I don't post too frequently, but due some recent events I thought it was about time - someone had to document a couple of amazing days I recently had out in La Jolla...
I had a few buddies coming down to enjoy some kayak fishing, and had been planning their week-long stay for months. There was my brother (from Toronto, Canada) and a friend (from North Carolina) who would be fishing beautiful La Jolla for a few days with me, as well as seeing some of the other sights in SoCal. Typically, this wouldn't result in too much pressure for me, but I'd been bragging about the fishing we have here for quite some time. They'd seen the pictures of a few White Sea Bass I caught last year, but little did they know how much TIME I had to put in learning the ropes in order to catch them...
So, after fishing LJ for two long years, it dawned on me a couple of months before they arrived: my success rate isn't exactly stellar - so how the F@$% was I going to make sure they don't go home empty handed?? I mean, I have learned A LOT here over the past 2 years, but I've got two friends taking a trip to California, after I've bragged and bragged about it, just to fish the beautiful LJ area, and there was no way I was letting them go back home without a real fish. I needed some kind of way to guarantee they got their trophy pic... For those of you who don't already know what I'm talking about, I needed a ringer!!! Enter the guru: otherwise known as THE DARKHORSE (Josh Pruitt). I spoke with Josh a couple of months before my partners arrived. He said: "no matter when your friends arrive, I'll be on top of fish. If there's fish to be caught, I'll be all over them". Now, I didn't take his confidence over the phone hook, line and sinker (pun intended), but it did put my mind at ease. At least the pressure wouldn't be on me....
I quickly received a gear list and after gearing up with spectra, hooks and irons, my two friends arrived wide eyed and bushy tailed on a Saturday afternoon a couple of months later. Josh had cleared out his schedule for a few days and assured me we'd be in the right place at the right time. My fishing partners were chomping at the bit - and wanted to go out the very next morning. But, after talking to Josh, he instructed us to do the opposite: "Go out and have a big night on the town. Party like rockstars until the sun comes up and then sleep like vampires all damn day..." Apparently we would be fishing at night - something I had never done before, but did not argue with
I figured we'd kill two birds with one stone. Take Josh's advice, while surveying the fishing grounds at the same time. Here we are following instructions, however difficult they may be.
The next evening, we met josh and launched into the dark, made bait, etc, (BTW "etc" = "josh wizardry") then out of nowhere our lines start going zzzzzzzzzzzzzz! And next thing you know, we've landed three White Seabass (one each) released numerous others at the boat, and had a couple more BIG near misses....
The first of the night was an absolute toad, tipping the scales at 60 lbs on the dot. The second and third were nice fish in the mid thirties. It was at this time that I realized I forgot one thing out of Josh's gear list: a big ass ice-chest! In fact, I knew I wouldn't have had room in my ice chest for these guys, much less one of these fish, so josh offered to put them on ice for us, which was really a big help. So, into his trophy coffin they went...
The Canadian's first White Seabass.
The Southerner's first White Seabass.
Stoked member of the plastic navy....yours truly!
Have you ever noticed how small a regular toad WSB looks next to a sixty pounder (center)??!?!?
We originally had josh booked for two days of WSB fishing, but after the first trip, we all decided as a team...... we had seen enough of them for a very long time. Maybe Yellowtail fishing would be a good way to go? So, Josh offered to take us on a Yellowtail hunt, which was pretty great because that's a fish that's eluded me for quite some time. We would sleep the whole next day and prepare to give the Yellowtail a shot the next morning. We launched the following morning and had the ocean to ourselves as Josh guided us to an area he said was holding fish. I am happy to inform you that he was correct, and again we all landed another trophy...... EACH! After two years of trying for one of these fish, It was a humbling experience. Pride aside, I was pumped!
The Southerner's first Yellowtail!
The Canadian's first Yellow Tail! Somehow he caught the biggest White Seabass and the biggest Yellowtail!
My coveted prize after two years...
After this, we had a few more amazing encounters with some sharks (makos to be exact). We ended up hooking up on 2 of these beautiful fish, and while we didn't exactly want to get them OUT of the water, we did get a good view of some of their aerial stunts as they jumped all over the place. We estimated both of them to be over 5' and around 80 lbs or so, but stats aside it was just cool to see a laser fast and really cool looking fish like that hanging around. After all this, Josh offered to take us to a Halibut spot that was holding next, but honestly, the thought of fishing for Calico Bass, Rockfish and Halibut was the farthest thing from our minds at the time. We had EACH landed multiple trophy fish in beautiful La Jolla, so no need to get greedy right? After two days with Josh, two long days at that, we were going to enjoy the rest of the vacation sleeping in, eating WSB and Yellow Tail and just enjoying the scenery.
Oh, and Sushi. LOTS of sushi.
VERY LONG STORY short, I had heard Josh was good - well maybe good isn't the right word for his skill set. But I had no idea he'd be this good. Both of my friends left San Diego with memories and pictures that will last a lifetime. And anyone out there on the fence about whether or not to hire him should just take another look at the pics. And keep in mind that other than myself, it was the first time either of my fishing buddies had ever been out kayak fishing in saltwater. Funny thing, when we returned the rented kayaks to Hike Bike and Kayak, the owner (David I believe?) asked about our trips with Josh. We told him about the amazing trophy white seabass and yellowtail, and of sushi and fish tacos. His response was said with a straight face and I quote:
"I'm a little disappointed....... no Halibut?"
See you all on the water. Tite lines.