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Random Quote: Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~Henry David Thoreau
My son cancelled on me at last minute so I headed out by myself. Caught pogy's in 30 ft of water just east of Lockwood inlet. After dicking around with electrical problems with my chartplotter headed out to the vacinity of the Sharkhole. Fishing 3 lines, two up, one down. Can't remember the exact order of events but a triple header went off and I missed them all. Reset then the top starboard line SCREAMS. I'm fighting the fish, steering and wondering how I'm going to gaff him. After about 30 minutes I stick him and in the boat he goes. After a while on ice, I get out the Shimano fish scale and he weighs 36 pounds. I don't know how accurate it is but I'm sure it close. Ended the day with 3 kings and 3 big AJ's, 2 of which came off a double header. What a day!
It was a fun day but was worn out by the end of the day. Kind of tough when my autopilot-boatwasher decides not to go! I think that's the same one that has been griping about not getting to go fishing yet this year. Said he had to study for school but I think a little gal named Kim may have had something to do with it.
I did a two hour trip today, no buddies just me. I fished from 1045 am till 1:30 falling tide.
Out 8.64 miles from little river inlet. 8 boats in the area. Radio chatter was indicating a slow bite. At first all I got was sand sharks, ready to give up at 12:30 near low tide. I noticed surface action, fish feeding on top. I did not know what they were. But saw that my lines were passing thru the surface action, then all hell broke loose I had a triple header, all three rods went off. I had three rods screaming at the same time. To make a long story short I lost two to bite offs but the biggest fish held tight. I fought him for roughly a half hour. he almost spooled me twice as I watched my line empty almost to the spindle. I had three on at the same time. I had to move the other two rods out of the holders and lay them down with fish on, just to get them out of my way. I knew the one I was fighting was big. I was pissed that I was by my self but happy I had a real monster king holding on my line.
I burnt my thumb trying to slow him down, At one point I knew I did not have much line left I swung the boat around towards him to gain line. The other two poles were banging around on the floor of the stern with fish on. But this guy was big, after 30 minutes I saw the bastard and he was a monster.
The other boats were watching, I looked like an asshole trying to get a gaff shot with one arm while holding the rod in my left hand. Every time he got near the boat he would take off at a speed I never dealt with. Finally I got him close enough to get a gaff shot And I stuck him and he yanked the gaff right out of my hand. I watched him dive with my gaff attached to him. My other gaffs were still strapped to the gunnels. I was screwed. All of a sudden my gaff popped up to the surface near the boat. I had no idea it floats but it does. I grabbed it with one hand while fighting him with my left arm and got it back into the boat. Now I was determined to get this guy. I could tell he was getting tired. I was huffing and puffing. He came up on his side and I got under him with the gaff and drove it home. He went nuts I dropped the rod to the floor and lifted the gaff with two hands and he was in the boat. I was shocked. I actually did it, and he was still nasty. he was flipping all around pissed off and I was amazed that I managed to get him in. I left him on the line and grabbed another rod that was banging around the boat, That turned out to be a shark and the third pole had a cut off. I did not have a scale so I measured him. 54 inches by 23 inches. I decided to go in I was done. I took him to the fish market and he was 36 lbs and they told me that he probably lost a few pounds due to laying on the deck in the sun for a few hours. They said he sure looks a lot bigger than 36 and told me their scale is off by two pounds so he is probably 38 and was probably over 40 when he hit the deck. What a two hour solo trip.....~JJ~
__________________ "Jay"- 04 HydraSport Vector 24 CC 250 Yamaha fourstroke
The photo did go into my album, but for some reason it would not show up here. Sorry I was so long winded and hijacked your post. I didn't mean to, I saw your post and pic and it seemed like we had the same trip on different boats.~JJ~
__________________ "Jay"- 04 HydraSport Vector 24 CC 250 Yamaha fourstroke
Yep, twins...........unless you're a midget Funny how both were caught single handed a couple days before the tournament. Timing is everything and we both missed a good payday by a day or two. Of course, like the small print says, you got to enter to win. Oh well, whatcha gonna do We both still had a blast with our fish didn't we?
My two buddies are bugging me to do the "Rumble".
If the weather looks good I will probably sign on.
With my luck I will get snakes and sand sharks Saturday.
But you never know. Are you planning to do the Rumble or the Fall Brawl?~JJ~
__________________ "Jay"- 04 HydraSport Vector 24 CC 250 Yamaha fourstroke
Hal, I have never entered before, and always felt it is a crap shoot as well. Plus I do not care for rules and times when I can fish. My buddies got the idea because we have caught some big guys this season and they like the competition. So I might give it a try this year since it is being held out of my marina. At least I can find my way to the weigh station. If the weather looks bad I might just toss the idea. I had planned to do it last year and the seas were bad, so I did not bother .
~JJ~
__________________ "Jay"- 04 HydraSport Vector 24 CC 250 Yamaha fourstroke
Big king @ sharkhole 9-30-09
. Said he had to study for school but I think a little gal named Kim may have had something to do with it.
