Colonel Croaker returns!

[bachiboy]

Last year, I was fondly dubbed “Colonel Croaker” by some of my comrades, although I think Lt. Bones still has a problem with giving that high a ranking to a S.W.A.T. pee-on.:LOL:

With all fish coming in as of late, I was a little surprised that I hadn’t laid into more of my coveted YFC. That all changed today.

I woke this morning to rainy skies and figured I’d end up dry-docked for a second day in a row. I’d been on call for work this week so I “thought” I’d be able to get some surf time in, but it didn’t look like it was meant to be. I dropped off my son at school at about 9am and was surprised to see blue skies overhead. I figured, “what the heck...might as well go soak a line”.

I headed down to an A.O. that Nate (BBQ Sushi) and I had hit on Sunday morning. Since we worked the north end with little success, I decided to work south. I figured the latest weather system might have driven the fish deep and there wouldn’t be much in the way of action. Well, I was wrong...kinda.

I started at about 10am with a little wind, a minor swell and little salad. About an hour into the session, I nail a small BSP and figure, “well, at least no stripe”. A short time later, I get a good hit and the fish starts taking a little line. It didn’t feel like a flattie but it did seem to have a little weight to it. As I work it in, I see a silver flash along with those familiar yellow fins. I get the little brute beached and reach into my bag, only to discover that I had forgot my tape measure. Well, I measured him up on my rod handle and took some pictures, figuring I’ll take a picture with a tape measure on my rod later. After I release the beast, I start hammering into these guys. I mean I was hooking these guys faster than Murrieta Angler beaches 30” flatties:Wink:...faster than Doctor Wingnut can yank a hook outta your finger (well, at least my fingers):Shocked:. I get four more of these things in all ranging from 12-17”. Then Poseidon sends in his henchmen to break up my fun. A pod of four dolphins decided that I had hooked my fair share and that this was THEIR beach to claim. They slashed through like a scene from Nat Geo. Just like that, the bite was over! :Angry:

Not exactly the glory fish of a legal flattie or WSB, but it was fun while it lasted.

YFC number 1

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/full_yfc1_zpsf6cf3990.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/full_yfc1_zpsf6cf3990.jpg.html)

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/head_yfc1_zps1f4df0e3.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/head_yfc1_zps1f4df0e3.jpg.html)

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/tail_yfc1_zpsc2402c05.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/tail_yfc1_zpsc2402c05.jpg.html)

YFC number 2

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/full_yfc2_zps88263412.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/full_yfc2_zps88263412.jpg.html)

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/head_yfc2_zpsa540a544.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/head_yfc2_zpsa540a544.jpg.html)

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/tail_yfc2_zps50db7551.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/tail_yfc2_zps50db7551.jpg.html)

YFC number 4...3 and 5 not pictured

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/yfc3_zps12f3ac20.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/yfc3_zps12f3ac20.jpg.html)

rod measurements

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/Handle_length_zps01836344.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/Handle_length_zps01836344.jpg.html)

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/18in_zpsb1e6c25f.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/18in_zpsb1e6c25f.jpg.html)

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/Start_Handle_measure_zpsdec2e417.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/Start_Handle_measure_zpsdec2e417.jpg.html)

Poseidon's thugs

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/invaders_zps4d6ee265.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/invaders_zps4d6ee265.jpg.html)

bonus picts...

couple of pancakes from the Sunday

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/pancake1_zpsaad9e112.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/pancake1_zpsaad9e112.jpg.html)

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/pancake2_zpsb4e94b70.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/pancake2_zpsb4e94b70.jpg.html)

and a torpedo

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/torpedo_zps5f643de8.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/torpedo_zps5f643de8.jpg.html)

Nate with his pancake. When he beached it, he says "it looks like the same size as yours". I tell him "I think yours is a little bigger"...and, in true form of the guy code, he replies "that what she said!":Rolls Eyes:

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/Nate_pancake1_zps8814ec88.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/Nate_pancake1_zps8814ec88.jpg.html)

I was thinking of getting one of these for my new fishing vehicle...a little overkill?:LOL:

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/SWATvehicle_zps5fe49d2d.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/SWATvehicle_zps5fe49d2d.jpg.html)

Hope you enjoyed the read!
Don

[titos334]

Nice report! Way to get into the YFC action, must be a good sign of things to come if they're getting back into the surf. Too bad about those dolphins ruining all the fun once it gets good! How do you like that Casting Trifecta? I have a 9' 6-12lb Spinning Trifecta that I adore, great rod.

[jaggerbub]

I nailed a bunch last year during the grunion run at night on the lc. Good times... Might be time to head out again.

[Which Way Out]

Good work Don..
points points points :Dancing Banana:

WWO

[skunked4life]

Great session Don! Slowly but surely, you are recovering from your dead streak....and with style! Ain't nothing wrong with yellow (croaker) fever! :LOL:

If you are Colonel Croaker, and Arthus is the Commander, and Bones is Lieutenant, than maybe I can be Private Perch or Sergeant Shovelnose...I know now what fish I have to target to be officially inducted. Look out BSPs and SNGFs...here I come!

Ken

P.S. Let's fish this weekend. I will bring Daniel and Peter for defense.

[madbass]

nice running into you on saturday morning.
great report and pictures. those croakers are big, must be fun to catch them all day long.
water looks beautiful.

thanks,

alex.

[koifish]

nice size croakers Don...wtg. I have not hit surf for a long time...LOL..

[PONTOON]

Nice work out there Don! :Cool:

You've racked up a good number of points for the "Older Set" the past few days and I'm pretty sure you'll have a bunch more at the pace you're going! :Thumbs Up:

[dlmoo312]

Congrats Don :Thumbs Up:
Looks like you're really racking in those points early for the Old Fogies:LOL: Way to grind it out!


-Daniel

[Nipple Twister]

YEAHHHHHHHHHH Budda!!!!! nice job.....excellent write up, fun read....thx for sharing buddy

[murrieta angler]

Nuttin rong wit crokers...:Big Grin:
Jus axs the recruits, thay wood luv to git a 17" yfc...:LOL:
Sorry, I got a little ghetto there, from the old days...:Rolls Eyes:
Thanks for getting us some points Don.
Looks like this is going to be a very weekend for hitting the surf, to bad I can't go...:Sad:
SO, I will fish tomorrow and maybe tomorrow night...:Wink:
Take It Easy,
Robert
<><

[TheNotoriousSkunk]

Nice YFC's! I have yet to catch one on an LC :Angry:

[Wingnut]

Monster YFC's Don... any over 16" is a big fish. :EyePop:
We are crushing the Rookies & Young Guns and some of us haven't even hit the surf yet. :Twisted:
With Sid's legal Hali yesterday, the Veterans now have 29 points and the Rookies got ZIP! :LOL:
But rumor has it that the Whippersnappers are planning an all out blitz in the next few days including some night missions. :Secret:
The S.W.A.T. Predator Drones will be keeping a close eye on the Youngsters this week. :Wink:
Keep up the great job Team Old Fogy Stogies! :Big Grin:

[saltman]

Don

You are on a roll brother! thanks for hitting the surf for us "old guys" nice size YFC's
Conrats
Ramiro.

[PTN]

Geez, this competition has got the old stogies really going. You guys are fishing hard and actually catching fish! Nice action on the croakers Don. Looks like you are on a streak and tallying up the points for the "Geezers".:LOL: Thanks for the report and pictures.

-Peter

[bachiboy]

Nice report! Way to get into the YFC action, must be a good sign of things to come if they're getting back into the surf. Too bad about those dolphins ruining all the fun once it gets good! How do you like that Casting Trifecta? I have a 9' 6-12lb Spinning Trifecta that I adore, great rod.

