Fished the rocks in Laguna yesterday afternoon using cut senorita and squid strips for bait. Beautiful day with no surf, but red-tide...water looked the color of tea. Caught/released a Catalina Blue Perch on squid. Casted squid back out when BAM...got a HUGE hit with lots of line pulling out on a buttoned down drag with 20# test. This fish made many line buzzing runs and I was afraid it would hang me up on a rock or kelp. Somehow it didn't and when I brought it to color, I was very nervous as it was the biggest Calico Bass I have ever seen. Immediately moved 10 feet over on the rock to guide it into a tide pool at the bottom of the ledge that luckily, was exposed due to the low tide. Was able to bounce it up 2 feet into it, and then GINGERLY bounced it the remaining 6 feet up the rocks and got it! It was 8 pounds (on my human scale, the only one I have) and measured 23.5 inches long. Too big for my small bucket, so I thumbed it back by the lower jaw for the long trek home. Lifeguards were stoked with it...attracted lots of attention on the beach. My biggest Calico Bass ever and I'm ecstatic! The fishing gods were with me yesterday!!!


http://www.momentoffame.com/snapshot.html?id=51744

Wow Brum!! Beautiful Bass!!! Cudos to you Bro. Lots of fish tacos there friend!!:D

Tight Lines!!

Aztecwin

Great job on that fatty plaid! I would do anything for a calico that size!

But I add that I would have given her a kiss on the forehead and let her take the long walk, or swim, back to her own home. These fish are very important to all of us and I would let anything over 3 lb. go.

Thanks for the great report and the cool pick, but please be more careful with our resources.

calicokid

Tod, "human scale"? Like a bathroom scale? LOL. Nice catch.


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Yes David, all I had was the old "human scale" and according to it, it was 8 pounds. And Calicokid, I totally agree with you about releasing the big bulls and only keeping the "just legals" which is normally what I do. However, I fished those rocks about 15 times this summer for very little, so I felt entitled to that fish. Definitely bittersweet though as I know that fish was at least 20 years old...if I ever get one like that again I'll probably release it.

Todd, great fish! Way to go, but I would also encourage the release for those old girls, the big brooders aren't around like the old days- glad you scored, definetly a trophy fish.

I have to jump in on this one like everyone else...

NICE fish, but I would have released it too.

That's one beautiful fish! To be perfectly honest, I think would have done the same thing. I catch more crap from my wife, because I come home from fishing with nothing to show for it because I released everything I caught. We should release the breeders on a regular basis, but once in a while we are entitled to keep one. I smell a little hypocrisy on this thread. ;-) Anyway... Good times & nice fish Mr. Brumfield!!!

Terry G.

If I didn't do too well for a long time, I defintely would keep this fish and take home for a photo and record then make some fish steaks or sashimi etc.

Nice TOAD!!! I too support catch & release but once in a while it's okay to keep. You're definitely entitled to it especially if you put time on the water. What you do with the fish is your business. Good job!:)

Nice fish! I have always dreamed of catching one that big. When you say that you were fishing the rocks at Laguna, were you from shore or on a tube? I go surf fishing there all the time for perch with perch grubs. I have always wanted to try to throw swimbaits from the shore because I saw some really good structure. THat would be cool if you could catch calicos from the shore. Have you ever heard of tablerock? Any answers would be appreciated.

Tight lines,

OCDeryck