Mr_Dunev
05-01-2012, 12:18 PM
After receiving my challenge, of course the weather starts acting up again, but I tried to still get some time on the sand this week.
Apr 27th
Had plans to meet John (Nipple Twister) at a local AO. I arrived early before 0600 and hit the beach promptly. I quickly notice that it's low tide and the waves are coming in fast, with a short time between sets.:Neutral: I start casting and within 15 min I get my first bite. I know it's a hali, not by the headshakes but how(as usual) I think I snagged a piece of kelp for a few seconds before he wakes up and takes off. My drag is too tight, and with him swimming away and the surge of the swells he comes unbuttoned pretty quickly. I am annoyed but now at least I know they're hungry. :mad:I keep working my way down and 15-20min later I get another bite (in another trench) and this time I make sure my drag is loose. Pretty soon a wave pulls my line sideways and another fish comes unbuttoned. :Angry: This time I shout profanity to the heavens:Censored:, but I quickly regain my cool and try and stay positive. I continue moving my way down and about the same time as the last 2 I get my 3rd and final hit for the day. My drag is Juuuuust Riiiiight, and this time I keep my rod tip up the entire time, and quickly bring in a nice 19" with very healthy fins and tail. As I am landing the fish I turn and see John walking up with a big smile.:Big Smile:
Here he is caught at 0655 Looking very healthy. Only took 3 tries!!!
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0378.jpg
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0375.jpg
I continued fishing for a couple hours, but had no more love for the day. First 2 bites were on Sardine pattern, the last was on my Shazam (red/gold) ima lure.
Apr 29th
Decided to try a new AO I found on google maps, but not in unfamiliar territory. The day before I noticed going through all my photos that I NEVER catch a fish past 0900 (or almost never) So I am decide to start showing up closer to 0500 for a while and see if I have any success in the dark (haven't had any yet). I arrive at the location to find the beach VERY steep, with lots and lots of Sandcrab beds. The shore pound is bad enough that I have to move back about 15-20ft everytime I cast to avoid the BIG waves. I work the area for about 30min after exploring a little, and in the crest of a wave I get a small hit. It puts up a great fight for such a little guy, and quickly pull in a 10" Smelt :Skunk: BUSTER.
0608
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0385.jpg
I keep fishing for a while, but decide to move on and away from the heavy shore pound. My next beach is close by and I arrive 10 min later. Lots of kelp but somewhat manageable. I end up snagging this little fella, who was pretty much dead and almost ripped in half.
0734 Shoulda gotten my spiny lobster card! haha
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0386.jpg
Shortly after Dan (SP Dan) and Sid (Sidified) show up. We all have a quick chat and they decide to head south for fishier waters. I stay and decide to keep moving down the beach. At one point I am fishing next to a Bait and Waiter, and end up hooking something BIG that feels like a Halibut which takes me under his line, but I lose it a few minutes into the fight, after catching a glimpse of a flattie tail. But who knows I only saw it for a split second, and I lost him when he decided to wake up and dive back down. :Angry: I almost threw my rod I was so angry. But I took a deep breath and kept fishing. The time was 0930, I jinxed myself saying no fish past 0900 but oh well.
May 1st
Arrived at my AO around 0515 and hit the water, finding big waves....AGAIN:Neutral: I knew this week wasn't going to have the best conditions but some of my best days have been when I least expected them. I work my way down the beach for an hour, taking salad off my lure 95% of the time. I get to a hole and work it for a bit, when I get my first bite. The night before I changed ALL my damaged/old hooks (7 hooks on 4 lures), so I DON'T lose another fish. 3 fish in 2 trips is unacceptable:mad: It feels like a perch, but when I get him into the whitewash I can see he is darker, but still perch shaped:Confused: I bring him in, and have absolutely no idea what it is! He was almost a foot long, and seemed to grow slightly lighter in color when I took him out of the water. He also had shiny blue spots on his face, hard to see in the photos.
0618 a new species. I have a couple ideas of what it might be (thanks Arthur) but If anyone knows for sure I would appreciate the input.
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0389.jpg
CLOSE UP
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0390.jpg
I keep fishing around, and finally decide to start heading back to the car. As I am less than 50yrds away I get a NICE hit on my Sardine with red belly ima. I am being extra careful, with all my fish since my last couple mistakes. I am keeping my drag lighter than normal, but keeping my rod tip elevated higher. After a LONG 15min I bring in my first Smooth Hound Shark, another new species for me.
A nice lady walking her dog stopped to take a photo for me. 0830
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0392.jpg
Tried to take a picture with tape, but he wouldn't stop moving. Ended up being about 30"
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0394.jpg
Since I finally found another fish I decided to take my sweet time going back to my car. 30min later, I get another bite which feels like another perch, but am happily surprised to find a shortie on my line.
