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[efishent]

Well, sorry again for lack of visuals (yes, I already looked up that Gopro online for a good price, so hopefully next time)..
But after last trip I just had to get out there again, soon. Tried a different spot in kelp this time and it was nearly a repeat of the last trip:

1) Conditions were funky: multiple swells , wind and more bouncing; it felt like fishing off the back of a moving horse on my 9-ft board. Met a kayaker who got a calico and was paddling back with broken ore.
2) Whale traffic was heavy: I'd focus on jig drop and then suddenly hear a loud PPFFFFF behind my back, turn around and see a couple spouts in the air. This happened at least 4 times. Dolphins came too but did not get as close us last time, couple of seals were bobbing up and down.
3)Once I blended into this marine ecosystem I started finding productive holes using only white, squid-baited jig. Got 3-4 gray colored mid-size rockfish that hit on the drop in mid-water like bass. And sure enough calicos came to play too: after a small one I hooked into a heavy one. I was sure it was WSB , but it turned out to be my PB calico around 22" and just fat and heavy. It behaved well (laying quietly as I stuck my whole fist in his mouth and recovered the jig). As soon as the jig and the bass were free I dropped down and got slammed instantly again but it was a different calico around 19". That just made my day. But it was not all.
I got a smaller calico and mid-sized sandy and then,
4) I threw a jig to sink between 2 kelp patches and got a WSB on and after letting go it chased the jig to the surface and grabbed it again, yet right near the surface the jig, barely hooked, came out. I was rather sure it was not a legal but 20-24" and I could see his nice thick vertical stripes and a tail as he went under the strings. With little knowledge I got I'd say the WSB are around these days, mostly short but I have been broken off but what may have been bigger models on a 10 lb line with light rod and reel.
Can't wait for conditions to improve. All fish went back to the kelp today but I did make some mental notes for future..which should be a little warmer.

[bachiboy]

Sounds like one heck of a Nat Geo session out there...capped off by some damn good fishin! Nice scores and congrats on the PB!!!

Don

[bones]

Glad you got on them with all of that effort sir. Those checkers sound like a lot of fun and congrats on the big girl. Fishing around all of that kelp is a whole different game for sure and it sounds like you are starting to get it pretty wired.

Looking forward to more adventurous reports from you in the future!

Mike

[SP Dan]

Hi ya efishent,

I really enjoyed all of the details of your session! Excellent!

Good job on the monstrous PB 22" Calico Bass! WTG!!

Thanx for the fish report w/ pic's!

SP Dan <"))><