Date: December 13, 2001
To: PFIC Message Board
From: baitfish
Subject: Best fish you ever caught...
I was getting my haircut the other day and the person cutting my hair and I started talking about fishing. Then she asked me what was the best fish you ever caught. I know she meant largest, but just because it is the largest fish does not mean it the catch you are most proud of. I could not answer right away, and after three days I am still trying to decide. But I am curious to see what the best catch of your lives are. Adam, Will work for fish!
Name: mobilesuit
Mine would be my first halibut from a pier. It was at Ventura and looked legal. I lost it cuz that thing took off like a mad man (fish). Hopefully I will top that fish sometime soon
Name: crazyguy
My best would have to be a big leopard shark my dad and I got off Berkeley Pier this June. It had beautiful markings and fought really well. It tasted really good too. Just a beautiful fish that was about 58 inches. Probably weighed 20-25 pounds.
Name: striperkiller
That’s tough... I've got 3 options:
1. 32 lb. redfish on 6-lb. test. Fought it for half an hour then it wrapped itself around the anchor rope, so I followed it. I jumped in with the rod and untangled the fish, then fought it for another 5 minutes to the boat.
2. 18-lb. striper off the beach on 6-lb. 25-minute fish that spooled me twice.
3. 10-lb. striper on 4 lb. test.
Close calls: 20lb. bat ray on 6-lb; 100 lb. stingray on 30-lb. stand-up. -joe
Name: flatfish hunter
1. Sturgeon, half hour fight on 12-lb. test and unfortunately lost due to pilings.
2. 20-pound salmon in the Capilano river in Vancouver on 8-lb. test, snagged its self on it’s pectoral fin. Had the current with it too. 30 minute fight.
3. 30-lb. salmon trolling.
4. 20-lb. leopard on 10-lb. test, 20 minutes.
5. 18-lb. halibut on 6 lb. test from Crissy Fields with a 3/4 Worm King swim bait (rainbow trout pattern) - 20-25 minute fight.
That’s about it. I don't count the numerous stripers I have caught on 6-lb. test from shore. FlatFish Hunter A.K.A ali
Name: pescare
My first salmon from a bank. Feather River (not at the outlet) on a plain ole Mepps #5. Big, fresh and strong. It was the first time I ever tried for salmon in a river and the first time I caught one on light tackle. Great memory. Ed
Name: Rock Hopper
Hmmm... I would say one of the best fish I ever caught was a 12-lb. carp when I was 8 or 9 years old. I fought that thing for what seemed like forever. Can’t remember what kind of tackle I was using, but just the memory of being with my brother and my father out there and then my dad congratulating me make this stick out in my mind really well.
Best fight recently has been a huge bat ray I caught at Doran Park off the jetty. I caught three that night within 1 hour. Hook one... fight it for 10 to 20 minutes... get it to the rocks... cut it loose... re-rig... cast... BOOM! another one on...
Best fight by a fish that I have no idea what it was - about a year ago in Tomales Bay I hooked into something HUGE. We were drift fishing for halibut and something grabbed my bait hard. Whatever it was pulled my friend’s 19-foot boat about a hundred yards AGAINST the current. The next day I had a tremendous bruise on my thigh from resting the rod on it when pulling in. I never did get to see what it was...I fought it for 35 minutes then I over tightened the drag and SNAP! I was so bummed. All I wanted was to see what it was. Is there sturgeon in Tomales Bay? I don’t think it was a bat ray because every bat ray I’ve caught has made a few straight line runs... whatever this was made a few short runs then circled around (spinning the boat) and also just tried to dive straight down. I’m thinking maybe a huge halibut or sturgeon... or very large shark... didn't see any sea lions that day. Great topic...I hope it gets a lot of replys!
