More than likely if you were coming in and the shallower water you got ambushed by a larger White Sea Bass that like to hang in the eel grass and murk. Before the gil nets in the late sixties and early seventies when spearfishing we always kept the guns cocked all the way to the beach at Mohawk in hopes of sticking a big 'butt or white.
I had encounter with a big WSB up the beach at Breamar and have picked up a few shorts at HR point this spring as well. When it gets calm and clear(neap tides too) I find that the WSB like to go in shallow. Ya just got to be ready!