White Sea Bass by surprise!!

WSB Saturday Night @ 2030 in front of Monterey Tides in ~ 75 Feet of Water * Please relocate this post as necessary, its my first* Thanks.

Well team, I caught a Ghost and have a fish story for you. I didn't do it from a kayak but I wanted to share it anyway.

Departed Monterey Harbor @ 1000 and headed up to Marina on my Merit 25' Sailboat project. I read Allen's report that Halibut was going "gangbusters" and wanted some action, my last Hali was on the kayak in June but no joy since.

I'll skip the boring details but long story short conditions went from glass to rough by 1500. I was anchored in front of the Sanctuary Beach Resort in 50' and caught ~15 14"+ Mackerel & 2 baby Dungies (back in don't worry) but no Hali.

As I pulled forward to leave, I fouled the anchor line in the outboard prop and ended up stuck for an hour while I waited for things to calm down and extracted the anchor line. I was soaked by 1700.

So far a bad boating day.

After motoring the long way around in the chop for 2 hours, I found myself in front of the Tides Hotel, outside of the buoy in about 75'. Conditions were back to glass and I figured one more drop while I clean up. It was 1900 and the bird activity was "weird" circling and diving but very spread out.

I sent my last, now 2 day old, squid down to the bottom on my ancient "Big Game" garage sale rod and started the cleanup routine.

All packed up with the last of my tea, I saw a seal with a squid hanging out of his mouth. I pulled out a squid light and start a squid jig out on the bait rod.

1945 - no squid ready to pack it in. Seal is now circling the boat showing off his squid catches... mocking me.

Seal dives deep and suddenly I see the rod bend over. I out loud "awe man, hooked the seal" but wait... head shakes. I start cranking the "seal" is running to the surface.

Color - Not black but shiny silver, random salmon? Kinda weird for a salmon. Fish takes off peel out 200 feet of line, drag is screaming. Mind you this is a second hand reel with about 100 yards of 50 lb test used only for Hali and Lings in sub 75'.

I'm going to get spooled - Small Panic.

Fish slows a little and I start taking back ground. Net... Where's the net! .. I already packed it up.

One hand on rod, keep tension on line, let fish run, but not too far. Left hand fishing in the cabin for the net. Success. Net out, fish runs again.

Ready to land - I start cranking fish, is willing but fighting hard still.

It takes 2 attempts.

Round 1 fish sees net and bolts
Round 2 fish in net, fish too big for net but head stuck in net.
Forget it.. right hand into gills, left hand into mouth, you're not getting away.

Mine - I pull him over the toerail and drew blood. Its was over.

All in all 40 LBs of meat came off of him. He'll feed a few families this week and then some. I forgot to pull the otoliths out before my mother-in-law cooked the head.

I guess I'll have to catch another one.

Yakal on S/V Olive - Out -

Wow! What a story! Very nice read, Yakal.
That ghost was definitely yours.
Well deserved.
Congrats.

Wow that is a great story!! You just never know...can’t catch anything unless you’ve got a line in the water! Well done on the savage move at the end! Bravo.

So cool!

Awesome Report and fish!!  Thanks for posting!  I split you out f that previous topic you deserve separate thread for this one

Bushy

Thanks for the great report and pictures Yakal

Awesome fish and equally awesome report!

I love a good ghost story!

Congrats! And thanks for sharing.

Great story. Makes the catch even better.

Best report I've read in awhile, what a day, Congrats.

Hell yeah!
Thanks for the entertaining report too!

Time to go hunting. Thanks for the great story

Way to go!
Awesome report, thanks!

Badass!  Great report, glad you got her in!