By David Graham: 7-12-2024
In early July I took a family vacation to Southern California to visit Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks. This was an opportunity to get the family away and instill value in the outdoors into my daughters. The trip was fantastic, everything we could have wanted.
With several days to spare traveling around Southern California I made a call to a connection of mine, Spencer Wonder. Spencer is the owner of Terra Firma Tackle - and was the FIRST guest on the Boundless Pursuit podcast. He is a well traveled angler with some of the most impressive catches to his name of any angler I know.
We set up a day to send a bait or two out into the surf at a beach in Southern California hoping to encounter one of the many unique pelagic sharks or other new species that abound in these waters. I was warned though, that there is an abundance of white sharks in this area during the Summer months.
Still, we put out a barracuda head below one of Spencer's custom rigs and before lunch I was tied into a hard charging fish. In the distance we could see the surface exploding and erupting... this was no small fish! We realized we had tied into a great white shark. We got the fish into the break line where we could safely remove the rig and quickly send the fish on its way.
As exciting as this was - Spencer let me know this also essentially ends the fishing session. Once the white sharks are in the area, that is apparently all you'll catch. I had my eyes set on a thresher, but we could not risk running into more white sharks as this is a protected species.
It was an incredible opportunity to witness the most iconic species of fish on the planet... and a unique addition to my life's list of monster fish. I also have to give a special thanks to Matthew Nguyen who came out to help prepare baits, kayak out rigs, and give additional experienced advice!
Rig Specs
Features:
800lb Test Cable and 600lb Test Monofilament Construction
Incorporates Our Large Sized Float to Present the Bait Off-Bottom
Features Inline (Florida/Texas Legal) High Carbon Circle Hooks
Oversized Ball Bearing Swivels.
Double Crimped using Offshore Loop/Flemish Eye
For Use with Breakaway Style Weights
This particular leader design has been under development for many years. By incorporating an inline float that runs freely on the rub leader the bait can be presented above the bottom (roughly 12' under the surface) in a way that is far more appealing to pelagic species than a bait buried in the sand would be!
This rig has been responsible for phenomenal catches. When assembled as shown in the photos the rig is easily deployed. Simply attach your breakaway sinker/sandbag to the snap swivel at the bottom of the rig and drop into the water first, preferably while holding onto the float.
Once the weight has made contact with the bottom, kayak the float to the top of the rig and let go.
With practice this becomes as easy as any other deployment.
댓글