eastonslight
10-09-2010, 01:12 PM
I have been following this forum for about three or four years, watching you guys catch bugs, and dreaming of the day I would be out on the water. I had tried off piers, come close to diving a couple times, but was always sidelined by other obligations.
A recent move from Santa Monica to south OC has brought me close to Dana point, and in an instant my stars have aligned and the chance to be in the chase had come.
My neighbor "Carnie" picked up a dingy, and we set out at about 11pm. We each had one hoop net, and bait consisting of chicken, cat food, and bacon (sound familiar? thx for the tip). We dropped at mid small wall; I dropped 15 yards from the wall, and Carnie about 35.
Talked to another guy who caught 5 dinks and a Legal, also said he caught a Morey eel!
There were plenty of guys fishing. The night was clear. No wind. Great night to just be on the water. At this point I had realized I would be fine with the experience alone. We let the pots soak for 45 minutes (that’s how long it took us to go back to the slip and drink a beer).
We arrived back to our location and the excitement of not knowing what was to in that net started in on my gut. I started in slow to bring in the slack and then turned it on full blast. I had my pot in shallow water, so it didn’t take long to bring it up. The first thing I saw was a giant sea snail, and then the other side of the net started flopping around. To my surprise I set my eyes on my first legal bug.
We wanted to be 100% positive it was legal, so asked for opinion from others about exact measuring. They all agreed that it was a right on to take, so I was a happy man, knowing I wouldn’t get fined.
Carnie ended up catching a dinker, and I caught a small sculpin later on the outer wall. I will never forget my first pull. Thanks Carnie and FNNers for the help!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=19767&id=118638318148368&saved#!/photo.php?fbid=164950263517173&set=a.118641661481367.19767.118638318148368
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=164950263517173&set=a.118641661481367.19767.118638318148368#!/photo.php?fbid=164950320183834&set=a.118641661481367.19767.118638318148368&pid=572157&id=118638318148368
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=164950263517173&set=a.118641661481367.19767.118638318148368#!/photo.php?fbid=164950336850499&set=a.118641661481367.19767.118638318148368&pid=572158&id=118638318148368
A recent move from Santa Monica to south OC has brought me close to Dana point, and in an instant my stars have aligned and the chance to be in the chase had come.
My neighbor "Carnie" picked up a dingy, and we set out at about 11pm. We each had one hoop net, and bait consisting of chicken, cat food, and bacon (sound familiar? thx for the tip). We dropped at mid small wall; I dropped 15 yards from the wall, and Carnie about 35.
Talked to another guy who caught 5 dinks and a Legal, also said he caught a Morey eel!
There were plenty of guys fishing. The night was clear. No wind. Great night to just be on the water. At this point I had realized I would be fine with the experience alone. We let the pots soak for 45 minutes (that’s how long it took us to go back to the slip and drink a beer).
We arrived back to our location and the excitement of not knowing what was to in that net started in on my gut. I started in slow to bring in the slack and then turned it on full blast. I had my pot in shallow water, so it didn’t take long to bring it up. The first thing I saw was a giant sea snail, and then the other side of the net started flopping around. To my surprise I set my eyes on my first legal bug.
We wanted to be 100% positive it was legal, so asked for opinion from others about exact measuring. They all agreed that it was a right on to take, so I was a happy man, knowing I wouldn’t get fined.
Carnie ended up catching a dinker, and I caught a small sculpin later on the outer wall. I will never forget my first pull. Thanks Carnie and FNNers for the help!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=19767&id=118638318148368&saved#!/photo.php?fbid=164950263517173&set=a.118641661481367.19767.118638318148368
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=164950263517173&set=a.118641661481367.19767.118638318148368#!/photo.php?fbid=164950320183834&set=a.118641661481367.19767.118638318148368&pid=572157&id=118638318148368
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=164950263517173&set=a.118641661481367.19767.118638318148368#!/photo.php?fbid=164950336850499&set=a.118641661481367.19767.118638318148368&pid=572158&id=118638318148368