Had a great Fathers Day today on the water. Headed out solo at about 5:45 this morning. Launched the tube through medium surf, but made it through dry. Planned on just fishing bass at my home spot here in Goleta. The water looked nice but the sky was overcast and there was a cool South wind blowing. Since the weather has been hot and sunny lately, I figured the change in conditions might put lock jaw on the fish.

Kicked out to some structure and started off tossing the new 5.5 inch “Rainbow Trout” Big Hammer on a 1 oz. red Super Shad head w/ eyes. Second cast I get railed right as my bait hits the water. The fish must have been right at the surface. It feels like a good fish, but comes unbuttoned about half way in. 2 more casts and I’m on again with another solid fish. I land this one and it goes 4.5 pounds on the boga, sweet!! Feeling good. I work around a bit more for another 2.5 pounder. Then nothing for a long time.

Decided to work in tight near some boilers and picked up another 2 fish on the 5.5 inch “Red Calico Hunter” Big Hammer. I’m just wanting a 5th fish and I’d be happy. Worked back out to the structure for nothing. The wind had come up pretty good at that point and so I let it just push me dowm the line, through some kelp that I really haven’t ever fished hard before.

I get bit good on the drop after pitching into a small hole in the kelp and it feels good. This one gets me down in the kelp and it’s stuck good. Finally break it off. Dam! Finally picked up number 5, a 14 inch super dark Cali. I just keep drifting and flipping into holes.

Once again I get railed on the drop, this time on a 5 inch “Key lime” Hammer with a red ¾ oz. Super Shad head.. This is a solid fish and it’s handing me my ass. Trying to not let it get down into the kelp but on light gear it goes anyway. At one point it actually gets stuck but I eased up on it just a touch and it comes out. Finally get a look and almost crapped my pants. This is a toad! Three times I get it up and three times it gives me a bath and goes back down. The fourth time I’m ready and get the boga on it. Oh baby, it almost doesn’t fit on the tube. Put a quick tape on it and it goes about 22.5 inches and it’s got a huge belly.
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Hard to get a good tube self portrait as I couldn’t get back far enough to get it all in the picture.
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Another shot of the maw.
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Got it back in the water and off she goes. Adrenaline pumping major. Nothing left to do now but to cast out again. 2 tosses later get a 20 inch WSB. Figured I better try that drift again, so I kicked back up wind while making a couple of quick cell calls, just to tell somebody.

I bust off my only key lime so now I’m tossing the 5 inch red calico again. I get bit hard, but this one seems different. Nice brown doormat comes up and goes about 28 inches. Got a quick Boga shot on it but it goes ballistic once I have it up on the tube and it beats the hell out of me. Wow, now I’m super stoked. Ended up sticking another bass and another short flattie just for good measure.

Final count:

7 Calico’s to 8 pounds
2 Flatties to 28 inches
1 Short WSB

All baits were coated in Pro-Cure Pro Gel in the new “Krill” flavor. I can’t believe the quality of the fish I have been catching while using the Krill Gel. That stuff rocks!

Oh, just to make sure I didn’t get to big of a swelled head after that toad Bass, the ocean had one more treat for me as I took a wave on the head trying to land my tube. Ended up completely soaked and with waders full of water. Slogged all the way back to the car with a big dumb grin on my face.

Bryan

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