a taste of down south

Hello up North dudes. Haven't been on this site in awhile as I've been putting forth an effort to stop jonezing for NorCal and try and learn this exotic land down south called San Diego. I don't fully understand this foreign land yet but my confidence and enjoyment of a few spots down here is growing. I could get used to finding a few of these from time to time.

Keep all the great reports, stories, and advice coming this spring, summer, and fall. This NorCal kid likes to live vicariously through all you guys. 

sweet fish, congrats, thanks for sharing, cameron

That's a HUGE WSB!  Thanks for the report and pictures SlayRide.

Dat dere be a big fishy.  What were the specifics?

Dat dere be a big fishy.  What were the specifics?

Carolina rigged greenback mackerel. I lost a similar one right before, maybe a bit smaller, right by the kayak after a 25 minute battle. Watched it swim away lazily just out of gaff reach. Kicked the shit out of me. After the frustration, I was considering just paddling back in dejected but amazed by the experience. Instead, I set up again hoping for others in the same area, 3 minutes later a very nervous bait followed immediately by a complete takedown of the rod under my knee and me getting swung in the kayak and my arm pulled sideways before the first donkey run and sleigh ride towards the beach. I somehow avoided much kelp, got on top of it, bulldogged it in, gaffed, photos, and a weighted down paddle back to the launch right at sunset. I can't claim to have maintained much composure during this craziness and some of it is a bit of a blur. It wasn't pretty but oh well, I'll take it. On the first take from the one I lost, I actually was looking at my bait to see how it was swimming and watched the ghostly image come out from under the kelp and slowly come up and gulp the bait 8 feet under my kayak. That image will be imprinted on my brain for awhile. Not bad for a first wsb, 52" and probably 45-50 lbs. Those are 20 lb. bags of ice and a 30 gallon cooler in the last shot. I think I may have to go again this weekend!

Thanks for checkin in, Slayride. And congrats on the seabass--that's a big one for Socal. 

I know whats wrong you need a bigger cooler...

DAMMMMMMMMN!  you went Marmite on that thing.  very nice croaker

Holy guacamole!!! what  a beauty verry  nice,Gabe.

The title sounded dirty and sure enough, that's some serious fish porn. 

The title sounded dirty and sure enough, that's some serious fish porn. 

... and it can give one a woody. Can wait till summer!

That things a monster! Awesome picture. Post more!

NICE!! WSB on the barbie coming up! Congratulations on landing such a huge toad.

great catch, thanks for sharing!!

That is one beauty of a fish. AND a sweet story behind it.

 I'm imagining it in my head, and thinking about putting the image in paint on a pine panel......I'll call it "white". Not sure when, but I've done a prelim sketch. Watch for it one of these days....