Name: mola joe
So many fish come to mind, mostly the first fish of a new species. First marlin, tuna, grouper, yellowtail, dorado, legal halibut, etc. One that does stand out is my 3-lb, 14-ounce line class world record corbina that I turned in last July that I caught on 2-lb. line. When I decided to try for the 2-lb. test record on these fish, I had no idea how thin real 2- lb. line is. I’ve used regular 2-lb. line like Maxima most of my life, so I was really surprised that line that has to test out at 2-lb. is like a human hair. Anyway, I was just looking to catch a fish in the 1 to 2 pound class for the record (open category) because I figured there’s no way in hell I’m going to pull a big fish out of breaking surf with this light stuff. I fished three beaches that morning without spotting any feeding fish, but I did break two fish off that I didn’t see. I ended up at Marine St in Manhattan Beach only because as I drove by, there was a parking spot open. I walked straight down on a low tide and spotted three large fish feeding in a small hole almost all the way up on the beach. It was right at spawning time, so I’m guessing 4 to 5 pound fish. I cast up on dry sand 10 feet beyond the spot and drag a big soft shell right into the hole. These fish are so shallow their backs are out of the water. In an instant, one fish nails the bait but keeps on feeding. I apply pressure to make sure he’s got it and he finally figures out somethings wrong. All three fish shoot in different directions and the fights on. My fish ran out and down the beach right into another hole. I tried for 5 minutes to move him out, but with the light line I couldn't do it. I finally waded out there and spooked him out. Off we go down the beach again. Finally, 10 minutes later he's on the beach. I was surprised to find out it was a spawned-out female, otherwise from the length of the fish and girth of the head, I'm guessing it would have pushed almost 5 pounds full of roe. This also answers why she was fighting so hard. They almost always seem to pull harder after they drop their eggs. Anyway, I take it up to the main lifeguard office located right at Marine St. so I can get a witness the fish is alive and he can look at my rod, reel and line. I was fishing by myself, and figured a lifeguard would be a good witness. The guy looks at me like I’m crazy. When I told him it was a world record, he thought is was a joke someone was playing on him. He had no clue what it was but I convinced him it was no joke and he signed the forms. I turned in two world records that month, but unless I get an all tackle record, that’s it for me on the line class records. It really is a lot of work to go through all the stuff you have to do to qualify, and even though I did get several fish this year that would have set new line records on corbina, including two fish bigger than my 4 pound test record, I'll pass from now on. The 8 through 20-pound test line class on corbina are still open last time I looked, and any fish turned in would be a record. Not much challenge catching a 3-pound corbina on 20-pound test, but a record if you turn it in. Still, I am proud of that 2-pound test record, and had a hell of a fight with that fish. Not sure how long the record will hold, but I’m sure someone will try to break it in the near future as corbina are becoming a popular fish again along our coast. Tight Lines!!!
Name: baitfish
AWESOME STORY!!!
Name: Corbinaman1
Congrats Mola Joe! Catching an almost 4 pound Corbina on 2 pound test is simply incredible! And a WORLD record as well!?... kudos to you! Just comes to show that the biggest fish are not always the best or most memorable!
Name: aafrench
Not much of a challenge? The challenge is to get the big, line-shy ones to bite 20# line, isn’t is? Andrew
Name: Corbinaman1
My Biggest On 20-lb. is 3.5 Pounds
Name: baitfish
That's more of a luck issue than a skill thing though. Adam, Will work for fish!
Name: mola joe
Don't forget you can use any lb. test leader.
Name: Corbinaman1
Usually my “first” ever of a particular fish, but not always. My first panga CABO Sailfish was the biggest at 80-lbs, and my first CABO Dorado were fun... both put up fun aerial fights, but the line was 50-lb. test, so they were whipped pretty quick... not the best fight. From a pier (Aliso Pier) when I was a little kid... it was a 2 or 3 pound bonito. It made good runs... my reel broke and my buddy hand-lined it up the pier... it seemed that everyone on the pier came over to watch the fight... I was stoked! From local party boats (during the El-Nino), it had to be yellowtail... those suckers make great runs and are tricky! I thought I would have to fish many times to get a yellowtail, but I got five on my first half day boat... was happy! From shore, I still remember my first Corbina last summer like it was yesterday... made some awesome runs! Also from shore (this summer), unexpectedly caught a 25-lb. Shovelnose Guitarfish, that made tons of runs and was a blast to catch!
Name: Leapin Bass
Can't decide:
43-inch, 50+ lb. giant sea bass from the tube
9-lb. largemouth on a buzzbait
19-in. smallmouth on a buzzbait in river
30-inch white seabass from the tube on 6 lb.
27-inch halibut on a minnow bait that was just floating stationary right in front of my tube
40-in. Northern Pike on 6 lb.
You can't catch tomorrow what you kill today - please practice catch and release.
Name: castlebravo
The best fish I ever caught was my first legal halibut, about 3 weeks ago. The fish most remembered, hooked but not caught, was a large brown trout in Hot Creek. I was dapping with a 1/0 grass shrimp fly just before the hot springs. The fish made a run out to the middle of the creek, jumped about 5 feet into the air, turned its head and disappeared. castlebravo
Name: baitfish
I can't decide either, either these fish (pictures). The spotty was a first for me, The Shovelnose was the largest shore caught fish and the sail was a catch of a lifetime but like corbinaman said, not much of a fight on 50# line. I probably would have had a blast on 15-20#. But I don't have a pic for two others, my first Corbina a couple of years ago, 20” next to Malibu Pier or my first shore caught Halibut, 17.5” s also next to Malibu pier. The Spotty was caught in MDR, sailfish was in Puerto Vallarta and the Shovelnose was from the beach in front of the Charthouse @ PCH and Topanga on 12# line, I am leaning towards the shovelnose, because that was one of the best fights. Adam, Will work for fish!
