SMB Big Bass & quantity too 5/31 w-pics

[Red Drum]

Did an afternoon trip with Jason “jscrib”, aboard my 15ft aluminum Duroboat “Red Drum”. Conditions were very nice. Some wind when we headed out but, backed off shortly after that. Our main objective was to bounce ball some hard baits and find the halibut. No halibut but, 50 + quality Bass and one estimated 40lb BSB. Needless to say it was a great afternoon.

On the plastic. Scribby with the smallest size for the day, that's how good it was. X-Mas BH killed it...again.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311156.jpg

Then I hook up a nice fish. Hoping for a Halibut, but it turned out to be a 25" 8 1/2lb Sand Bass.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311159.jpg

Then 5 minutes later I hook up a very big fish. Turned out to be an estimated 40lb Black Sea Bass. I gingerly removed the double treble hook hardbait from the back of the fish’s mouth. Fish never left the water except for this shot. The fish hauled *** back to the bottom when I released. However, my right hand got pretty scrapped up from the fish’s mouth while trying to remove the hard bait.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311154.jpg

I kept fishing the three-way swivel bounce ball set-up and Jason kept throwing plastics for an epic pick of Calico Bass and Sand Bass.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311167.jpg

Cloud Bass.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311168.jpg

Then another Lattice Bass.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311170.jpg

The Bass loved the hard bait. Yo-Zuri sardine pattern was deadly.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311172.jpg

I later switched out to plastics and we continued to catch a lot of Bass into the night.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311173.jpg

Plastic Checkerboard.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311175.jpg

Threw the big bait aka BH Hot Carl for some average fish. Was hoping for a toad...that came later.

Big Hammer Hot Carl:

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311177.jpg

Another Kelp Bass.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311180.jpg

Flying T-roller.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311183.jpg

W/O fishing all the way into the dying light.

The last half hour Jason fished the big bait only. Got some okay bass and a few short bites. Then, last cast Jason gets thumped hard. Get the fish just off the bottom and his Curado pops out of the reel seat. He had to crank the fish in the boat just holding the reel in his hand and the rod butt under his arm. Pretty classic. :lol: :lol:

Jason’s reward. 23 1/2 " Sandy. 7 1/2lbs on the big Hot Carl. Jason wanted to give special thanks to Pete from Big Hammer for the baits!

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311187.jpg

Another shot before the release.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/jscrib_photos/Fishing/P5311186.jpg

Had a great time on the water and it was my third fishing trip in 6 days and burned less than 8 gallons of gas in three trips….sweeeet! Some of the best bass fishing in awhile, can’t wait to go again. HOOK-UP!!

Till next tide,

[fisherman from long beach]

damn,nice report and pics,great fishing you had there

[lngbchfnhnter]

Nice pics guys! thanks for the report..

[Marine_Michael]

Damn, those are some nice fish. Seeing pictures like that bring back memories of when my father had a boat.

[elevated]

damm, and I'm stoked to catch one small bass on the moo moos! nice going.

[doorman]

toads. and good job on the safe release of the bsb

[boojoo]

Those are some nice Toads there Vinnie!!! Way to go buddy!! Hey I sent you a PM.

BooJoo

[xjdesertfox]

great report man, awesome fish you guys got there!

[NY4Reels!]

You guys make catchin toads look way too easy!! Great job guys! That BSB only gave you a little affection ;)

[bassmeister]

Very nice. That for sure was a killer trip.

[JL]

Question: You say at the beginning of your post that your set up was with the 3 way swivel to bounce ball for Halibut. I do the same with live sardines or anchovies but never tried it with Hard Bait. Have you had success in the past using the hard bait for Halibut? I may try that today. Also if you don't mind sharing I would like to know how deep you were fishing. Last week we fished the kelp lines from Seal rock in Laguna to Newport getting a few nice sand bass. Were there any Kelp beds near where you were fishing? The picture seem to show you were in clear water areas. Thanks for the help. Great pictures Great fishing Congrats.