43 Inch Monterey Bay Surf Striper

Headed down to a local beach at first light and jumped in and swam out through the waves.

Was calm enough that I was able to get in close to shore and still see in between sets.

Didn't see any fish for the first few hours, then saw a school of nice sized ones at my 4 o'clock but they spooked and vanished as soon as I swung the gun around.

Half an hour later I saw a BIG fish come under me...it turned and started to swim off into the haze and I fired my Pathos 75 and my reel line took off. 

Wasn't sure how great the shot was so let it run....it ran for what seemed like forever and I started gently hand over handing up the reel line.

When I got to the bungie between the reel line and the shooting line I still couldn't see the fish but could feel it thrashing and it was pulling me through the water.

Pulled up a little more and saw the beast and could see that the shot looked solid right in her back so pulled in and got my legs around her and my hand in her throat and knew she was mine. 

Ripped her gills out and let the blood flow out while admiring how beautiful she was before swimming back into shore.

The walk back down the beach and to the car was hard with the heavy fish but it felt great to walk past the surf casters and see them all admire the fish. 

Taped out to a solid 43 inches and weighed 28 pounds.

My longest fish that I have ever shot (previous was a 41.25 inch Halibut in 2014), and am super stoked on finally getting a Surf Striper on film.



Here's some pics.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

 

I think you might need a bigger cooler  way to go !

I think you might need a bigger cooler  way to go !

Me thinky this is a good problem to have. NICE FISH

Wow dude.  Congrats Jim that's an amazing thing.  I'm glad you got it on video too lol.  Wow wow wow!

amazing, you just keep pushing it to higher limits!

Damn your batterie didn't die?? .. Great job brother you've worked your ass off for it!!!

Gangster!

Nice fish!

Epic...!!!!!!!


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Congrats on setting a new pb.

Awesome catch! 

beast...congrats!

Nice fish fantastic video!

So cool!! Congrats, and well deserved!