Headed out on Marco's boat EARLY this morning. We (Marco, Ojos, & I) wanted to get to the spot 4 miles off of Ventura where the seabass had been biting by greylight.

We were about 15 minutes late. There were a couple dozen boats already anchored up on the spot. We pulled up, motored around for a bit and dropped the hook. The three of us got shortbit and 'cuda bit several times. We tried dropper loops, sliders, and flylined squid...jigs with squid, etc.

Finally I connected with something that pulled back on twenty pound line. Ten minutes later Marco gaffed my fish and there were high fives all around. I hoisted a 20-25 pound seabass for the camera.

Ten minutes later Marco connected. Five minutes after that I stuck and lifted his fish over the side. Hooting and yelling. He hoisted a 25-30 pound seabass for the camera.

Twenty minutes later we hooked another fish. Ten minutes later Marco stuck a 38 pound fish for Ojos. Now the even party boats are jealous!

We've limited out and have to leave the area. We head out to the islands in search of halibut. On our second drop, my squid gets inhaled as soon as it touches down in 75 feet of water. Five minutes later Marco gaffs a 16 pound flattie for me.

We head out to deeper water for rockfish and score a couple including a nice sized blue bass who fell for cut squid. We could have caught more seabass, more halibut (maybe), and more rockfish...but we called it a day...one of the best ones on the water I can remember.

Just now I just finished a taste test of the lesser known trifecta of white sea bass, california halibut, and blue bass (instead of yellowtail...) with a smooth cadillac margarita. Happy Memorial Day to us!

Pictures MAY come later courtesy of the captain.