Massive White SeaBass

[Johnny O'Reilly]

Wanted to share A buddy's mazing catch last month since he's not a member here. Brian Beam, a good buddy of mine was fishing off Dana Point last month and landed this amazing specimen. When I got the FaceTime from him that morning, he had been fighting that fish for about 45 minutes. He didn't know what it was and it took another 2 or 3 FaceTimes/ me texting pictures to convince him that it wasn't a Black Sea Bass, but a White SeaBass- and a once in a lifetime specimen at that. I met him at the harbor with 40lbs of ice and some massive bags to get it back to my place to weigh and clean. 80 lbs. 30 lb test. Amazing. think it's time to get a kayak. I'll also say that it's the best tasting fish I've ever had. I rarely post but love this site! Tight lines to all!

[wailua boy]

That's a monster and nice catch

[CooldadE]

Wow ! Nice catch ! I have always wanted to fish for/ catch a Grey Ghost.  Had a friend a few years ago was in Monterey Bay with his kayak. Some one gave him a couple of fresh squid so he paddled out and ended up with a 50 plus# specimen. Here in the San Francisco Bay it seemed as though they are a bycatch. Caught while fishing for Striped Bass and Halibut . I don't know of any charters that go out specifically for them...

Cool

[Benni3]

Wow,,,,, now that's a fantastic fish,,,,,

[Gobi King]

dang!

[Jim Fujitani]

WOW!!

[CapeFish]

awesome catch from a kayak, looks a lot like our kob, maybe they are in the same family?

[Johnny O'Reilly]

awesome catch from a kayak, looks a lot like our kob, maybe they are in the same family?

Visually they look similar and can grow to about the same size, But they're  actually the largest member of the Croaker family. 

[Newell Nut]

Really nice catch.

[Gobi King]

in the news

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/05/giant-white-seabass-heaviest-landed-kayak


FYI: I was shocked to learn that White Sea Bass has a life span of only 12 years

[oc1]

That was an adventure for sure.  The croker family, Sciaenidae, also includes the red drum and black drum which can get that size.
-steve

[Ron Jones]

I've always thought the WSB was the largest croaker. Maybe that still holds true if you seperate croaker and drum; but, the largest Sciaenidae is the Chinese bahaba- up to 220 lbs! COuld you imagine a WSB that big?
The Man

[CapeFish]

awesome catch from a kayak, looks a lot like our kob, maybe they are in the same family?

Visually they look similar and can grow to about the same size, But they're  actually the largest member of the Croaker family.  

I see they are actually in the same family, kob belongs to the genus Argyrosomus which is also in the croacker family. I must go and check one of my fishing books, but if memory serves I think there was a kob caught that weighed in at 76kg, it was caught from the shore.

[Swami805]

There's also the totuava in that family that gets to 100 kilos as well.
That is a monster, must have drug that kayak around pretty good,old man in the sea style. Fish of a life time for sure
I saw on another board a guy got one a little over 88lbs surf fishing. Must be the year of giant white  seabass

[Johnny O'Reilly]

Really nice catch.

The only thing I regret is that he didn't catch it on a Newell; or other modded old school reel. Kids!