Thanks man. That rod feels REALLY nice. The tip is more sensitive but there's just a bit more backbone than my Clarus, and it's lighter. Feeling pretty good at this point...now I just need to get a legal flattie on it.:Wink:


I nailed a bunch last year during the grunion run at night on the lc. Good times... Might be time to head out again.

I gotta imagine that there was some bait around for them to be stacked up the way they were and at that size. First time this year I've seen them like that...good sign that things are warming up nicely. Time to go get some...


Good work Don..
points points points :Dancing Banana:
WWO

Thanks Bill! We're coming out swingin'!:Twisted:


Great session Don! Slowly but surely, you are recovering from your dead streak....and with style! Ain't nothing wrong with yellow (croaker) fever! :LOL:
If you are Colonel Croaker, and Arthus is the Commander, and Bones is Lieutenant, than maybe I can be Private Perch or Sergeant Shovelnose...I know now what fish I have to target to be officially inducted. Look out BSPs and SNGFs...here I come!
Ken
P.S. Let's fish this weekend. I will bring Daniel and Peter for defense.

:LOL: Bringin those guys is dirty pool!:Wink: In all honesty, I bet you they felt like *&^* when those things happened. As far as the rankings, I told Nate that if he were with me, he'd be dubbed Lt. Col. Croaker, cuz I woulda made him submit that fish...no matter how bad he wanted to throw it back!:Twisted: Woulda served him right for hangin out with the likes of me.:ROFL: Things are rolling along nicely right now for me...hope it keeps going. Looking forward to that joint session soon!


nice running into you on saturday morning.
great report and pictures. those croakers are big, must be fun to catch them all day long.
water looks beautiful.
thanks,
alex.

Hey Alex,
Great meeting you out there! Wish we coulda got into those things that day we met. Beats the shovelnose we ended up with...I saw you bring in that one right after I had beached one...flatfish of the wrong kind. Keep it up man. You'll get that glory fish real soon!


nice size croakers Don...wtg. I have not hit surf for a long time...LOL..

Man, I woulda sworm I'd be hearing reports from you once the flatties started showin. Gotta get back out there Mr. C! They're waiting for you.:Wink: Thanks for reading!


Nice work out there Don! :Cool:
You've racked up a good number of points for the "Older Set" the past few days and I'm pretty sure you'll have a bunch more at the pace you're going! :Thumbs Up:

Thanks Terry! You know, I was just thinking that I was gonna be hearing about you and/or John adding some points to our total and sure enough, John gets some. YOUR TURN! Go get 'em brotha! Them fish are just waitin for you.:Wink:


Congrats Don :Thumbs Up:
Looks like you're really racking in those points early for the Old Fogies:LOL: Way to grind it out!
-Daniel

Thanks Daniel! Ummm, it's getting kinda late...where's that text I've been expecting with the success report from the night mission?:whistle::LOL: Hope you guys are just being polite to us "old guys" cuz we need our sleep.:Wink:


YEAHHHHHHHHHH Budda!!!!! nice job.....excellent write up, fun read....thx for sharing buddy

HEY HEY sir! Thanks for the support man! And BIG congrats on your PB! Way to go out there. Guess we picked a good time to step it up a bit...for the greater good, eh?:Wink:


Nuttin rong wit crokers...:Big Grin:
Jus axs the recruits, thay wood luv to git a 17" yfc...:LOL:
Sorry, I got a little ghetto there, from the old days...:Rolls Eyes:
Thanks for getting us some points Don.
Looks like this is going to be a very weekend for hitting the surf, to bad I can't go...:Sad:
SO, I will fish tomorrow and maybe tomorrow night...:Wink:
Take It Easy,
Robert
<><

:ROFL: Yea, I think they'd settle for any points right about now. Speaking of which, I was wondering if you were out there with them...right about now.:LOL: Not that I would ever condone sabotage, but turn about IS fair play, right? :whistle::Twisted: Hope you guys got into some fish!


