Rabitech Apex in the Kelp

I met ken at my boat slip at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday we headed out to the north end of salt creek, to look for White Seabass. We dove for about 2 hours, vis was pretty poor in the kelp but at 40' the vis was about 12'+. I was breaking in my new Rabitech Apex 120 with the reel I just installed the night before. Took 2 sheephead; 1 @ 5# and a second one @ 11#. Both shots were over 12' away, and both fish were stoned clean. We pulled anchor and headed north to meet up with Prodigal son and Bluegill (from spearboard), dove with them for about 1.5 hours. It was really fun to hookup with those guys and look for more fish. Later we dropped them back at Woods cove. Around noon Ken and I headed south to Mateo Point to continue to look for WSB.

On the way I break a prop. After a 10 min. repair stop we are on our way again (thank goodness for spare props). Vis in the kelp was real crappy, 6-8' at best, It was really annoying because you could here the big toads "croaking", it sounded like they were right next to you, but we couldn’t see them. After 10 min. of diving Ken yells but that he spotted one, but it took off into the murk instantly. After 2 hours of hunting between 25-50', I decided to head back to the boat, about 20' from the boat I had to dive under some kelp to get back, and I cant believe what I'm seeing, right in front of me I see a "tail" sticking out of the kelp, so I take a guess at the fish's location, and I pull the trigger. Instantly 50 meters of line gets ripped off of my reel, I tighten the drag and then I get pulled under, I yell to Ken for help. For the next 15 minutes, I swear and prayed over and over again, and swim through the kelp to unthread this thing. It wrapped line everywhere, around every strand of kelp that was there. Finally after what seemed like an hour, I see my breakaway loop coming into view, and then, slowing coming into view from the murky deep finally I see it!!! A "huge" WSB is attached to my shaft, very carefully I pull the line up till I grab the shaft, and I was able to get my hand into the gills on the first try, immediately I stone it, then I hugged it, and kissed it, and hugged it some more. Ken is loosing his mind, while the 2 of us try to get this thing onto the boat it was big, bulky and difficult to handle. We finally return to the docks where I was able weigh it. Ken was estimating it at 55 lbs. I wasn’t so sure about it. 45 lbs was the official weight. Not a bad first day in the water with my new Rabitech gun. I have to say it really performed well, and is very accurate. This was the first big WSB I have taken; it was an experience I will never forget........

Good hunting.

See the Apex specifications.