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| I launched my kayak at 4:30 PM for a late afternoon fishing one Thursday afternoon. This is my first opportunity to get on the water since the recent bad weather that went by on Monday and Tuesday . I had made it a point to go fishing before and after storm whenever I can, as I have learned that the fish are feeding heavily on these days. | |||
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| The water is calm with slight breeze from northwest. I noticed
Fasha, another kayak angler, working the inside kelp line trolling with Spanish mackerel. There
were two power boats at a distance on this seemingly perfect water and weather condition. Upon
arriving at the fishing ground I noticed the abundance of marine life as shown in my FF. Despite
this sign I was having difficulty in catching bait. I look in the water I saw red
crabs everywhere that explains why I was not getting a bite on my sabiki rig.
I paddled along the kelp line in search of mackerel when I heard the sound of crushing water nearby over and over but I was unable to find the source. I listened very carefully like a big cat on the hunt, I scanned the water surface looking for any sign of boil. I paddled very carefully towards the north where the sound is coming from and I can see ripples on the water 50 yards from me. I sneak carefully to get closer to now a boiling water caused by jumping bait. All the baits are metering at the water surface only and nothing below. The only way to catch bait is to cast my sabiki rig some 30 feet away and a fast retrieve to work the surface. I was able to catch three big size Spanish mackerel of which I picked the most lively one and pinned it across the upper lips. I have been trolling for almost an hour now and have covered over half a mile of fishing ground with no takers of all the boil, jumping baits and red crabs everywhere I look. I can sense that the big fish are around. I can see the big wakes they leave behind when they come to the surface to chase the bait. The baits would create a big boil and jump out of the water to escape their predator. I paddled slowly along the kelp line while chasing the boil that seems to keep its distance ahead of me. The faster I paddle the further the boil got. |
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Half hour into the chase my bait started getting nervous, the tip of my fishing rod started shaking one inch back and forth. As I watch the pole tip vibrated slowly at the beginning I stopped my kayak in anticipation for a big strike. As the vibration got stronger, the pole tip is now moving by 3 to 4 inches back and forth . My thought is the predator is closing in and I can expect a strike any moment now. Then it happened a short zzzzzziiingg followed by two longer zzzzzzzzzziiiiiiinngggs. I grabbed the fishing pole at this time and waited until the line have been running none stop for about 15 yards or more before setting the hook. Once I set the hook I find myself on a very familiar situation of sleigh ride, kick back and enjoy the ride. This fish fought harder than the other fish I landed weeks earlier. | ||
| The battle was rough and the fish got hung up on the kelp for a minute before freeing itself along with about 20 lbs. of kelp. I was joined by Fasha moments before I boated the beast at 6:20 PM. Fasha was at a yelling distance from me when his line started zzzzzinging. He fought the fish for a good two minutes before breaking away. After putting my catch on the stringer I estimated it to be 50 lbs WSB. | |||
| There was one hour of
daylight left when Fasha and I headed back in to the beach after another beautiful
day of fishing. The fish weighed 54.7 lbs. on a digital scale and 56 on spring scale and
measured 52 inches tall. For those who have yet to catch their first WSB, cover some
grounds and use your hunter instinct like the big cats of the wild.
Johnny Ceviche |
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