Name: Corbinaman1
Big Shovelnose Guitarfish Are A Blast! I have to post my 25-pound Shovelnose Guitarfish picture (again), because it was DEFINITELY my best fight ever from shore!! It made so many runs on 20-lb. test that a few times, I actually was reeling in while it was running! I couldn't beach it, so a kid held my pole... I waded into the water and dragged it to the beach! Some people consider them trash fish, but after this battle, I have a newfound respect for Shovelnose Guitarfish... it actually “made” my surf fishing summer! I remember Leapin Bass posted a pic of a HUGE Shovelnose a while back (at least 35 lbs!) ... anyone else here catch any BIG Shovelnose Guitarfish?
Name: tomaurand
Mine, a 175-LB Mako out of Dana Point not because of the size but when I went on the swim board of the boat to tail rope the fish one of the two gaffs in the head broke on the shaft and it was all teeth I saw at me feet!! This was after a 45 minute fight on an Accurate conversion reel with a light action Shimano Calcutta 9’ jig stick chucking chovies at yellow tail. Tight lines and NO TEETH in the feet, Tom
Name: Shark Assassin
The most memorable fish I’ve ever caught were the Blue Sharks I caught on the Ocean Odyssey in August. I was up at night, after the first day, they had just finished filleting the whole boats limits of Albacore. (There was a few Dorado, Yellowtail, Bluefin and a couple of Fat Yellowfin). [Keep in mind, this was Mexican waters so there is a limit on Albacore] Well, I had stayed up for one reason... earlier on in the day while catching Skipjack, I had saw a huge shape come at my ‘skippie right before it was going to be gaffed, it was a shark. This shark was about 10-12 feet below the surface and had to of been over 150-lbs. It wasn’t a Thresher, I'm guessing it was probably a Sevengill? (Huge mouth, huge head, fat body) Anyhow, I tried using a strip of fresh skipjack in hopes of it coming back, but it didn't. So after the nightly fillet-fest, I had asked a guy whom had a shark leader in his pack if I could use it and he said yes. I set it up on my Penn 501 Jigmaster, and waited. At about 1:30AM a deckhand went out for a smoke, I sat there inside when he came running in shouting, “THRESHER SHARKS!!!” I jumped up and ran to the bow of the boat. I remarked, “No, those are Blues” right at that moment I was running for my shark rig, when the deckhand sees me and shouts, “No hook. But we can F*ck with them.” So I reluctantly placed the rod/reel away and watched as the deckhand proceeded to find a length of heavy nylon rope, then opened the fish hold and took out a 22-lb Albacore. Tied the rope around the albacore several times and tossed it into the water. Within a few moments a shark had sped up towards it and tore a HUGE chunk out. These sharks were RIGHT at the surface you could see them swimming, this shark had several others around it, estimating the one that bit his rope at about 30#, then there was another at around 60# and a bunch of smaller ones. (20#, 10#, and probably 5#)
After he took the cleanly cut tail out he remarked, “Well, that's all we can use. I told him I had caught several skipjack and didn’t have them filleted and they were still in the fish hold... he pulled them out and tied one on. (About 20lbs) [these skippies were HUGE] He tossed it out and played around for a bit. At my last skipjack, (after using 2 others taking turns pulling in the sharks) we put my last one on (a small piece of a tail) and he tossed it out. Without paying attention, he hadn’t held onto the rope's end. Well the whole length of rope slew out and floated right as this HUGE shark grabbed the tail and ran off with it. The rope was gone. We waited about 15 minutes when we saw the rope again... he grabbed the gaff and pulled the part of the rope up, handed me the end I started pulling in this HUGE blue. After about 40 minutes of fighting him (the shark had almost swallowed the small bit of a tail, so he didn’t let go) I had him right up against the boat, this shark was at least 8 feet long and had what the deckhand estimated about 88-90-lbs on him. He continued to fight me and I pulled more until his head was touching the handrail, at this point he finally let go and swam off into the deep. I had identified him as male because of the pair of claspers I saw. Anyhow, this was the most memorable, and probably the best time I’ve ever had on a boat. I didn't get pictures... but the deckhand got a bunch. I've been trying to find out his name and see if he can give me some. PS: The length of rope was about 18’ long at first, after the sharks left (sunrise) it was at about 4’ long. **Shark Assassin**
Name: twkca
It would have to be the 35# yellowfin tuna on 30# p-line two September’s ago. It took 1 1\4 hrs to get the fish in the panga. Our pongaero was saying sesenta for being 60#. I burned my hand twice on the Newell reel. The seeker rod was bent in half and the line sounded like a plucked piano string.
