area & found there was some solid structure, but it was pretty far out.  With calm weather, glassy seas & chest-high waves, I launched in between sets & was jamming out to the spot.  After a 25 minute paddle I found kelp exactly where my chart had shown it to be, stoked!!!

Noticed the drift was pretty strong offshore I tried to drop a heavy spoon @ the back of the reef.   Not halfway down I hit a snag.  Tried to pull it off & snap, there goes a nice 5" spoon, damn!

Paddled to the other side of the pinnacle & decided i would drift from flat bottom right into the structure, that way I would at least get down to the bottom before loosing any more tackle. 

Dropped down my 4oz. leadhead & 7" swimbait.  Not a minute later had a hookup that felt like it ran in the kelp.  I tugged & tugged & eventually it popped out of the cover but still put up a small fight.  A treefish, pretty cool looking, first one I ever caught.  Tossed him back since he didn't see that big.

Paddled out 25 yards from the reef & dropped it back down again.  Picked up the cell & called the wife to let her know where I was & what I was doing.  The phone rings..."Hello"..."Hey it's me" & WHAMMO!!!!!!  Not a hard hit but a very, very, heavy, steady pull!!!!  "I gotta go, bye!"

It's not moving a lot but when it does I can feel it's heavy, like record (for me) heavy, like that one Abking fought for 10 minutes & it popped off kind-of heavy!  It stops moving & I wait keeping tension on the line.  "Shit" I forgot to rig my stringer before I launched, so with one hand on the rod I dig thru my kit & find my 500 lb line.  It's in knots & it has grooves on it so it's a bitch to get untied with one hand.  I make sure my drag is loose & undo my stringer.  Got it, ready to go. 

I slowly increase pressure on the fish.  It hasn't moved in a while & I'm not sure it's a beast.  It slides around 10 yards with a slow steady strong pull.  I can feel by the weight it's a BEAST!!!  I wait another minute & nothing happens.  I slowly start to pull again & the thing takes off running 20 yards, pretty cool when you can feel it's a pig & it's just slowly taking line!!!!

It's stops & I slide my paddle under my leg so I have clear room to gaff it when I get it up.  I start to pull again & can feel it turn up very slowly, heavily it's coming up.  After 30 yards it turns & runs straight back down to the bottom.  "Killer, he's a big one!"

I repeat my tactics on the fish & it slowly starts to come up.  Around 8 minutes have gone by since I hooked Moby Dick & I'm prepared for the Mother-of-All-Battles at the surface.  Slowly he comes up out of 100 feet of water.  As soon as I see him I think he's a record for me!!!  Not only is he long he's FAT, FAT, FAT!  Not even close to need any measuring.

He thrashes for a while at the surface but I can see my jig is set well I'm not too worried about him coming off.

I slide my gaff thru his gill & bam, I have him!  He's a pig, I can't even lift him out of the water!  I drop my stringer thru his gill & get a death grip on it in case he decides to go tropo at some point.

I unstrap the second strap in my tank well figuring if I get it across him it'll keep him from thrashing out of the boat.  I swing him in, sinch the strap  & it's over.

I figure I have to try to make one more drift into the reef.  I try it and no luck.  I paddle in.

The swell has picked up so I sit and watch it before landing.  I head in & see a set approaching too late for me to make it over the top, I turn the boat into it & take one across the chest.  Fun!!!!

I call Alex & tell him thanks for the meeting, I'll be back soon.  As I drive out, I wave to the guards, pass Gaviota & head home.

When I get home I bust out the scale & tape measure, A PERSONAL BEST!  35" 16 Pound PIG!!!!!  He's long & he's fat!  YEEHAW!!!

PJ

Awesome report and ling PJ. Big congrats to you. I have never caught a lingcod
so I am looking forward to one. Hopefully before the season is over.

Jedmo

Yeah!  F#$%in' A right!  Way to go, PJ.  Fantastic story - had me all pumped up and made myself finish the read before taking in the pics.  Solo trip to a new spot you scouted on the map and wrap the day with a bitchin sunset (and a cold one I hope!   ) - and even fit the business trip in too.  That's a great day in my book, Man, and you finished it off right with this report.

Thanks - I (we) needed a pig-ling report like that.   

Nice ling! I also like the pic of the boat on the shore. Very nice. I know the feeling.

Nice fish!!!!! 

Sure is hard to smile when you try and take a pic of oneself isn't it.

Living thru the adventure of others,,,

Dale L

all work and no play is no good at all

glad you combined work, adventure, and good eats!

Great storytelling PJ! I enjoyed reading and your pictures rocked. Well done.   jim/redyak

Awesome! Congrats on your PB, and may you beat that one soon!

Way to go Bro!!! congratulation.



Kiel

Nice Fish!!! ...WTG.

two words will sume up my feeling on this.....FUC YEAH!
SWEET PB! Congrads!!! &thanks for the details and pics! 

Strong work. I love the feeling when you see the fish for the first time and think "there's no need for the tape measure here".

Very nice fish. And an excellent account of the battle too! With beautiful pics. All the makings of a great report.
Thanks for that PJ,
PK

thanks all, hooking that pig really was like that one video Abking had of a monster he fought for 10 minutes or so & lost!  only difference was my swear-fest @ the end was in celebration not frustration!!!!

it's insane out again right now, if anyone is contemplating an evening session don't think twice.  i'm scratching my head trying to think of why i shouldn't head out again this pm.

pj

it's insane out again right now, if anyone is contemplating an evening session don't think twice.  i'm scratching my head trying to think of why i shouldn't head out again this pm.

pj

the LakePacific was hot&calm when we pried ourselves off it at 4:30pm yesterday.....GO GET IT! WHILE IT CAN GET GOTTEN'!!