Nice YFC's! I have yet to catch one on an LC :Angry:

Thanks TNS. The take is different than the flatties I've caught...actually more violent and less like you've snagged kelp. These bigger models were actually pulling some drag to which was fun. They're out there, time to go get you some! Good luck.


Monster YFC's Don... any over 16" is a big fish. :EyePop:
We are crushing the Rookies & Young Guns and some of us haven't even hit the surf yet. :Twisted:
With Sid's legal Hali yesterday, the Veterans now have 29 points and the Rookies got ZIP! :LOL:
But rumor has it that the Whippersnappers are planning an all out blitz in the next few days including some night missions. :Secret:
The S.W.A.T. Predator Drones will be keeping a close eye on the Youngsters this week. :Wink:
Keep up the great job Team Old Fogy Stogies! :Big Grin:

Those YFC were a nice surprise. That area is looking REAL fishy right now. I'm kinda wondering if the grunion run will spark it for the flatties...then again, I'm REAL interested in another game of checkers!:Wink:


Don
You are on a roll brother! thanks for hitting the surf for us "old guys" nice size YFC's
Conrats
Ramiro.

Thanks Ramiro! Hope we can keep it going!


Geez, this competition has got the old stogies really going. You guys are fishing hard and actually catching fish! Nice action on the croakers Don. Looks like you are on a streak and tallying up the points for the "Geezers".:LOL: Thanks for the report and pictures.
-Peter

Thanks Peter! I hope my luck keeps going, but I think Mother's Day may put a damper on some of the old-guys' fishing time this weekend. I know it's gonna take a bite outta mine!:Wink:

[bbqsushi]

That's what SHE said!! :Beer Toast:

Nate

[bones]

Dude....You are killing it out there bro. Those Crows sure can pull hard for their size. Great job out there brotha representing the OLD FOLKS!
I'm hopefully going to catch something noteworthy this weekend. You guys are killing me!

[jinbow]

That's a pretty good record, 5 croaks in a session, good job out there. :Beer Toast: Must have been fun.
Looks like your finger is good to go now. hahah. See you some time on the beach again.

Albert (jinbow)

[Jaysuuun]

I really need to start measuring the croakers and BSP's I catch. Every point counts! Nice Croaks!

[bachiboy]

Dude....You are killing it out there bro. Those Crows sure can pull hard for their size. Great job out there brotha representing the OLD FOLKS!
I'm hopefully going to catch something noteworthy this weekend. You guys are killing me!

Thanks Mike! Glad I could contribute to the tally. I was a little worried coming into this month cuz I thought I'd be bringing up the rear on the board. Hope it keeps going...though this past trip I completely belly-flopped!:LOL:


That's a pretty good record, 5 croaks in a session, good job out there. :Beer Toast: Must have been fun.
Looks like your finger is good to go now. hahah. See you some time on the beach again.
Albert (jinbow)

Thanks Albert! Yea, that was fun...and unexpected, considering it had just stopped raining a couple of hours before. Wish the thugs didn't come through and wreck the party. Might have had a go at a few more. Fingers seem to be coming along fine. I just need to keep them away from more of those dang hooks!:LOL: Hope to see you out there again soon!


I really need to start measuring the croakers and BSP's I catch. Every point counts! Nice Croaks!

Thanks J! I wish I had known about the point system before I went out there. I think I had another fish that might have measured up, but I thought only the biggest one mattered. Oh well, guess we just keep truckin on out there to get some more.:Wink:

[bloox8]

Nice job out there Mr. Croaker! :LOL:
Those are some nice sized croaks man

Thien

[bachiboy]

Nice job out there Mr. Croaker! :LOL:
Those are some nice sized croaks man

Thien

Thanks Rook! :LOL: :Wink:

[Badbeat]

Nice yellow fin croakers, my biggest is around 14 inch. :Embarrassed:
Glad to see you made it through a session without a hook in your fingers. :LOL: