madscientist
07-21-2006, 05:43 PM
...well, you know. 8)
Joe and I decided to go up a bit in search of the flat kind after a gentleman's launch around 9:00am. Found macs on dines over the finger of scripps and loaded up. Did the long paddle up to the south torrey reef and drifted that sucker for most of the day. Not a bite. Drifted in shallower and Joe finally hooked up on a guitarfish. Discovered my camera had crapped out.
Moved out of the shark zone when I finally had a bait get raked. Next drop, the rod got heavy fast. Felt a twitch so I knew it was fish, and thankfully it didn't make any sharky runs. Thinking right kind all the way so I backed way off on the drag and took my time. At color I saw beaver, and took an excited gaff shot. Gaff stuck, but pissed the fish off royally and it jerked it out of my hand. Almost dove in after it but it came close and I got it on board. Felt like a little bit of Arne's mojo was in the air since the only thing holding the fish to the line was a tiny bit of mouth skin on the treble trap. Stringered up, cut a gill, then it went apeshit. Had it in and out of the boat about 3 times and got completely soaked before I managed to subdue with about 2 dozen gaff blows to the head. Not pretty, but this 26 pounds of light and flaky was the end result. At least I can banish thoughts of the bay for another week and a half.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/4/7/3/0/CIMG0312trim.JPG
Joe and I decided to go up a bit in search of the flat kind after a gentleman's launch around 9:00am. Found macs on dines over the finger of scripps and loaded up. Did the long paddle up to the south torrey reef and drifted that sucker for most of the day. Not a bite. Drifted in shallower and Joe finally hooked up on a guitarfish. Discovered my camera had crapped out.
Moved out of the shark zone when I finally had a bait get raked. Next drop, the rod got heavy fast. Felt a twitch so I knew it was fish, and thankfully it didn't make any sharky runs. Thinking right kind all the way so I backed way off on the drag and took my time. At color I saw beaver, and took an excited gaff shot. Gaff stuck, but pissed the fish off royally and it jerked it out of my hand. Almost dove in after it but it came close and I got it on board. Felt like a little bit of Arne's mojo was in the air since the only thing holding the fish to the line was a tiny bit of mouth skin on the treble trap. Stringered up, cut a gill, then it went apeshit. Had it in and out of the boat about 3 times and got completely soaked before I managed to subdue with about 2 dozen gaff blows to the head. Not pretty, but this 26 pounds of light and flaky was the end result. At least I can banish thoughts of the bay for another week and a half.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/4/7/3/0/CIMG0312trim.JPG