ono
06-28-2008, 12:48 PM
Took "CL" the rookie for her 1st ever fishing trip out to sea. We left half day out of Newport Landing down the street from our place after I saw the previous days Sand Bass bite. Told sleepy head to crawl outta bed and be ready by noon. Had a bet that I'd catch a bigger fish or I'd give her $50 bucks to her $1. That was the clincher.....it was on. She had never been out fishing with me because I only do the AM, 3/4 , or overnighters and she can't get up in time on her days off. Forked out the cash for both of us and hoped she would produce fish or it'll be her last trip.
Left NPH and headed for the flats. Kinda slow for the first hour while looking for Barry's so time to crack a beer and make it interesting.
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4956&stc=1&d=1214681451
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4957&stc=1&d=1214681488
The rookie schooled me at the flats while I got a skunking. Her face lit up when she got the first legal fish on board and a few shorts. Some people got a few Sandies and Calicos but not enough to stick around so we left. No barracuda in the mix or at least willing to bite.
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4958&stc=1&d=1214681542
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4959&stc=1&d=1214681561
Captain decided to head south to Laguna to a place call number 1's. I guess reef number 1 just past Corona Del Mar.
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4960&stc=1&d=1214681631
She learns fast. In true fisherman style she shoved the fish into the camera so I looks bigger than a Black Sea Bass. No longer barely legal.
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4961&stc=1&d=1214681669
Reef #1 produced so many fish on every drop that I knew she was fully hooked on fishing. The only problem is that every fish was short including a ton of 18-24 inch Barracudas. We probably threw back about 30 fish for the 2 of us within and hour. Good times though. CL (a.k.a squeal) got 5 more keepers at this stop and now I was getting worried about losing the bet as she had 7 legals in the bag to my fat zero...she'd never ever let me live it down. At this point I'm screwed as I haven't got any fish in the bag and after I pay for the trip, all the beers, the galley tab, tips, and fish cleaning I'm still gonna owe her another $50 for the lost bet.
We made a move to what I believe was reef #2 for the last half hour of the day. The pick was slow but these were legal size fish. I lost 2 big hits to the rocks because I wasn't paying attention and had slack in the line while baiting her up so she wouldn't get her hands dirty. Never got the fish out of the rocks so after breaking off twice I threw on a huge 6" Storm Anchovy swim bait. Threw it out away from the reef in hopes of a big Halibut but got slammed by my biggest Calico to date and maybe the biggest fish on board. The bet was over now as I pulled it off in the 11th hour and saved the $50. The second cast to the same place produced another trophy Calico for me. Kept throwing to the same spot and 10 minutes later pulled in a nice size Halibut. It looks like a big lure weeds out the little guys and brings in the big boys. Almost won jack pot but some kid on the other side of the boat outweighed me by a few ounces with another BEAST of a fish.
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4962&stc=1&d=1214681729
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4963&stc=1&d=1214681751
Went home and BBQed the fish for a bunch of our friends who live near by. Had to listen to her relive the day over and over again while she told all her friends how much fun she had and is looking forward to bringing them the next time. You'll be seeing a lot more of this girl now that she's fully hooked. She used to think fishing was boring. The trip cost me over $225 for the both of us.......her admitting to me after all these years that I was right all along about fishing is PRICELESS!
Left NPH and headed for the flats. Kinda slow for the first hour while looking for Barry's so time to crack a beer and make it interesting.
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4956&stc=1&d=1214681451
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4957&stc=1&d=1214681488
The rookie schooled me at the flats while I got a skunking. Her face lit up when she got the first legal fish on board and a few shorts. Some people got a few Sandies and Calicos but not enough to stick around so we left. No barracuda in the mix or at least willing to bite.
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4958&stc=1&d=1214681542
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4959&stc=1&d=1214681561
Captain decided to head south to Laguna to a place call number 1's. I guess reef number 1 just past Corona Del Mar.
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4960&stc=1&d=1214681631
She learns fast. In true fisherman style she shoved the fish into the camera so I looks bigger than a Black Sea Bass. No longer barely legal.
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4961&stc=1&d=1214681669
Reef #1 produced so many fish on every drop that I knew she was fully hooked on fishing. The only problem is that every fish was short including a ton of 18-24 inch Barracudas. We probably threw back about 30 fish for the 2 of us within and hour. Good times though. CL (a.k.a squeal) got 5 more keepers at this stop and now I was getting worried about losing the bet as she had 7 legals in the bag to my fat zero...she'd never ever let me live it down. At this point I'm screwed as I haven't got any fish in the bag and after I pay for the trip, all the beers, the galley tab, tips, and fish cleaning I'm still gonna owe her another $50 for the lost bet.
We made a move to what I believe was reef #2 for the last half hour of the day. The pick was slow but these were legal size fish. I lost 2 big hits to the rocks because I wasn't paying attention and had slack in the line while baiting her up so she wouldn't get her hands dirty. Never got the fish out of the rocks so after breaking off twice I threw on a huge 6" Storm Anchovy swim bait. Threw it out away from the reef in hopes of a big Halibut but got slammed by my biggest Calico to date and maybe the biggest fish on board. The bet was over now as I pulled it off in the 11th hour and saved the $50. The second cast to the same place produced another trophy Calico for me. Kept throwing to the same spot and 10 minutes later pulled in a nice size Halibut. It looks like a big lure weeds out the little guys and brings in the big boys. Almost won jack pot but some kid on the other side of the boat outweighed me by a few ounces with another BEAST of a fish.
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4962&stc=1&d=1214681729
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=4963&stc=1&d=1214681751
Went home and BBQed the fish for a bunch of our friends who live near by. Had to listen to her relive the day over and over again while she told all her friends how much fun she had and is looking forward to bringing them the next time. You'll be seeing a lot more of this girl now that she's fully hooked. She used to think fishing was boring. The trip cost me over $225 for the both of us.......her admitting to me after all these years that I was right all along about fishing is PRICELESS!