So we have been doing an annual camping trip at Refugio State Beach for the last 15 years or so. This year we were fortunate enough to get the big group site. One of the days me and my buddy were going to paddle from Gaviota back to Refugio. While we were prepping to launch we were talking to some guys and they told us that there were some fish in the Mariposa area in 60 feet of water. We make it out and start heading for camp. We start looking around when we get to the Mariposa area and find a school of bait with some marks under it. First my buddy hooks up and radios over that he has a bunch of kelp on his line. I had some bait out so I start making it slowly over to him. Just as I reach him I get bit so he is on his own. His fish takes off one way and move the other. As I get my fish to color I see that I have hooked a nice Halibut. Get it on the clip and head for my buddy. I hear him yelling. By this time he is about 200 yards away. As we meet up he has a huge WSB on his lap. We start looking around to get back on the bait. We are about 100 yards apart and have a huge bait boat heading straight for us. He goes right between us and starts circling around. Next thing I know he is dumping his boat and net and wraps the school. Game over for us so we decide to head back to Gaviota and get our fish iced down. My fish came in a 17.10 and his fish pegged the 50 pound scale. The Sea Bass covered the tailgate on his pick up truck from end to end. All in all a great day, damn fish ruined our trip but I will take that any day. Tight lines.....
Sweet catch, suck about the boat. Ill be at refugio fri-sun with the kayak, hopefully I can find some fish
I was out on one of the boats out of Santa Barbara and one of my buddies took my kayak out. There is a patch of kelp to the left as you are looking out to the ocean. He was fishing just to the outside of the kelp line. Hooked a leopard shark, a nice ray and a yellowtail on a sabiki, yes a small yellow. Took him straight into the kelp and busted him off. Look for some macks and bait up. Good luck and post some pics of your trip.
Upload each pic before you post them. Works for me and thats some nice fish sweet job dude thats way to cool