Name: brent
Well for me there are three different times... 1st one was when I was about 6 years old and my family tent camping in Sequoia National Forest... and my grandmother tied me up a single hook... and was out fishing the creek... and I had caught my first trout... it was 4” lol... but very memorable... cause I caught it by myself... #2 would happen to be a 22-pound yellowtail out of the horseshoe kelp... fished the Islander out of 22nd Street Landing... caught it on a live mackerel... on my newly made jigstick... what a fight... and what tasty ceviche...=) #3 This was at Port Hueneme Pier... would happen to be a tossup between a 80 pound bat ray on 15-pound test spinning reel... or a 140 pounder caught on 12-pound test on a straight out of Kmart surf fishing rod... fought it for 45 minutes.. .the 140 pounder was caught on a friend’s pole... he was fighting it for like 5 minutes and too tired to finish it... so I fought it... and he is a lefty so I had to reel with my left hand and holding it with my right... and it killed my arm... man that was a killer fight... the said it made great tacos.*** give a man a fish...feed him for a night...teach him to fish... feed him for a lifetime ***
Name: stinkyfingers
German brown... the one I just had to let go. Wrote a story about him. He was beautiful and had so much will to live, he inspired me and I had to set him free.
Name: The Fishin Magician
I’ve got three... here’s my list. All fish caught from my kayak.
8# Calico Bass
52# 54" long 29” girth White Seabass
70# Thresher
TL, Adam
Name: snookie
Very interesting remarks to this question. There are some good fish out there. My best fish on the pier has been a 10-pound salmon in the surf area on a smelt in late August a few years ago. That was a beauty. Another time it was a 16-pound halibut on my light rod and 8-pound test. On my boat it was a 54-inch white seabass off Dana Point and the following week it was a 44-inch white seabass in the same place.
The biggest fish was smarter than me. While trolling for salmon off Dana Point a couple years ago, I ran a surface line with a broken Rapala. What I got on that line was a mako well over 300 pounds (I do know the weights of my makos). That mako kept me busy for 2 1/2 hours. My husband ran that boat as best he could while we figured out the mako’s next move. That fish was thinking the whole time and running along side of us watching for our next moves so he could out maneuver us. That was an experience watching and knowing he was using his brain against us. He never jumped even once. He was just too big. He won after that 2 1/2 hours fight, but he earned it. This was done with a conventional reel and 15-pound test line. What he didn't know was that he would have been released anyway. My freezers just aren't that big. That is one of the reasons that I keep fishing. Tomorrow may give me another surprise from the ocean. Snookie
Name: Red Fish
The best is yet to come but... Age 10 - 14# 3 oz. striper, 39 inches. Trolling with bugeyes near Red Rock, I feel a couple taps, I yank and the fish returns with a yank that sends me on the deck to the stern of the boat separating the Penn 60 I was using from the rod. First boat trip, first day of keeper stripers, biggest fish for the day, and two tagged stripers. (I was about 58 inches then myself).
Age -15- 3.5# wild rainbow trout from a natural lake in Oregon (I believe Silver Lake). No fish biting and sun going down. All of a sudden the lake comes alive. Trout start biting. I snatch up one rod with a cheapie reel and a locked down rod just as it was going airborne out of the rod-holder and into the lake. Just as I do, a good-sized trout breaks the water's surface for a breath-taking aerial dance.
First salmon on Blue Fox # 5 spinner 14# 10oz at “Hot Waters.” First triple-figure ray that smoked the ceramic spool I had on my 20 year old Penn 85 and had me finish the fight by handlining like the “Ole Man and the Sea.” A few years ago a 8.5# catfish that I won a trolling motor for in the Lake Chabot catfishing tournament. First keeper sturgeon caught with world-record holder Joey Palotta on the “Sturgeon King.” The sturgeon that skunked me (snapped off when line was rubbing against the protruding sign at the end of pier) last Dec. 8 at Martinez Pier. The striper that spit the hook at the surface while sturgeon fishing last winter at Red Barn Pier. And a Blue Marlin in the off-season trolling at Waikiki Beach Oahu, Hawaii. But once again, the best is yet to come.
