It would be nearly impossible to top 2000 - I had such a great year. 2001 was not better but different. I got a late start this year because of the cold weather but still managed to have a good year. It started in April while float tubing off Goleta for halibut. I had yet to catch a halibut in 2001 when a 43" 50+ lb. Giant Seabass inhaled my swimbait - boy was that fun and for the first salty fish of 2001 - thank God I hadn't forgotten how to fight a big fish on light gear! That experience is permanently etched in my brain. A few weeks later I got my first legal seabass from the tube not near the harbor. Just off U.C.S.B. in the cove. Had some simply amazing trips around Goleta with plenty of days of catching and releasing multiple legal halibut. I only managed to squeeze in one albacore trip this year but it turned into the first "wide open" bite I've ever been in. Lots of fun grabbing the 12 and 15 lb. rods and slamming the albies. Preceeding that day was a phenomenal day of calico fishing in Ensenada - plenty of 20+ inch fish - all on the plastic. My last trip was fishing with Larry Heron - a "slow" day for Larry was a blast for me - I can't wait to go out again. I'm so glad to learn that there can be some excellent fishing in the winter months here in SB. To top the year off I got a great X-mas present from Fishco!

Of course my best catch of the year was my son.

http://www.leapinbass.com/photo/photos/2001/011208b3.jpg