0858 he had a teeny tiny tail, compared to the one I caught a few days ago. IMHO not a very healthy looking specimen. Probably because he thought he was a perch:LOL:
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0395.jpg
Stayed another 30min before calling it a day. 2 New species and a short 'butt was a nice way to end off
Hope everyone gets a chance to hit the sand soon,
Lucas
Apr 27th
Had plans to meet John (Nipple Twister) at a local AO. I arrived early before 0600 and hit the beach promptly. I quickly notice that it's low tide and the waves are coming in fast, with a short time between sets.:Neutral: I start casting and within 15 min I get my first bite. I know it's a hali, not by the headshakes but how(as usual) I think I snagged a piece of kelp for a few seconds before he wakes up and takes off. My drag is too tight, and with him swimming away and the surge of the swells he comes unbuttoned pretty quickly. I am annoyed but now at least I know they're hungry. :mad:I keep working my way down and 15-20min later I get another bite (in another trench) and this time I make sure my drag is loose. Pretty soon a wave pulls my line sideways and another fish comes unbuttoned. :Angry: This time I shout profanity to the heavens:Censored:, but I quickly regain my cool and try and stay positive. I continue moving my way down and about the same time as the last 2 I get my 3rd and final hit for the day. My drag is Juuuuust Riiiiight, and this time I keep my rod tip up the entire time, and quickly bring in a nice 19" with very healthy fins and tail. As I am landing the fish I turn and see John walking up with a big smile.:Big Smile:
Here he is caught at 0655 Looking very healthy. Only took 3 tries!!!
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0378.jpg
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0375.jpg
I continued fishing for a couple hours, but had no more love for the day. First 2 bites were on Sardine pattern, the last was on my Shazam (red/gold) ima lure.
Apr 29th
Decided to try a new AO I found on google maps, but not in unfamiliar territory. The day before I noticed going through all my photos that I NEVER catch a fish past 0900 (or almost never) So I am decide to start showing up closer to 0500 for a while and see if I have any success in the dark (haven't had any yet). I arrive at the location to find the beach VERY steep, with lots and lots of Sandcrab beds. The shore pound is bad enough that I have to move back about 15-20ft everytime I cast to avoid the BIG waves. I work the area for about 30min after exploring a little, and in the crest of a wave I get a small hit. It puts up a great fight for such a little guy, and quickly pull in a 10" Smelt :Skunk: BUSTER.
0608
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0385.jpg
I keep fishing for a while, but decide to move on and away from the heavy shore pound. My next beach is close by and I arrive 10 min later. Lots of kelp but somewhat manageable. I end up snagging this little fella, who was pretty much dead and almost ripped in half.
0734 Shoulda gotten my spiny lobster card! haha
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0386.jpg
Shortly after Dan (SP Dan) and Sid (Sidified) show up. We all have a quick chat and they decide to head south for fishier waters. I stay and decide to keep moving down the beach. At one point I am fishing next to a Bait and Waiter, and end up hooking something BIG that feels like a Halibut which takes me under his line, but I lose it a few minutes into the fight, after catching a glimpse of a flattie tail. But who knows I only saw it for a split second, and I lost him when he decided to wake up and dive back down. :Angry: I almost threw my rod I was so angry. But I took a deep breath and kept fishing. The time was 0930, I jinxed myself saying no fish past 0900 but oh well.
May 1st
Arrived at my AO around 0515 and hit the water, finding big waves....AGAIN:Neutral: I knew this week wasn't going to have the best conditions but some of my best days have been when I least expected them. I work my way down the beach for an hour, taking salad off my lure 95% of the time. I get to a hole and work it for a bit, when I get my first bite. The night before I changed ALL my damaged/old hooks (7 hooks on 4 lures), so I DON'T lose another fish. 3 fish in 2 trips is unacceptable:mad: It feels like a perch, but when I get him into the whitewash I can see he is darker, but still perch shaped:Confused: I bring him in, and have absolutely no idea what it is! He was almost a foot long, and seemed to grow slightly lighter in color when I took him out of the water. He also had shiny blue spots on his face, hard to see in the photos.
0618 a new species. I have a couple ideas of what it might be (thanks Arthur) but If anyone knows for sure I would appreciate the input.
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0389.jpg
CLOSE UP
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0390.jpg
I keep fishing around, and finally decide to start heading back to the car. As I am less than 50yrds away I get a NICE hit on my Sardine with red belly ima. I am being extra careful, with all my fish since my last couple mistakes. I am keeping my drag lighter than normal, but keeping my rod tip elevated higher. After a LONG 15min I bring in my first Smooth Hound Shark, another new species for me.
A nice lady walking her dog stopped to take a photo for me. 0830
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0392.jpg
Tried to take a picture with tape, but he wouldn't stop moving. Ended up being about 30"
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0394.jpg
Since I finally found another fish I decided to take my sweet time going back to my car. 30min later, I get another bite which feels like another perch, but am happily surprised to find a shortie on my line.
0858 he had a teeny tiny tail, compared to the one I caught a few days ago. IMHO not a very healthy looking specimen. Probably because he thought he was a perch:LOL:
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/tammyn77/IMG_0395.jpg
Stayed another 30min before calling it a day. 2 New species and a short 'butt was a nice way to end off
Hope everyone gets a chance to hit the sand soon,
Lucas