To: PFIC Message Board
From: baitfish
Subject: Best fish you ever caught...
I was getting my haircut the other day and the person cutting my hair and I started talking about fishing. Then she asked me what was the best fish you ever caught. I know she meant largest, but just because it is the largest fish does not mean it the catch you are most proud of. I could not answer right away, and after three days I am still trying to decide. But I am curious to see what the best catch of your lives are. Adam, Will work for fish!
Name: mobilesuit
Mine would be my first halibut from a pier. It was at Ventura and looked legal. I lost it cuz that thing took off like a mad man (fish). Hopefully I will top that fish sometime soon
Name: crazyguy
My best would have to be a big leopard shark my dad and I got off Berkeley Pier this June. It had beautiful markings and fought really well. It tasted really good too. Just a beautiful fish that was about 58 inches. Probably weighed 20-25 pounds.
Name: striperkiller
That’s tough... I've got 3 options:
1. 32 lb. redfish on 6-lb. test. Fought it for half an hour then it wrapped itself around the anchor rope, so I followed it. I jumped in with the rod and untangled the fish, then fought it for another 5 minutes to the boat.
2. 18-lb. striper off the beach on 6-lb. 25-minute fish that spooled me twice.
3. 10-lb. striper on 4 lb. test.
Close calls: 20lb. bat ray on 6-lb; 100 lb. stingray on 30-lb. stand-up. -joe
Name: flatfish hunter
1. Sturgeon, half hour fight on 12-lb. test and unfortunately lost due to pilings.
2. 20-pound salmon in the Capilano river in Vancouver on 8-lb. test, snagged its self on it’s pectoral fin. Had the current with it too. 30 minute fight.
3. 30-lb. salmon trolling.
4. 20-lb. leopard on 10-lb. test, 20 minutes.
5. 18-lb. halibut on 6 lb. test from Crissy Fields with a 3/4 Worm King swim bait (rainbow trout pattern) - 20-25 minute fight.
That’s about it. I don't count the numerous stripers I have caught on 6-lb. test from shore. FlatFish Hunter A.K.A ali
Name: pescare
My first salmon from a bank. Feather River (not at the outlet) on a plain ole Mepps #5. Big, fresh and strong. It was the first time I ever tried for salmon in a river and the first time I caught one on light tackle. Great memory. Ed
Name: Rock Hopper
Hmmm... I would say one of the best fish I ever caught was a 12-lb. carp when I was 8 or 9 years old. I fought that thing for what seemed like forever. Can’t remember what kind of tackle I was using, but just the memory of being with my brother and my father out there and then my dad congratulating me make this stick out in my mind really well.
Best fight recently has been a huge bat ray I caught at Doran Park off the jetty. I caught three that night within 1 hour. Hook one... fight it for 10 to 20 minutes... get it to the rocks... cut it loose... re-rig... cast... BOOM! another one on...
Best fight by a fish that I have no idea what it was - about a year ago in Tomales Bay I hooked into something HUGE. We were drift fishing for halibut and something grabbed my bait hard. Whatever it was pulled my friend’s 19-foot boat about a hundred yards AGAINST the current. The next day I had a tremendous bruise on my thigh from resting the rod on it when pulling in. I never did get to see what it was...I fought it for 35 minutes then I over tightened the drag and SNAP! I was so bummed. All I wanted was to see what it was. Is there sturgeon in Tomales Bay? I don’t think it was a bat ray because every bat ray I’ve caught has made a few straight line runs... whatever this was made a few short runs then circled around (spinning the boat) and also just tried to dive straight down. I’m thinking maybe a huge halibut or sturgeon... or very large shark... didn't see any sea lions that day. Great topic...I hope it gets a lot of replys!
