Funky Rocks!
 

After last weeks craziness I decided to get out today after strictly groundfish. I showed up to the launch roughly 7ish, talked to a bunch of guys and made it out past the buoys around 8am. Surf was small, weather was nice and looking to be a promising day. I left all my big gear at home and only brought my bass gear for rock fish and Lings. Dropped down my first bait about 8:30am hooked up about 20min later with a 6.5' soupfin. Managed a cpl more Rockies and then had a few big marks come across the screen. Right away I knew it was yellows. I started cranking in my Lucanus and then get slammed, yellow. Fight him for about ten min maybe on the bass gear then call my buddy over and donate the fish. Tied on a jig and hook up again. This time I pull the hook. So I go back to ground fishing and get K.O.'d on the Lucanus Again!!!!

This time I get some massive head shakes and solid weight that I can not pull up, BSB, or is it. Fish takes a nice run once it realizes it's hooked and then more massive head shakes. I call my buddy up and tell him to get over fast, big yellows. So he comes up next to me and drops and then waves goodbye. I start getting spooled, the fish runs straight up to the surface, I start reeling as fast as I can to catch up with the slack. As soon as I get tight it shoots straight back down. At this moment in time I'm in the middle of everyone and headed due west. My buddy starts up boat and follows suit. I have another guy on my other side who decided to video tape it. Fish runs back to the surface and dives back down. We play this game about 5 more times, can't figure out what I have to save my life. So end up getting towed out a 1.5miles. My buddy clocked me at 5.2knots at one point in time average about 2.5knots. After an hour of fight I get up and down on it in 200' of water. I get him all the way up to 40' thumbing the spool and pulling as hard as I could and then pop. My 25lb fluoro gave out. The fish was so heavy that I could hardly drag it up. I'm thinking maybe a monster thresher tail hooked, I dunno. I had zero abrasion in my line. Sucked, but I made the best of it.

Well the mystery beast dropped me off near one of my honey holes. Truth is I was to lazy to paddle out to it today so I hitched a ride instead. I metered a few yellows and called my buddy over. As soon as he pulled up I hooked up on iron. Pulled hook after a few minutes and then repeated it again about ten min later. I ended the day with some decent rock fish and and a nice yellow. Next time I go out I won't be leaving the big rigs behind.

Great catch Jeff. Sounds like a great day. I'll be hopping for some of that action tomorrow. The long fight, not being able to pull it up, big head shakes and long sleigh ride sounds like the time I had a large thresher and it ended up jumping out of the water doing a 180 in mid air and using it's large tail to brake my braid. Caught it on the Go Pro video but the wide angle makes it look like it is much further away. I know the feeling "it's a great experience but wish you could have landed it". Thanks for sharing.

Still a great yellow! Did your buddy get one as well?

Jeff,

Way to keep in the action. Your success on the yellows keeps me hopeful that if I put in enough time it will be my turn someday. Your great, detailed write-ups are a fun read. :notworthy:

John

Your the man Jeff,
All day on the water and your report is already done. I'm not even home yet.
Congrats on a good day.
:cheers1:

Good story, but I wish you hadn't mentioned the Lucanus ... looks like another $15 jig I just gotta gotta have.

I'm a Lucanus junky!
 

I keep a nice stock pile of them! I have over 50 of these things. Here's a pic before I restocked the other day.

Damn that's awesome. I only got a sand bass on mine Saturday. I used it when the squid ran out.

Great report Jeff. Congrats!

Nice work on the Reds and yellows...

Nice write up. Love the box of lucanus!


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Nice work Jeff! You Sir, are a Lucanis hoarder :D

It was good seeing you out there Jeff! Congrats on the nice catch.

Nice picture! It was nice to meet you. The weather was epic.

Now that's cool stuff Jeff. Bummer not getting to see that mystery fish.

Jeff,

The story is great, the yellowtail is just awesome, the jigs must
have cost near a grand, but, I gotta get a pair of those shorts!

Sounds like an action packed day, good on ya! Many years ago I caught and released a mouth hooked larger thresher on light tackle and it was a long ordeal with some epic airs.

Nice report Jeff! Congrats.


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Great write-up....and Nice YT ;-)

How heavy of Lucanus Jig do you use ? Thinking about picking up a few and giving them a try.

Thanks!

How are you using the Lucanus Jig? are you using as is and bouncing the bottom or having a weight tied below it?