The inshore fishing is still extremely slow for halibut and/or white seabass in the Santa Barbara area but I did get a nice surprise this morning south of Goleta Pier.

I was fishing for about an hour and a half for nothing when finally I got this very light tap on my Sardine Fish Trap. I cranked down and slammed him and he slammed back - hard! At first I thought I might have snagged another bat ray but I was sure I felt an actual strike. After a few minutes (the initial run) I was sure it was a fish just because of the way it was moving. Heavy head shakes, kind of like a white seabass but different. I forgot to time it but it was at least 15 minutes before I got my first glance. I've never seen a black sea bass before but assumed that's what it was. I saw how immense the thing was and knew there was no way it was going to fit in the net so I started kicking toward the beach. I got the fish on the beach, quickly measured it, took some pictures near my tube, tried to weigh it (bottomed out my 50 lb. scale), and let it go. It only took a couple seconds before it gave a powerful thrust of it's tail and took off. It was 43 inches long and had a 32 inch girth. A lot of fun for slow day!

Anyone have any ideas on what it probably weighed? The G x G x L/800 formula says 55 lbs.

http://leapinbass.com/other_images/010428_giant_sea_bass.jpg

SWEET!!!!

That's awesome!!! What a fish to catch from a tube!!! Thanks for posting the story and pics Pete.

Great job. Amazing it didn't rock you. And I thought my stupid little neeedlefish yesterday was cool. That's way cool, now you gotta go get a big one.

Amish Ed

Ed- were'd you get the needlefish???? Kind of odd with the water we've had lately!

That's killer!!! BUT, why weren't you home with the baby?!?!? har har. I'd say that formula is about right, that fish looks to be in about the 50# class. That's one to remember Pete, nice work. Awesome pics too.
-Brian

LAST EDITED ON Apr-29-01 AT 06:29 AM (PST)

Thanks guys! It was quite an experience. I'm shocked it didn't rock me either! I was using my Hot Shot plastic rod (rated for 10 - 20 lb.) with 12 lb. Maxima. There were a few kelp patches around and the fish got in them twice. Each time when it finally pulled my rod tip snapped up and the line went slack - both times my stomach sank because I hadn't seen it yet but to my amazement it was still there. At that point more than anything I just wanted to know what it was.

It just goes to show that you never know what's lurking out there - I'm thinking of switching to 15 lb. test for fishing plastics.



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You can't catch tomorrow what you kill today - please practice catch and release.

Pete,
How deep was that fish? Were you out fishing kelp, or were you in the surf? BTW, the girth on my dog is 34" lol.
-Brian

I was fishing that thick kelp line (it was 11 - 12 ft.) but started coming in toward shore when I got this one. There were quite a few scattered patches of kelp but nothing like that thick line that's out further. It was about 9 or 10 feet deep where I got it. It was just after a low negative tide so it's usually deeper there.

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You can't catch tomorrow what you kill today - please practice catch and release.

Wow. I wonder what the hell that thing was doing that shallow. Do they spawn up close like that or something? I couldn't imagine. Anyhoo, nice fish, sounds like a lot of fun. A once in a lifetime opportunity (unfortunately).
-Brian