4/26 So Cal Springtime

Spring time with all its unsettled weather is still my favorite time of year to fish because the possibilities of hooking into something really good seem amplified with that crazy spawning stuff going on as well as the influx of pelagics with the water temperatures rising. I try really hard to fish the best weather I see forecast if at all possible, but sometimes I just need to go fishing regardless of the less than ideal conditions.  Most recent years seems like I get to watch what seems like everyone I know catch their Spring white seabass, while I get to boiling over with the fever. I hate chasing yesterday’s bite, but sometimes just can’t resist when friends send me self-portrait slimy lap dancing fish porn. Most that fish with me know that I have been in a terrible funk when it comes to catching anything over 3 pounds!



  There is nothing quite like waking up several times and getting up long before you originally set the alarm. That anticipation never seems to ease up. This was one of those mornings, where some generous insight had me meeting a couple others to venture out on the water before the first hint of light. Surprisingly with the big ol moon and the clear skies we had plenty of light long before the sun came up.






The breeze was pushing offshore and made things easy to get to where we wanted to be by first light. Bait was easy for me to make, but an electrical issue with my tank had me working on some rewiring on the water. The tank was running and I had a nice variety of greenbacks from 10-14 inches, I was ready to move on down the line and start fishing.  I put out my largest greenback on a Carolina rig with a 1 oz egg sinker and 3/0 J hook. My leader was 40# and I was spooled to fish the kelp with 65 braid. The water was green and 62.5 degrees with lots of life. I put out a smaller fly lined greenback  as well. For me, the trick in fishing 2 lines and avoiding tangles is to keep moving at all times.



Three hours later and a couple whales were the only real high light. Conditions were better than I had expected, real t shirt weather, sometimes mornings like this and you think that fish are just icing on the cake and just being out there on the water is what it is really all about, then the clicker finally does more than just chirp.

The tip on the rod in the forward holder jumped and after the initial chirp, the clicker started singing.

This was that big greenback on the Carolina rig so I resisted the temptation to put it in gear for an extra second or two. The fish had turned so I had to wait for the rod to load up. When it finally felt the hook it made a huge run away and then turned right at me. I was winding as fast as I could to keep any pressure on the fish. After passing under me it ran even further than the first run and I could not believe all my spectra was off the reel and I was in mono backing. I wanted that knot back on the reel badly and pedaled the Revo hard until I had about14/ of my braid back.

 I kept gaining line although I felt a lot of rubbing on the line. Finally straight up and down at a stale mate. I pulled as hard as I dared and felt that pop, wound down to find I was still hung up. Every time I had about given up on the fish still on the end, she would run a bit and help cut through another stringer. Finally after many tense moments where I thought this would end in yet another sad story and I felt an obvious pop and the full weight of the fish snapping it's head coming up. At deep color there was a spit second where my heart sank as it looked like a shark. It came up for an easy gaff shot. The best fight a white seabass has ever given me that I won. My new persona best by 11 pounds. I have dreamed of the 60 pound club for a long time and was convinced this fish HAD to be over 60.







 It was. 64.4 pounds No way this was going on the stern, I did the happy paddle in.

Now that is a killer fish, good on you.

Very cool write up and a beast of a fish!

So epic!!  Great story and amazing fish!!  Thanks, Iceman!

WOW! what a fish and great report.

Amazing pics and report!

Out of curiosity what is a greenback, pacific mackerel?

Great Write-up!  I felt like I was right there with you.  What a beauty!!!

-Spot-

Great catch, congratulations!

Out of curiosity what is a greenback, pacific mackerel?

Exactly, my favorite bait to fish.

 Thanks for all the replies. Fish of a lifetime for me, just had to share. 

Yeah man! Great write-up.

Nice!!! Awesome fish!! Thanks for sharing!


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Great write up and that is one hell of a fish.