http://kenjonesfishing.com/2016/09/the-giant-black-sea-bass/ Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:10:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://kenjonesfishing.com/2016/09/the-giant-black-sea-bass/#comment-461892 Bryant Wilhelmsen Mon, 13 Nov 2017 14:04:51 +0000 http://kenjonesfishing.com/?p=11035#comment-461892 As a kid I found one over 500 LBS. on the beach at San Clemente California. I have a picture of myself and my great fish atage 10. As a kid I found one over 500 LBS. on the beach at San Clemente California. I have a picture of myself and my great fish atage 10.

]]> http://kenjonesfishing.com/2016/09/the-giant-black-sea-bass/#comment-447977 Jcinter Wed, 04 Jan 2017 09:49:31 +0000 http://kenjonesfishing.com/?p=11035#comment-447977 We have been catching and releasing giant black sea bass (GBSB) on this southern Calif pier for about 10 years. The largest one we have released was 8 feet long with weight estimated at 500 lb. It took 3 hours and 6 young guys took turn at the pole, to bring it back to the pier. The reel was a Penn 6/0 with 80 lb mono top and 100 lb braid base. I personally have hooked several fish in the 3 to 5 feet range with reels from Penn Long Beach #60 to Senator 6/0, but could not bring in some of them. The mostly used bait was a big chunk of mackerel on a slider lead then sits on the sea floor. When the hook was set, the GBSB will start to run to the deep, in a straight line, not stop-able by any reel smaller than Penn Senator 9/0 with 80 lb top mono. We just hopping the giant fish gets tired before we run out of line. A reel with 33 lb of drag may have a better chance not to get spooled, but the 15 lb drag reels are often spooled or line snapped after lock down. Yes, they have 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. winds while fighting, don't give in unless they are exhausted with their white belly up floating on the surface. We then either cut the line or climb down the pier to un-hook them. In less than 5 minutes they were usually recovered and swam away. These gentle giants are respected and loved by all of us pier regulars, a true sports fish. We have been catching and releasing giant black sea bass (GBSB) on this southern Calif pier for about 10 years. The largest one we have released was 8 feet long with weight estimated at 500 lb. It took 3 hours and 6 young guys took turn at the pole, to bring it back to the pier. The reel was a Penn 6/0 with 80 lb mono top and 100 lb braid base. I personally have hooked several fish in the 3 to 5 feet range with reels from Penn Long Beach #60 to Senator 6/0, but could not bring in some of them.
The mostly used bait was a big chunk of mackerel on a slider lead then sits on the sea floor. When the hook was set, the GBSB will start to run to the deep, in a straight line, not stop-able by any reel smaller than Penn Senator 9/0 with 80 lb top mono. We just hopping the giant fish gets tired before we run out of line. A reel with 33 lb of drag may have a better chance not to get spooled, but the 15 lb drag reels are often spooled or line snapped after lock down.
Yes, they have 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. winds while fighting, don’t give in unless they are exhausted with their white belly up floating on the surface. We then either cut the line or climb down the pier to un-hook them. In less than 5 minutes they were usually recovered and swam away.
These gentle giants are respected and loved by all of us pier regulars, a true sports fish.

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