Heck of morning. Started out bad. Loading up I go to start the truck and find the clutch is not engaging properly. Figured out to check the clutch fluid (first manual transmission I've owned) and it was bone dry. Hmmm. Hopped on the bike and went to the 24hr grocery store where fortunately they had clutch fluid. Topped it off and was good to go, just about an hour later than I wanted. Got to the launch to find some funny looking guy with a red prowler getting ready.
Good to get a morning in with Ken, it's been a while.
Get out past the can and make some macs. School was moving so I pinned a greenie on a leadhead with a squidlike plastic thing, cajunman style, and started heading out a ways, mindful of Andy's report. See Vito coming in and then I see the bird pile in the distance. Vito turns around and the chase is on. We get out to the general area and I start marking good stuff on the sonar.
Throw the iron and, as usual, the moment it hits the water the bait rod goes off. Throw the iron reel in gear and grab the bait rod. Shit, it's hung on my sabiki. Get that sorted out, prepare to start fighting the fish, when the yak takes a lurch. WTF! Oh,
DOUBLE HOOKUP! :shock:
Crap, now the jig rod is pinned in the front holder with the line going backwards, meanwhile my bait rod is peeling off line as that fish runs.
Get the drag dialed back on the jig rod, reposition to the rear holder, and focus on the bait. Now, this setup (trini20 on custom graphite) was dunked by my friend Nils when he rolled on a launch. I figured he would have said something if it was F-ed up, but since he fished a couple more times with it I figured it was good to go when I grabbed it this morning. I forgot how unassuming Swede's can be, because this reel is in a bad way. Obviously sand in there and its grinding hard, threatening to lock up. Back off for a moment thinking that might help, but now we are hauling ass towards a lobster pot. Choice of two evils, so I button down and pray the reel holds.
Jig rod is still bent in half, but the bait reel is requiring full attention. Finally slow the fish and begin the vertical endgame, all about 50ft from a buoy. I guess the extra drag supplied by the fish on the jig rod took something out of him, because I was able to horse up the 24lb YT fairly easily after that.
Fish gaffed and stringered so I grab the jig stick. Fish is still on, button down and prepare to go to work. Pulls! Oh well, still haven't landed the double. Hear that Ken is similarly engaged, awesome. By now the birds have disappeared.
Dave Cabrel and I are fishing close to each other when a I hear what I thought was a boat engine starting behind us, straight into the sun. I ask him "WTF was that?"...."Fish" comes the answer. Lots of big fish! Chase em hard but they are down when we arrive. Still, good sonar marks so I let fly the iron. Sink, sink , sink, slam! I'm on again and getting towed right at another guy in a red yak (sorry, didn't get your name and I'm terrible about remembering faces). Right as the fish is going to lead me into him it comes unbuttoned. Man, do I suck with iron.
Trying to figure out which way to chase next when the bait rod goes off. Lock on and prepare for a towing but this fish doesn't seem like it wants to go anywhere. Fine, I'll horse it straight up. Start to think, maybe, possibly, could it be....yes!. At color the purple iridescent gleam of WSB. Not big, but who cares. Gaffed and on board, I dig out my secondary stringer. At one point the fish was half stringered and slipped off the side. I was just about ready to dive in after it but fortunately the rope caught and I got him back on board and secured. Now I'm a happy camper...
Couple other spots of fish then the slack is upon us. Wait it out chatting with Ken, Vito, Kelvin, and Dave, then the birds reform further out. Run 'n Gun! Toss the iron, start reeling, feel it load up, swing, I'm on. Keep the drag soft but this guy feels smaller. In short order the 18lb yellow is aboard, my first landed jig fish in a year.
GPS says about 3 miles out. Guess I'm taking the day off. Start working in, thinking about combing the bottom in search of the slam. Get in the vicinity of one of my hali spots but the arms are getting mucho tired, so I just head for the barn. More fish come up but I can't chase with all the extra weight, burnt out arms, and lack of beer. :P
Smiles all around at the landing. I think everyone had a good day and the conditions were as good as it gets. Pleasure fishing with my favorite photobeyatch (well, maybe Pat takes better pics) and always happy to return the favor. 2-4 days after a storm seems to be magical. See you all amongst the crowds tomorrow. Probably be a zoo, which may keep the fish down, but you never know. Get some rest and eat your wheaties, because if it is like today, it's all a matter of speed and luck.
