“TANDEM RECORD CALIFORNIA HALIBUT-MONTY MOCK, KEITH JOHNSON” 53.8 LBS
JULY 5TH 2002 – “CAMPING AT SAN ELIJO STATE BEACH CALIFORNIA, NEAR CARDIFF REEF, MY FRIEND KEITH JOHNSON AND I (MONTY MOCK-CYPRUS,CALIFORNIA) WENT FISHING JUST BEYOND THE KELP AT HIGH TIDE. I DROPPED A 12″ LIVE MACKEREL TO THE BOTTOM WITH MY 700XL CALSTAR GRAPHITER ROD WITH 25LB ANDE LINE ON A PENN JIGMASTER. IN A COUPLE MINUTES MY LINE GOT VERY HEAVY. AFTER A COUPLE SHORT RUNS I GOT THE FISH UP AND IT QUICKLY RETURNED TO THE BOTTOM. AFTER A FEW MORE MINUTES I GOT IT BACK UP. I OPENED THE HATCH AND HANDED KEITH A LITTLE HOME MADE GAFF. I GUIDED THE FISH TO KEITH IN FRONT OF THE KAYAK. HE HOOKED THE FISH IN THE MOUTH WITH ONE SHOT AND LIFTED IT UP WRAPPING HIS OTHER ARM AROUND THE HUGE FISH. EVEN AFTER THAT THE HALIBUT WAS STILL HALFWAY IN THE WATER GOING NUTS. THEN KEITH STUCK HIS HAND UNDER THE FISH’S GILL PLATE AND OUT ITS MOUTH. KEITH TOOK MY KNIFE AND BLED IT, THAT SLOWED HIM DOWN. IT TOOK ALOT OF STUFFING TO FIT THAT BEAST THROUGH THE HATCH. ONCE WE GOT IN WE TOOK IT TO BLUE WATER TACKLE IN SOLANO BEACH AND IT WEIGHED IN AT 53.8 LBS AND MEASURED 50″.”
