Haunted in Santa Cruz (6/6)

After coming up a quarter inch short on my ling (23 3/4") last weekend, I returned to SC this morning to try to land my first keeper.

Launched from the west harbor at 6:45am to clear skies and calm waters, excepting the PBs of course. Didn't see any other NCKAers, and didn't hear anyone on 69 all morning. Started on a slow troll along the beaches towards Pleasure Point. The gentle rolling of the ocean and lack of action lulled me into complacency, and I was entirely unprepared when my line was finally struck. There was a deep bend, and the fish started to run on me, but by the time I roused myself to set the hook, he was off. So, that woke me up and kept me alert for the next one...

Finally, I got tired of being buzzed by PBs, so at about 8:30am I paddled to the kelp beds off of Pleasure Point, which were oddly deserted. I noticed some bait fish action, so I hooked up a sabiki and quickly caught half a dozen jacksmelt. Popped them in the livewell and hooked up a fishfinder rig. Drifted for the next hour along the outer edge of the kelp with no action. My bait was beginning to look fairly lethargic, so I was just thinking about giving him five more minutes before bringing in a substitute, when BAM fish on! The tip of my rod was in the water and line was peeling off--towards the kelp!

I tightened the drag and to pull him back, but I was already on the very edge of the kelp, so he had a decided advantage. After a few minutes of give and take, he made it into the kelp. I proceeded to fight fish and kelp, but with only 18# mono, I had to be careful. Fortunately, he had drug me to the kelp with him, so I was working above him. Several minutes later I finally managed to get him to the side of the yak. Given the fight and location (same spot as my underling), I was expecting a lingasaur...

Needless to say, I was quite startled to see a ghost! just over 30". My first keeper from my yak. I'm stoked, and kinda delirious now.

(I'll try to show pictures, but I haven't posted them before, so hopefully this works...)

sweet, what agreat suprise, congrats, cameron

Very nice. I agree, what a great surprise.

WTGWTGWTG!!!

Lucky guy!

I am jealous. Good job getting that fish in!

Allen

Nice, real nice

Algie,

I think I saw you paddling towards PP.  I was just outside of you between the Black Point buoy and the Mile Buoy.  Nice job on the ghost.

I ended up getting 1 small butt about 24" at the outside edge of the kelp bed at Black's.  Lots of bait in the water.  I was working the sabiki for smelt and squid, yep I caught 5-6 small 4" squid.  Those squid didn't last long in the water ... the brownies were all over them.  But wouldn't you know it, I stuck the butt on a swimbait.

-Allen

White bass...?

Yep that is a White Sea Bass (wsb)

Nice job on that fish, good eats tonight.

WTGWTGWTG!!!

Lucky guy!

Thanks! I'll be getting lotto tickets tonight! 

I ended up getting 1 small butt about 24" at the outside edge of the kelp bed at Black's.  Lots of bait in the water.  I was working the sabiki for smelt and squid, yep I caught 5-6 small 4" squid.  Those squid didn't last long in the water ... the brownies were all over them.  But wouldn't you know it, I stuck the butt on a swimbait.

Congrats on the butt! I heard that Bocie was pulling in squid with his scoops and my wsb, of course, had squid in him. Glad he had a hankerin' for smelt this morning.

That's awesome! Nice catch, Congratulations

Apparently, I got the runt of the litter...

http://baysidemarinesc.com/

Not that I'm complaining! 

Yep, that's a great surprise! Congrats! 

White bass...?

All in a name - not really a bass but that's what they're called: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mspcont3.asp#seabass
aka "ghost"
Personally, I've never seen one    but I'm sure I'm not alone in that... 

Nice job on a very elusive fish. You are the man!

Very cool! Good for you!!

AWESOME, dude you are going to have a great dinner tonight.