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FROM THE DECK
by Captain Jack
It's white sea bass, man
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Redondo Sport Fishing's Nancy Gray shows off her 45 pound white sea bass, caught a week ago Tuesday aboard Redondo Sport Fishing's "Highliner." Husband John Gray, skipper of the Highliner, looks on enviously. Photo by Mike Freige. |
Well mates if'en you were on the water last week you already know what I'm about to write about --- the bite of the century. Over 600 white sea bass alone, were taken from Rocky Point to the mouth of the Redondo Beach Harbor.
"Incredible!" one ole sea dog stated to the boys at the Protofino Fuel Dock, "I been fishing for 50 years and I ain't seen nutt'in like this. They was everywhere!"
You didn't have to make the crossing to Catalina to catch Sea Bass. You didn't need to know anything about their picky habbits. All you needed was live squid, those candy bait of the sea, 15 to 25 pound test line, an ole rod and a boat that floats.
Toss that squid on the water, count to three and it was HOOK UP! The Captain here went out midweek with Gary Gaudet of Gaudet Insurance and owner of the charter boat "Ga'Day" for a look see. Boy did we pick the day and it was a Good Day. In one hour we had four 20-pound sea bass on board, and dumped two over 30 pounds! We released 10 shorts; that's fish under 28 inches long.
The new fish and game law restricts each licensed fisherman to one bass per day. We had ours. Looked at one another and said, "Its Miller Time." Off we went to the Portofino for a cold brew with our catch. A guy on the dock wanted to know what kind fish they were, "'Told'em very large Mackerel." We all chuckeled over that quip. Hey, if you don't know yer fish what the hey.
The next day the Captain's neighbor Dave Deer owner of the "Maurder" gives me a call. "You been out?" Yep," I sez. "Want to catch the evening bite?" "Yep."
Off we go back to Rocky. One hour later we had another 20-pounder and went in.
Dave goes out the next morning and nails two 35-pounders! Captain Joey Jr. of the "Mad Hatter" went with Dave and the Captain, the day before, and catches his first sea bass on his birthday. "Happy Bir'day," I sez to Joey.
Now there's Martin "Hook'em in the Lip." He goes out with his buddies Andre and Terry "the Mackerel Killers" and slams seven whiteys on the deck all over 30 pounds! I could go on and on with these fish stories. And, they're all true. I ain't making this up. Aarg Sez the Captain.
CAPTAIN OF THE WEEK: Goes to Gary Gaudet owner and skipper of the charter boat Ga'Day. Captain Gary just got his captain's license last month after putting over 60 years on the water from the time he first sat on the pot. Lucky he ain't flying a 747. I'd take the train. However, Captain Gary is serious about fishing and specializes in having a "Good Time." If'in ya fish with him you'll have a good time, like it or not!
UP AND DOWN THE COAST and Inland Fishing: Let us not forget our other fishing buddies who like things with tails other than white sea bass. The fresh water bucket mouth bass are hitting the shallows of every lake that's got'em. Northern trout are still hitting the fly. Striped Bass on the Colorado are all over the place. The barracuda are popping up from Newport to Santa Monica with good counts of yellowtail from Diego to the outer Islands. Let's go get some tail next week at the island. Join the Captain.
Do continue to send in your pic's and tails. Attn: Captain Jack, Easy Reader, P.O. Box 427. Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
PORTOFINO FUEL DOCK: open daily from 8 a.m 'till five lest you have extra $$$, that's money. They'll rent you a boat 'till hell freezes over.
LOCAL FISH AND TACKLE STORE: Hermosa Beach Pete's on Pier Plaza, once known as Pier Avenue has got all you need from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. lest the fish are biting. Then ain't nobody home.... Cause he's testing the gear -- on yer behalf. Hell, somebody gott'a know if'in the stuff works. ER