Personal Best Cabezon

Went out Saturday with my good buddy Manuel. It was Manuel's first time kayak fishing so suited him up with farmer john, PFD, VHF and safety whistle, gave him the safety talk on the beach and some pointers and then we launched and started paddling out.

Ocean was like a National Geographic special with birds and bait and seals and otters and dolphins and whales! So cool!!

 

The first spot we hit there was plenty of small to medium rockfish around, and Manuel caught a small but legal cabbie on his first drop! But then the rolling swell took control of his stomach and the poor guy started puking. 

He paddled back in to dry land and I stayed out to try and make sure I got enough fishies for the families.

Water was pretty green and surgy but I popped an olive and a blue and a black and a rubberlip and took a 25 inch Ling and an 18 inch cab before moving spots.

Another small Ling was home in my next spot, but not really what I wanted so worked my way out deeper and started doing drops down to 50/55 feet.

Got lucky and cruised straight down to an obvious crack at 52 feet and there was a big old cab just sitting there waiting for me. 

Popped him in the head and swam him straight back up to the surface. Could tell he was big and back at beach he taped out to 25 inches and weighed 10.5 pounds. My new personal best! STOKED!!

 

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/1875

Cab only had two small abalone feet in it's belly and no eggs otherwise would have been even heavier!

Checked out one more area looking for a big Ling or a sheep, no luck but found a 20 inch cab hiding in a hole full of empty abalone shells so took him and then headed back to beach where we chilled and had fun with the families and where Austin (Rippnlips) stoked Manuel out with a nice Ling that he had caught!

Later that afternoon ScubaLuis came and picked up the Kraken from me...was a great last day for her with me and my family, and I hope she gives Luis many cool adventures in the future!

Great day all around!!

Here are some pics and a youtube vid and a 15 second instavid for the ADD folks. 



https://instagram.com/p/7WLEVMMybV/

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Cooked the cab whole in the NuWave oven last night and made some Ling nuggets for the kiddos.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Looks like some sashimi abs in its stomach!

Looks like some sashimi abs in its stomach!

Yeah...they didn't pass the sniff test though so I tossed em. 

Also got to meet NickF and Derek at the beach...great seeing you guys there!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Congrats on your PB Cabby. 

Congrats on your PB cabbie!
Hey what dive watch/computer are you using and how do you like it?
Would you buy that again or upgrade?

Thanks for the vid.

Also got to meet NickF and Derek at the beach...great seeing you guys there!!

Good seeing you too, Jim! You had a great set up there on the beach. Family, friends, fish, beer... it was an inspiring lesson in making the most of a dive! 

Congrats again on that beastly cab! I've been looking forward to the video all weekend!

CONGRATS on that P-I-G!  25" aint no bullhead! 
and55ftAINTnoBULLSHIT! 

Whoa! What a beast. Thanks for the pics. I love the head in the NuWave shot.

I saw the thread title, and came here expecting to see a big ole bucketmouthed pig of a fish.

thread did not disappoint!

great pic progression Jim, pics are making me hungry & thirsty!

Congrats on the PB Cab. 55 ft in green water, you are becoming part fish my man. Great pics of the Family and Fun. thanks for sharing the trip. Too bad about Manuel, hopefully next time conditions work for him.

Right on, Jim!

Congrats on the PIG.

Yuk. I can smell that slimy bastard from here.

Thanks guys!!

I'm super stoked on this fish...have gotten a lot of cabs in the 23-23.75 inch range, but this is by far my biggest, and finding it all by myself at a pretty solid depth makes it even more special for me... 

Yuk. I can smell that slimy bastard from here.

 

She tasted great Andy! Not stinky at all.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

That is a toad! Congrats Jim!