Name: mola joe
So many fish come to mind, mostly the first fish of a new species. First marlin, tuna, grouper, yellowtail, dorado, legal halibut, etc. One that does stand out is my 3-lb, 14-ounce line class world record corbina that I turned in last July that I caught on 2-lb. line. When I decided to try for the 2-lb. test record on these fish, I had no idea how thin real 2- lb. line is. I’ve used regular 2-lb. line like Maxima most of my life, so I was really surprised that line that has to test out at 2-lb. is like a human hair. Anyway, I was just looking to catch a fish in the 1 to 2 pound class for the record (open category) because I figured there’s no way in hell I’m going to pull a big fish out of breaking surf with this light stuff. I fished three beaches that morning without spotting any feeding fish, but I did break two fish off that I didn’t see. I ended up at Marine St in Manhattan Beach only because as I drove by, there was a parking spot open. I walked straight down on a low tide and spotted three large fish feeding in a small hole almost all the way up on the beach. It was right at spawning time, so I’m guessing 4 to 5 pound fish. I cast up on dry sand 10 feet beyond the spot and drag a big soft shell right into the hole. These fish are so shallow their backs are out of the water. In an instant, one fish nails the bait but keeps on feeding. I apply pressure to make sure he’s got it and he finally figures out somethings wrong. All three fish shoot in different directions and the fights on. My fish ran out and down the beach right into another hole. I tried for 5 minutes to move him out, but with the light line I couldn't do it. I finally waded out there and spooked him out. Off we go down the beach again. Finally, 10 minutes later he's on the beach. I was surprised to find out it was a spawned-out female, otherwise from the length of the fish and girth of the head, I'm guessing it would have pushed almost 5 pounds full of roe. This also answers why she was fighting so hard. They almost always seem to pull harder after they drop their eggs. Anyway, I take it up to the main lifeguard office located right at Marine St. so I can get a witness the fish is alive and he can look at my rod, reel and line. I was fishing by myself, and figured a lifeguard would be a good witness. The guy looks at me like I’m crazy. When I told him it was a world record, he thought is was a joke someone was playing on him. He had no clue what it was but I convinced him it was no joke and he signed the forms. I turned in two world records that month, but unless I get an all tackle record, that’s it for me on the line class records. It really is a lot of work to go through all the stuff you have to do to qualify, and even though I did get several fish this year that would have set new line records on corbina, including two fish bigger than my 4 pound test record, I'll pass from now on. The 8 through 20-pound test line class on corbina are still open last time I looked, and any fish turned in would be a record. Not much challenge catching a 3-pound corbina on 20-pound test, but a record if you turn it in. Still, I am proud of that 2-pound test record, and had a hell of a fight with that fish. Not sure how long the record will hold, but I’m sure someone will try to break it in the near future as corbina are becoming a popular fish again along our coast. Tight Lines!!!
Name: baitfish
AWESOME STORY!!!
Name: Corbinaman1
Congrats Mola Joe! Catching an almost 4 pound Corbina on 2 pound test is simply incredible! And a WORLD record as well!?... kudos to you! Just comes to show that the biggest fish are not always the best or most memorable!
Name: aafrench
Not much of a challenge? The challenge is to get the big, line-shy ones to bite 20# line, isn’t is? Andrew
Name: Corbinaman1
My Biggest On 20-lb. is 3.5 Pounds
Name: baitfish
That's more of a luck issue than a skill thing though. Adam, Will work for fish!
Name: mola joe
Don't forget you can use any lb. test leader.
Name: Corbinaman1
Usually my “first” ever of a particular fish, but not always. My first panga CABO Sailfish was the biggest at 80-lbs, and my first CABO Dorado were fun... both put up fun aerial fights, but the line was 50-lb. test, so they were whipped pretty quick... not the best fight. From a pier (Aliso Pier) when I was a little kid... it was a 2 or 3 pound bonito. It made good runs... my reel broke and my buddy hand-lined it up the pier... it seemed that everyone on the pier came over to watch the fight... I was stoked! From local party boats (during the El-Nino), it had to be yellowtail... those suckers make great runs and are tricky! I thought I would have to fish many times to get a yellowtail, but I got five on my first half day boat... was happy! From shore, I still remember my first Corbina last summer like it was yesterday... made some awesome runs! Also from shore (this summer), unexpectedly caught a 25-lb. Shovelnose Guitarfish, that made tons of runs and was a blast to catch!
Name: Leapin Bass
Can't decide:
43-inch, 50+ lb. giant sea bass from the tube
9-lb. largemouth on a buzzbait
19-in. smallmouth on a buzzbait in river
30-inch white seabass from the tube on 6 lb.
27-inch halibut on a minnow bait that was just floating stationary right in front of my tube
40-in. Northern Pike on 6 lb.
You can't catch tomorrow what you kill today - please practice catch and release.
Name: castlebravo
The best fish I ever caught was my first legal halibut, about 3 weeks ago. The fish most remembered, hooked but not caught, was a large brown trout in Hot Creek. I was dapping with a 1/0 grass shrimp fly just before the hot springs. The fish made a run out to the middle of the creek, jumped about 5 feet into the air, turned its head and disappeared. castlebravo
Name: baitfish
I can't decide either, either these fish (pictures). The spotty was a first for me, The Shovelnose was the largest shore caught fish and the sail was a catch of a lifetime but like corbinaman said, not much of a fight on 50# line. I probably would have had a blast on 15-20#. But I don't have a pic for two others, my first Corbina a couple of years ago, 20” next to Malibu Pier or my first shore caught Halibut, 17.5” s also next to Malibu pier. The Spotty was caught in MDR, sailfish was in Puerto Vallarta and the Shovelnose was from the beach in front of the Charthouse @ PCH and Topanga on 12# line, I am leaning towards the shovelnose, because that was one of the best fights. Adam, Will work for fish!
