Couldn't Believe My Eyes Wed. 9/23

How'd you guys catch your bait? I had sardines swarming my sabiki out there on Sunday, but they wouldn't bite. All I could scratch up were some rather large smelt and a mackerel.

Might be a dumb ? but did you try putting a bit of squid or other chum on the hooks? When I can't get fish to bite the sabiki, that usually works. If they're really not biting, I'll also cut up some as chum, chuck it in the water, and then drop my baited sabiki in the same spot and start jigging. That's never failed me from getting at least a few baits if they're there. If you don't have squid or anything else but you manage catching 1 bait, cut up that one bait to use for chum and you'll soon have multiple.

Love that classic smile on your face too Allan. It has that I'll be back soon
look. Glad you all had a great time. Now what time did you say dinner was?

Jedmo

Yep! Just like I saw last week. That looks exactly like what I saw chasing my sabiki rig up 4 times. It was a ghost after all.......... WTG man!! Told ya!!!...

Your recent post was the first thing I thought of when I saw where this was. You were right and I bet you'll be out there again soon!

Awesome Ghost Kiel! You've caught more than I have and I've been in La Jolla since May! It might be too late but if you still have the head, you should bag it up and send it down to the Hubbs Research Lab at SeaWorld. They're the ones that raise the hatchery wsb and they tag them all in the head. If there's a tag in this one, they would sure be interested in knowing about it being that it's so far north. This goes for anyone else that might get lucky and nail a wsb this fall.

Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER) is a non-profit down here run by scientists and anglers that has also been tagging wsb. I know they tagged one this spring in Oceanside that was caught in either Monterey Bay or the Bay Area somewhere in June! They might also be worth contacting. It is pretty interesting that it was full of eggs. Typically, they spawn in the kelp beds down here in spring. Are there even any kelp beds at all in Tomales? Warm water years are very interesting. I hope we start seeing a few of these caught every year actually. Since the nearshore netting has been curtailed, maybe their population is expanding?

Hi Slayride, I did not noticed any tag on the head, and also I am not really familiar at Tomales I don't know if there's any kelp bed around that area?


Kiel

Frickin' sweet!  Andy mighty delicious too!

 

  All I'm a gonna say is "Right place at the right time"!



Dayum......

Thank you very much for all the comments guys. My very first WSB I caught in my life.

This fish has full of eggs and about 5 sardines inside her stomach. Wondering if you can eat the eggs?
 


Kiel

Kiel cingrats on the WSB, and yes you can eat the eggs. They are very tasty.

Ariel

Yep! Just like I saw last week. That looks exactly like what I saw chasing my sabiki rig up 4 times. It was a ghost after all.......... WTG man!! Told ya!!!...

Your recent post was the first thing I thought of when I saw where this was. You were right and I bet you'll be out there again soon!

Awesome Ghost Kiel! You've caught more than I have and I've been in La Jolla since May! It might be too late but if you still have the head, you should bag it up and send it down to the Hubbs Research Lab at SeaWorld. They're the ones that raise the hatchery wsb and they tag them all in the head. If there's a tag in this one, they would sure be interested in knowing about it being that it's so far north. This goes for anyone else that might get lucky and nail a wsb this fall.

Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER) is a non-profit down here run by scientists and anglers that has also been tagging wsb. I know they tagged one this spring in Oceanside that was caught in either Monterey Bay or the Bay Area somewhere in June! They might also be worth contacting. It is pretty interesting that it was full of eggs. Typically, they spawn in the kelp beds down here in spring. Are there even any kelp beds at all in Tomales? Warm water years are very interesting. I hope we start seeing a few of these caught every year actually. Since the nearshore netting has been curtailed, maybe their population is expanding?

Hi Slayride, I did not noticed any tag on the head, and also I am not really familiar at Tomales I don't know if there's any kelp bed around that area?


Kiel

Kiel

The tags are plaed inside the head. You usually cut the head off and send them to HUBBS.

Ariel

Yeah, you wouldn't actually see the tag. It's very small and implanted when they're fingerling size. You need a magic wand to wave over them to see if it has one.

Congratulations Kiel, that is an awesome fish! Your smile says it all.  I have been pounding that place all summer for a chance at one of those.  Thanks for the inspiration.

WTFG!!!!!!!! What a rush I'm sure And thanks for sharing a most marvelous moment with us!!!  And nice leopards...

How do u prepare your WSB??? never had one...but it looks tasty!!!

Congratulations on the beautiful WSB!  Nice catch!  Great pictures and story.  Similar thing happened to me in August when fishing halibut.  It was about the most fun I've ever had catching a fish.

Kiel

The tags are plaed inside the head. You usually cut the head off and send them to HUBBS.

Ariel

It's too late guy, I give the half of my fish to my in-laws yesterday, including the head! 


Kiel

What's next for Kiel, win a OK Trident at a rockfish tournament or something????   Oooop, sorry he did that already!!

Kiel,

Strong work Bro!!!

How come you three only invite me places where I yardsale all my gear into the surf and not where the big fish are......?

You deserve that trophy with the amount of time you put on the water!

Tight lines!

rob
jrsyboy

Sorry Rob, You're in the next time. 

Wow.  Looks like a good day to me!  Congratulations.