Caught Him Slipping... - Jackson Kayak

A couple years ago I started exploring a new (for me) area that is only diveable on very calm days…

The area is fun to dive with varied depths, cool structure and a good variety of fish and so I try and get out there once or twice a year when the ocean lays down…

My first time there I saw a nice male California Sheephead but he took off before I could get a shot at him…

I marked his reef on my GPS App, and every time I go there I look for him…

I have seen him 3 or 4 times but have never been able to get close enough to him…

On Sunday I decided to take a break from getting skunked hunting stripers in the surf, and took advantage of the flat seas to paddle out to this area.

First spot was pretty surgy with hazy viz but it produced some yummy kelpies, blues, a small 17 inch cab and a chunky 19.25 inch olive.

Then moved out to the male sheep’s reef…tide was coming in, so viz was clearing up nicely…

Dropped down and before I got to the bottom I saw the male sheep gliding along…

He was pretty far away but wasn’t bolting immediately like he had done in the past…I lined up the long shot with my new Pathos Sniper 75, pulled the trigger and nailed him right by his pectoral fin.

Shaft went all the way through and I knew I had him.

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My new Pathos Sniper 75 did an excellent job taking down this beautiful male Sheephead here in Monterey Bay. So stoked! Tune is "How Am I Gonna Find You Now" by James McMurtry. #redtrianglespearfishing #neverloseyourcool #jacksonkayak #aquabound @addicted_to_fishing_original @salty_nutz_fishing_krew @spearchannel @sp.f2

A post shared by Jim Russell (@bigjimspearo) on Jun 27, 2017 at 6:44pm PDT

Pulled him in and admired him as I headed toward the surface…they are such awesome fish with crazy teeth, and beautiful colors, and super cool features…

I know they are very common in SoCal, but up here in Monterey County I think it is always a treat when I get to take one.

Took a few OTW pics of the sheep and dove for a bit more and took a few more rockies and a small 24 inch Ling for fish tacos before paddling in.

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/2677

Spent some time back at car talking to tourists about the fishies before heading home to clean em all up and had several friends and family over for sheep sashimi and yummy fish tacos, and an amazing soup made from the fatty head and carcass.