Report from Goleta, 8.1.09

That must have been a gas. Great looking fish. How did you deal with it when you got it to the kayak? Once you saw it you must have freaked out a bit. Damn huge.

When I got it to the kayak, lucky for me the fish was pretty beat.  My net was a bit too small but I didn't want to deal with a thrashing fish that big on a gaff.  I backed off the drag so he could run if I screwed up netting him.  I netted him head first and got him onto the kayak between my legs.  He didn't thrash too much so I was able to get my stringer clip through the gills.  I wasn't about to mess with him or try to move him, so there he sat with his head in my lap for the paddle home.

I just reread this and have to say it again: THAT is a BEAUTIFUL fish. That's magazine fishing, tv fishing, hell practically feature-film fishing right there.

Nice backyard too. So Goleta, that's like, somewhere around Hawaii, right?

Super stoked for you Jim!

Sorry you got skunked on the halibut. 

Paddling w/ big fish in your lap is alllll good. Congrats!

Z

Awesome catch! Seems like it's a good year for wsb and they're spread from Baja to SF. I've been itching to get my kayak up to the SB area. I have some spots in mind to try sometime soon. Do you fish off IV? I went to college at UCSB and used to fish off my longboard and dive those kelp beds when it was flat. I used to see quite a few wsb roaming there but never caught one. I think that area is slated to possibly close with the MLPA so go get it while you can. I'll have to PM you if and when I come up this summer or fall to fish.

SlayRide,
Sure , send me an e-mail and we'll fish.  I live in Goleta and fish the area a lot.  On this trip I launched at Goleta Beach and was near IV when it hit.
One of the MLPA proposals closed everything from Naples Reef to Goleta Beach.  I'm hearing that one is dead...Yaaaa!  I know a stakeholder and he said that at least Naples is off the chopping block.

WTFool that WSBeast.......and thanks for the nice read&pics!

dont know where to put the fish, what a quality problem!  One I hope to have someday soon.

Hot Damn! That's a nice catch, what a beast! Congratulations, and thank you for the entertaining read there

Holy Ghost!!!!

Great report Jim!! Epic battle I'm sure..

I love that area. My sister and family live in SB. My brother in law owns R.J.Spann contracting firm.

Congrats!!!!

Rich

Jim I...I read um all Big with the small!!! post um up...because some of us can't get out there, and just read and read and read wishing we were right there with ya...thx for epic fish post and we take the not so epic posts with some relish...

WTG and Congrats.........

Jim that is AWESOME. I'm from SB and have spent years fishing Goleta, but nothing like that has ever come aboard. Congratulations. 70 feet deep... were you out by the two pencil buoys off the point, or around the corner off the Devereaux kelp? I guess  my other guess would be out at the pipe. It's rude to ask I know but a fish like that obliterates good manners. Anyway, that's the fish of a lifetime. You rock.

WOW GREAT FISH....

Wow, nice fish.  Have not tasted one yet.  Are they as good to eat like Halibut?  I have a place down in Ventura so I pass by Goleta all the time now that I live up north.  Never thought that you could catch a big fish like that in Goleta.  I think I'm going to stay longer next time and do some fishing there.

LapuLapu

DAYUM!!!!!