Name: Corbinaman1
Big Shovelnose Guitarfish Are A Blast! I have to post my 25-pound Shovelnose Guitarfish picture (again), because it was DEFINITELY my best fight ever from shore!! It made so many runs on 20-lb. test that a few times, I actually was reeling in while it was running! I couldn't beach it, so a kid held my pole... I waded into the water and dragged it to the beach! Some people consider them trash fish, but after this battle, I have a newfound respect for Shovelnose Guitarfish... it actually “made” my surf fishing summer! I remember Leapin Bass posted a pic of a HUGE Shovelnose a while back (at least 35 lbs!) ... anyone else here catch any BIG Shovelnose Guitarfish?
Name: tomaurand
Mine, a 175-LB Mako out of Dana Point not because of the size but when I went on the swim board of the boat to tail rope the fish one of the two gaffs in the head broke on the shaft and it was all teeth I saw at me feet!! This was after a 45 minute fight on an Accurate conversion reel with a light action Shimano Calcutta 9’ jig stick chucking chovies at yellow tail. Tight lines and NO TEETH in the feet, Tom
Name: Shark Assassin
The most memorable fish I’ve ever caught were the Blue Sharks I caught on the Ocean Odyssey in August. I was up at night, after the first day, they had just finished filleting the whole boats limits of Albacore. (There was a few Dorado, Yellowtail, Bluefin and a couple of Fat Yellowfin). [Keep in mind, this was Mexican waters so there is a limit on Albacore] Well, I had stayed up for one reason... earlier on in the day while catching Skipjack, I had saw a huge shape come at my ‘skippie right before it was going to be gaffed, it was a shark. This shark was about 10-12 feet below the surface and had to of been over 150-lbs. It wasn’t a Thresher, I'm guessing it was probably a Sevengill? (Huge mouth, huge head, fat body) Anyhow, I tried using a strip of fresh skipjack in hopes of it coming back, but it didn't. So after the nightly fillet-fest, I had asked a guy whom had a shark leader in his pack if I could use it and he said yes. I set it up on my Penn 501 Jigmaster, and waited. At about 1:30AM a deckhand went out for a smoke, I sat there inside when he came running in shouting, “THRESHER SHARKS!!!” I jumped up and ran to the bow of the boat. I remarked, “No, those are Blues” right at that moment I was running for my shark rig, when the deckhand sees me and shouts, “No hook. But we can F*ck with them.” So I reluctantly placed the rod/reel away and watched as the deckhand proceeded to find a length of heavy nylon rope, then opened the fish hold and took out a 22-lb Albacore. Tied the rope around the albacore several times and tossed it into the water. Within a few moments a shark had sped up towards it and tore a HUGE chunk out. These sharks were RIGHT at the surface you could see them swimming, this shark had several others around it, estimating the one that bit his rope at about 30#, then there was another at around 60# and a bunch of smaller ones. (20#, 10#, and probably 5#)
After he took the cleanly cut tail out he remarked, “Well, that's all we can use. I told him I had caught several skipjack and didn’t have them filleted and they were still in the fish hold... he pulled them out and tied one on. (About 20lbs) [these skippies were HUGE] He tossed it out and played around for a bit. At my last skipjack, (after using 2 others taking turns pulling in the sharks) we put my last one on (a small piece of a tail) and he tossed it out. Without paying attention, he hadn’t held onto the rope's end. Well the whole length of rope slew out and floated right as this HUGE shark grabbed the tail and ran off with it. The rope was gone. We waited about 15 minutes when we saw the rope again... he grabbed the gaff and pulled the part of the rope up, handed me the end I started pulling in this HUGE blue. After about 40 minutes of fighting him (the shark had almost swallowed the small bit of a tail, so he didn’t let go) I had him right up against the boat, this shark was at least 8 feet long and had what the deckhand estimated about 88-90-lbs on him. He continued to fight me and I pulled more until his head was touching the handrail, at this point he finally let go and swam off into the deep. I had identified him as male because of the pair of claspers I saw. Anyhow, this was the most memorable, and probably the best time I’ve ever had on a boat. I didn't get pictures... but the deckhand got a bunch. I've been trying to find out his name and see if he can give me some. PS: The length of rope was about 18’ long at first, after the sharks left (sunrise) it was at about 4’ long. **Shark Assassin**
Name: twkca
It would have to be the 35# yellowfin tuna on 30# p-line two September’s ago. It took 1 1\4 hrs to get the fish in the panga. Our pongaero was saying sesenta for being 60#. I burned my hand twice on the Newell reel. The seeker rod was bent in half and the line sounded like a plucked piano string.
