Exodus
03-29-2004, 02:01 PM
We arrived at the launch ramp at Dana Point at around 5:45am on Sunday 3/28 to an empty parking lot, so we took our time getting the boat ready I was with my oldest daughter Hannah, my friend Mike, and his son Evan. Our plan was to get a 1/2 scoop of Sardines and head North of the point and drift the kelp line along the beach. The weather was just perfect for a relaxing day of fishing with the kids.
Evan was the first to hook up with a 14" Sand Bass after fishing for only a few minutes. We were hopeful that they would continue to bite, but no dice. That was the only fish for over three hours. We tried moving several times, but the fish just wouldn't cooperate. So we finally decided to just anchor up and relax for a while before heading in.
This is where it gets exciting :D . I baited up Hannah's rod with a good sized Sardine and dropped it to the bottom. I must have dropped it right on the Halibuts head, because as soon as it hit the bottom it got inhaled! Hannah freaked out because it was something big and wanted me to bring the fish in. I wasn't really sure what I had until I saw color. It took about ten minutes to get this thing up off of the bottom in 55' of water just outside of the kelp.
When I saw this thing my heart started pounding! My friend Mike and the kids were watching me wondering what to do. I had Mike get the gaff and get ready. He wasn't sure where to hit it and didn't want to blow it, so I grabbed the gaff with my free hand and got a perfect shot right behind the gill plate and swung it over the side. I was pretty relieved to see the fish INSIDE the boat :shock: .
I was pretty much done after that. I just sat back and enjoyed the rest of our time out there. The fishing was actually very slow in that area for everyone around us. It was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time with a lot of luck on our side.
The Halibut ended up measuring 43" and weighing an even 30lbs.
Evan was the first to hook up with a 14" Sand Bass after fishing for only a few minutes. We were hopeful that they would continue to bite, but no dice. That was the only fish for over three hours. We tried moving several times, but the fish just wouldn't cooperate. So we finally decided to just anchor up and relax for a while before heading in.
This is where it gets exciting :D . I baited up Hannah's rod with a good sized Sardine and dropped it to the bottom. I must have dropped it right on the Halibuts head, because as soon as it hit the bottom it got inhaled! Hannah freaked out because it was something big and wanted me to bring the fish in. I wasn't really sure what I had until I saw color. It took about ten minutes to get this thing up off of the bottom in 55' of water just outside of the kelp.
When I saw this thing my heart started pounding! My friend Mike and the kids were watching me wondering what to do. I had Mike get the gaff and get ready. He wasn't sure where to hit it and didn't want to blow it, so I grabbed the gaff with my free hand and got a perfect shot right behind the gill plate and swung it over the side. I was pretty relieved to see the fish INSIDE the boat :shock: .
I was pretty much done after that. I just sat back and enjoyed the rest of our time out there. The fishing was actually very slow in that area for everyone around us. It was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time with a lot of luck on our side.
The Halibut ended up measuring 43" and weighing an even 30lbs.