After getting a 58 pounder in April, I had a hell of a dry spell. It wasn't just me- guys twice as good as I am were not getting fish on my boat. Thankfully something changed. I've had four good trips in a row, and yesterday was a fifth.
I went out with Eric Stewart and Dam Nguyen, so I felt that even if I didn't get anything, someone would. These guys are serious killers.
At the first stop, vis was poor, bait was non-existent, and we didn't see a thing.
At the second stop, Eric was out in front of the boat, Dam was behind it, and I was sitting on the swim step just getting my fins on when I heard Eric shout that he was on. (I've really got to learn to suit up faster). So I directed Dam toward Eric to provide help if needed, and climbed back into the boat to do duty as photographer and weigh master. Eric came back with the skinniest wsb I've ever seen. It was 53 inches long, but weighed just 42 pounds. I'm afraid I almost never measure the length of fish, but people who do tell me that a fish of that length should weigh about 55 pounds.
At the next stop, the water was finally very clear. I didn't dive as often as usual since I thought I could see about as far down as I usually dive. There were two beds near each other. Eric and I went one way, and Dam went the right way. After Eric and I were back in the boat, we saw Dam coming with a white sea bass. His weighed about 42 pounds too, but was much shorter and fatter.
So on to a fourth stop. It was getting pretty tiring for the elderly, but who cares? We anchored on the edge of a bed, and they elected to go in opposite directions down the outside looking for yellowtail, while I went into the bed trying to play catchup on white sea bass. After about 30 minutes, I saw Dam in the boat waving a yellowtail at me, so I decided to head out to the edge of the bed. Dam said he had seen two singles, and taken this 31 pounder. Not bad. Eric said he had seen one, but he and the fish spooked each other. Eric and I hunted the edge of the bed for a while longer, but then it was time to come home. It was late enough.
I've had a few trips where I was beginning to believe that luck trumped youth and vigor, but Dam and Eric brought me back to reality. Still, it was a hell of a lot of fun to see some blood on the boat, even if I didn't contribute to it.
I went out with Eric Stewart and Dam Nguyen, so I felt that even if I didn't get anything, someone would. These guys are serious killers.
At the first stop, vis was poor, bait was non-existent, and we didn't see a thing.
At the second stop, Eric was out in front of the boat, Dam was behind it, and I was sitting on the swim step just getting my fins on when I heard Eric shout that he was on. (I've really got to learn to suit up faster). So I directed Dam toward Eric to provide help if needed, and climbed back into the boat to do duty as photographer and weigh master. Eric came back with the skinniest wsb I've ever seen. It was 53 inches long, but weighed just 42 pounds. I'm afraid I almost never measure the length of fish, but people who do tell me that a fish of that length should weigh about 55 pounds.
At the next stop, the water was finally very clear. I didn't dive as often as usual since I thought I could see about as far down as I usually dive. There were two beds near each other. Eric and I went one way, and Dam went the right way. After Eric and I were back in the boat, we saw Dam coming with a white sea bass. His weighed about 42 pounds too, but was much shorter and fatter.
So on to a fourth stop. It was getting pretty tiring for the elderly, but who cares? We anchored on the edge of a bed, and they elected to go in opposite directions down the outside looking for yellowtail, while I went into the bed trying to play catchup on white sea bass. After about 30 minutes, I saw Dam in the boat waving a yellowtail at me, so I decided to head out to the edge of the bed. Dam said he had seen two singles, and taken this 31 pounder. Not bad. Eric said he had seen one, but he and the fish spooked each other. Eric and I hunted the edge of the bed for a while longer, but then it was time to come home. It was late enough.
I've had a few trips where I was beginning to believe that luck trumped youth and vigor, but Dam and Eric brought me back to reality. Still, it was a hell of a lot of fun to see some blood on the boat, even if I didn't contribute to it.