Name: brent
Well for me there are three different times... 1st one was when I was about 6 years old and my family tent camping in Sequoia National Forest... and my grandmother tied me up a single hook... and was out fishing the creek... and I had caught my first trout... it was 4” lol... but very memorable... cause I caught it by myself... #2 would happen to be a 22-pound yellowtail out of the horseshoe kelp... fished the Islander out of 22nd Street Landing... caught it on a live mackerel... on my newly made jigstick... what a fight... and what tasty ceviche...=) #3 This was at Port Hueneme Pier... would happen to be a tossup between a 80 pound bat ray on 15-pound test spinning reel... or a 140 pounder caught on 12-pound test on a straight out of Kmart surf fishing rod... fought it for 45 minutes.. .the 140 pounder was caught on a friend’s pole... he was fighting it for like 5 minutes and too tired to finish it... so I fought it... and he is a lefty so I had to reel with my left hand and holding it with my right... and it killed my arm... man that was a killer fight... the said it made great tacos.*** give a man a fish...feed him for a night...teach him to fish... feed him for a lifetime ***
Name: stinkyfingers
German brown... the one I just had to let go. Wrote a story about him. He was beautiful and had so much will to live, he inspired me and I had to set him free.
Name: The Fishin Magician
I’ve got three... here’s my list. All fish caught from my kayak.
8# Calico Bass
52# 54" long 29” girth White Seabass
70# Thresher
TL, Adam
Name: snookie
Very interesting remarks to this question. There are some good fish out there. My best fish on the pier has been a 10-pound salmon in the surf area on a smelt in late August a few years ago. That was a beauty. Another time it was a 16-pound halibut on my light rod and 8-pound test. On my boat it was a 54-inch white seabass off Dana Point and the following week it was a 44-inch white seabass in the same place.
The biggest fish was smarter than me. While trolling for salmon off Dana Point a couple years ago, I ran a surface line with a broken Rapala. What I got on that line was a mako well over 300 pounds (I do know the weights of my makos). That mako kept me busy for 2 1/2 hours. My husband ran that boat as best he could while we figured out the mako’s next move. That fish was thinking the whole time and running along side of us watching for our next moves so he could out maneuver us. That was an experience watching and knowing he was using his brain against us. He never jumped even once. He was just too big. He won after that 2 1/2 hours fight, but he earned it. This was done with a conventional reel and 15-pound test line. What he didn't know was that he would have been released anyway. My freezers just aren't that big. That is one of the reasons that I keep fishing. Tomorrow may give me another surprise from the ocean. Snookie
Name: Red Fish
The best is yet to come but... Age 10 - 14# 3 oz. striper, 39 inches. Trolling with bugeyes near Red Rock, I feel a couple taps, I yank and the fish returns with a yank that sends me on the deck to the stern of the boat separating the Penn 60 I was using from the rod. First boat trip, first day of keeper stripers, biggest fish for the day, and two tagged stripers. (I was about 58 inches then myself).
Age -15- 3.5# wild rainbow trout from a natural lake in Oregon (I believe Silver Lake). No fish biting and sun going down. All of a sudden the lake comes alive. Trout start biting. I snatch up one rod with a cheapie reel and a locked down rod just as it was going airborne out of the rod-holder and into the lake. Just as I do, a good-sized trout breaks the water's surface for a breath-taking aerial dance.
First salmon on Blue Fox # 5 spinner 14# 10oz at “Hot Waters.” First triple-figure ray that smoked the ceramic spool I had on my 20 year old Penn 85 and had me finish the fight by handlining like the “Ole Man and the Sea.” A few years ago a 8.5# catfish that I won a trolling motor for in the Lake Chabot catfishing tournament. First keeper sturgeon caught with world-record holder Joey Palotta on the “Sturgeon King.” The sturgeon that skunked me (snapped off when line was rubbing against the protruding sign at the end of pier) last Dec. 8 at Martinez Pier. The striper that spit the hook at the surface while sturgeon fishing last winter at Red Barn Pier. And a Blue Marlin in the off-season trolling at Waikiki Beach Oahu, Hawaii. But once again, the best is yet to come.
