William Novotny
05-21-2012, 09:14 AM
Car trouble cut into my fishing time this weekend. Ended upgetting picked up by a buddy on Saturday around noon and hit NPH. Plan was to go outside thr harbor for some big fish, but after getting tossed around for hours with no bites we decided to drift the harbor for some of the flat kind. Graciously recieved a scoop of lively dines from my friend at the reciever, was hoping there would be squid but the wsb turney in Catalina had sold them out in hours. Hit my favorite little honey hole and started my drift. Didn't take long at all to start getting tapped on and with as much patience as I dared I let him swallow for a full 7 count before swinging on him. As soon as I set the hook I thought I had a sandbass. Head shakes felt more like a rapid fire tail beat. But he came to color quick and I was happy to see he was a decent size butt. Got the gaff ready, guided him around the front of my yak to my"good side" and went for the shank. Missed his stomach by about an inch and hit his armor plated battle helmet of a head. The gaff hook slipped back and I ended up gilling him into the kayak. he hit my deck once and went apeshit did a triple gainer and went back into the drink. Spit my hook and I watched him swim away. FML. At least there was no blood that I could see from getting gilled and he probably had a good chance of survival so maybe I'll see him again some day. Only bite of the day.