New England divers looking for guide

[MikeDuval]

A group of us are interested in hunting White SeaBass. If anyone has suggestions on guides, times of year and equipment it’d be much appreciated. Pretty sure we have appropriate guns (Ulusub 145RH and 155RH) but any info is a help. Thanks!

[Bob Ballew]

...You want to plan for a late May-June-early July time frame...Suggest chartering a 6-pack boat out of Long Beach and heading out to Catalina island, Santa Barbara island or San Clemente island. The "Dreamer" or "Options" are productive charter boats with skilled captains who know white sea bass...We frequently have good vis 20-60 feet, so, bring long guns with a reel or tow line and float. Dive the spots for a half-hour and if you don't see anything, keep jumping from spot to spot. Find the grocery store (squid or fin bait) and you may find the gamefish...It is also a good time to land halibut and yellowtail...

[MikeDuval]

Thanks Bob. That’s super helpful. Any particular length gun that fits the best?

[Bob Ballew]

...My go-to gun is a 68" mid-handle rig with a 5' 3/8" dia. shaft, but, you can go a little shorter and still get the job done...I prefer a reel for working kelp beds without disturbing the water; a problem with dragging a float around. Seabass are spooky when in clear water and alert to the smallest motion... Floats are good in open water but, sometimes attract unwanted attention from the man in the grey suit, whom I am allergic to after two confrontations with large specimens......
...Suggest carrying a sharp knife for emergencies...I carry two: one on my left ankle and another on my right hip...carried one until I speared a 45 lb. sea bass once, reached for my knife to cut kelp stalks loose and it was missing...Had to chew thru 5 kelp stalks with my teeth to free up my fish...
...I schedule all my diving trips on early morning and late afternoon rising high tides, when the gamefish come up from deep water to feed on inshore bait schools..just seems more productive on a rising tide plus the vis is usually better on an incoming tide...