Hooked something big...maybe?

I was kayak fishing near SWN yesterday, when I noticed my light rockfish rod in the holder going bendo.  I picked it up and knew immediately it was something bigger than a rockfish, and also not a snag.  There were big, sure tugs coming from the other side, but whatever it was didn't run.  It would hold, then give a few strong tugs, then hold again...  My first thought was that maybe I hadn't noticed a rockfish on the small swimbait, and this might be a big hitchhiker ling.  It felt like playing tug-o-war with a pitbull.  I tried to fight it for a while, but eventually broke off.

I have really been trying to figure out what was happening on the other end of that line.  Was it a nice size ling holed up? Fish wrapped around a rock/seaweed?  Maybe a wolf eel anchored in it's den?  Octopus?

I'd like to hear if anyone has any ideas what I could have been battling, or maybe someone has experienced something similar?   
 

"Big tugs" you experienced usually end up being cabezons for me.  Feels like pulling up concrete, with a few runs/tugs that make your rod go bendo.  Probably a ling or cabezon that took your bait back to its hole and broke off at the rocks... or your line needs a better knot/tie next time? 

You hooked the bottom. Your kayak floats with the wave. When a wave rolls through your kayak rises, giving you a feeling that it is tugging on the other end. You will not win that battle 

I hate those bottom snags that trick you into thinking, Oooo monster!!! only to break off or worse pull up a sea anemone. Sure sign you hooked mother earth

Loch ness!

You hooked the bottom. Your kayak floats with the wave. When a wave rolls through your kayak rises, giving you a feeling that it is tugging on the other end. You will not win that battle 

This^^^^^^^^^
Plus if you are wrapped around kelp you might get a little line slippage as the kayak rises with the swell maing it really seem like something on the other end is a monster fish.
Ask Rockfish about the monster Pac Hali he hooked into for over an hour at Shelter Cove. 

Shark


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You hooked the bottom. Your kayak floats with the wave. When a wave rolls through your kayak rises, giving you a feeling that it is tugging on the other end. You will not win that battle 

This^^^^^^^^^
Plus if you are wrapped around kelp you might get a little line slippage as the kayak rises with the swell maing it really seem like something on the other end is a monster fish.
Ask Rockfish about the monster Pac Hali he hooked into for over an hour at Shelter Cove. 

There is a good chance that this is what happened, but truly it was odd.  I have snagged rocks and kelp, etc. many other times before.  This time was unique, and something I have not experienced before.  These tugs were pretty random and not all in sync with the roll of the swell.  At one point I grabbed the line and put tension on it for a second, and it really did feel like a back and forth, with random pauses in between.  There is just that "feel" to the feedback you perceive with something on the line...BUT I am new to kayak fishing in the open ocean, so I cannot say for sure.   

Shark

 

Probably just tricked by a snag   

Sea lion.

gopher rockfish

Probably just tricked by a snag 

Mention shark and now itÂ’s just a snag.  Makes sense to me.

Kelpness Monster

Probably just tricked by a snag 

Mention shark and now itÂ’s just a snag.  Makes sense to me.

Sharks are always possible... I would have thought a shark would move around a bit?

Kelpness Monster

Probably!

Who knows...Great day on the water though. 

Shark


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DG has shark nightmares and where's his shark shield attached to his ankle to bed 

DG has shark nightmares and where's his shark shield attached to his ankle to bed. 

I donÂ’t always turn it on.