Offishial Business Outdoors

Made a trip over to the island last week and didn't expect much. I knew the bass were biting a bit, but also knew it was going to be cold as hell. Struggled to make bait (squid) and looked hard in several areas. Finally found some volume, but the stuff was not spawning. (hard to catch when it doesn't come to the lights to spawn). A seal helped scare enough into the crowder to fish with, and I added a few pieces with the squid jigs. By now its 1:30am, and really cold.

Next morning set up on a kelpline that looked good the day before and I tried hard to hook the 1st seabass of the year. I fished a couple pieces of fresh dead that we brought over, then pinned on a live squirt. 5 seconds after it hit the water, I'm bit! I was fishing a new rod from Fenwick. Long and light, but with 65# braid and 20# flouro. WIth the new rod I could not get a good feel for what the fish was, and was hoping for a big croaker. The fish dove straight into the kelp, and stayed there for about 45 minutes (while I played the see-saw game). When I finally saw the fish, I was so disappointed I could not stand it. A yellow. What a bummer. Not even a homeguard big boy, but a kelp paddy holdover that was obviously lost or left behind by his buddies. Oh well, its January and I'll take it. From what I hear, it's the 1st of the year. That works.

I would take that any day

Wow YT in January, that's cool.

Awesome read! Upset about the yellow! When is the next call for the wsb capt?

Seabass anytime. Although its cold, the weather has been stable. We know that fish stay year round (some) at Catalina and along the coast. A score could come at any time. If its anything like last year, the big scores will be on the beach before Catalina. We'll see. Once the water temps reach that magic 64 degree, the seabass will begin to spawn, and scores will go up. Say maybe late March or April sometime.

That is still a nice fish, thanks for the info. as always great read.

At a boy Captain, finders keepers. Winter yellow shows that the Southern California fisheries are strong for those that actually put the rods in the water. Folks out there catch more than what most believe. Can't believe anything you hear anymore. Just get out and fish, Captain you bring an honest word in this industry. Look forward to follow more of what you do. Lost yellow, one hell of a dinner.