Nipple Twister
05-27-2013, 06:06 PM
Conditions have been a little harsh as of late which made for some slimmer pickins for a decent AO. Tried last Thurs evening with all the grunion run intel going around I figured worth a shot……picked a spot in the South Bay with minimal surf which turned out to be one of the worst evening yet. Absolute Maytag conditions, crazy currents, huge layers of salad, intervals? phsssssst, what intervals, waves rolling over waves…..you get the picture? And to top it off all the trenches I was used to seeing at this AO were gone……nuttin but flat sandy bottom…….no worries, needed to test out acouple things one of them being the resent change to 20lb braid. Read some intel somewhere that lead me to believe I was possible over doing it using 50lb……….mistake, BIG mistake…………………………..
Date: Saturday, May 25, 2013
Time: 0500-0830 hrs
A.O: Highly Classified
Weather: mild and partly cloudy, Full Moon
Water: 1-3 ft surf with large intervals, mostly clear tofair, minimal salad. Waves breaking annoying close to shore having to reallypay close attention or you’re swamped.
Tide: Almost 1 ft neg incoming
Bait: Lucky Craft Flash Minnow tied to “20”lb PowerPro braidi n aqua green spooled in a Daiwa Luna 253L attached to a 7 ft Carrot Stix
Fish Count; 3 and one that got away
Lost LC’s: 2
After last Thursday’s diabolical session I was really itching for some decent fishing. Looking over the predicted conditions and comparing it to some intel giving to me by S.W.A.T Command Center it was almost a given that this area was where I needed to attempt to get some points on the board before the closing of the month and help secure the leading position for the Ol’ Guys……..
I get parked and dressed I notice some familiar vehicles parked nearby, head off and make my way to the surf. With the full moon it appears like I’m the only one here as I make my way to a very structure infested area. Looking up and down the beach I still don’t see any sign of anyone so maybe those cars are look alikes, I dunno. Fling into the moon light darkness and make some nice clean retrieves……..going very nicely, no tunes this session……just mother nature and the quite buzz of braid going thru the guides. Every now and then a set rolls thru and I have to make some serious adjustments to my position and tactfully avoid getting swamped…….’bout 15-20 casts into it I get a good hit and pulllllllllllll, break the surface with a nice head shake……..whoooo,hooooo……Halibut for sure and by the fight possibly legal size. Zig zagging its way around it breaks the surface again and I can clearly see a good hook-up so I get a little more aggressive and timed with a wave slide up a nice……….shorty:
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/nippletwister_photos/Fishing/052513a_zpsbb9d3188.jpg (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/nippletwister_photos/media/Fishing/052513a_zpsbb9d3188.jpg.html)
After a quick pic and unhook I release it back for anotherday……no tape needed, clearly short.
I go back to flinging and enjoying getting the skunk off, the peaceful silence of the surf crashing with the “plop” of the LC hitting the water. With the low tide I can reach the edges of the kelp patties and just keep flinging left, right, center……right, left, center, center, center, left,right………BAM, El Bendo!!!! Good fight but no shake, taking drag I button down tighter and pull to wet sand a nice YFC….short!:
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/nippletwister_photos/Fishing/3fdbe023-f88f-4354-aade-247934eebf27_zpsae53e144.jpg (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/nippletwister_photos/media/Fishing/3fdbe023-f88f-4354-aade-247934eebf27_zpsae53e144.jpg.html)
Another quick pic and release I was back to flinging, looks like a good morning is in store and with a grin on my face I notice something move in the corner of my eye……..I turn to find Commander Wingnut!
Making his way down the surf line he said he has been here the whole time, was at the other end of the beach and saw me come onto the sand. After some hellos and handshakes we are back to flinging, chatting he let me know that Jason, Thien and Ken where also nearby. We kept at it for a while longer working this area over pretty good. With better intel then I for this AO Arthur advises of some good holes near some rocks and the tide is just right for the spot. “With 3 ft Surf????” ………”Okayyyyyyyy”
We make our way over the rocks and to the leading edges and sure enough, there are some nice holes here……..oh yeah, casting my way thru some nice ally’s with water clear enough to see your lure almost all the way back. With the occasional set rolling thru you really had to watch yourself, have a exit plan ‘cause some of them where sure to wash you off………not 15 mins into it I get hooked up……..nice hard fighter but quickly I get it to me and upon the rocks……another first for the year but still….no points!:
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/nippletwister_photos/Fishing/052513c_zpsfa0dcf5e.jpg (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/nippletwister_photos/media/Fishing/052513c_zpsfa0dcf5e.jpg.html)
As I get a quick pic and release I was back to flinging, this will also be the last time I see this LC. Between casting and dancing around the surf we can see some familiar faces approaching, the three make their way to us and chat for a bit, we all get back to working this rugged out cropping hoping to get something point worthy…..couple of old fogy’s showin the youngin’s how it’s done!
I kept working this same spot, with one eye on the surf andthe other on the LC I get the mother of hook-ups……..”oh my F ing hell…….shut the front door!” this thing is pulling drag and bending that Carrot Stix like it was a Shimano………….I button down the drag tighter to prevent this fish from running into the rocks……..I get some, it takes it back, I get some, it takes it back……..still moving I like to think it was still in open water. Looking for a landing spot and dodging the surf I notice others trying to make their way to assist as I get a lot more back, I stall to plan my final tug and BING…….gone. no points. For some reason I figured 20lb braid had more into it but it was a clean line break, musta rubbed the rocks……….damn.
After that heartbreaker we all go back to flinging, Arthur,or should I say WingNUT, makes his way to a out cropping that was a little too close to Old Man of the Sea, gave Arthur a little reminder of the power and sneakiness of said Old Man……….I was about to start striping off the gear and turn fishing morning to rescue morning but just as quick he pops up with all thumbs up.Seems he was able to jump into a hole behind the rocks I couldn’t see, wet but ok……..whew, time to go. Off the rocks and back to sand. Arthur had expired time wise and had to start his way back. Good to fish with again Arthur, always a good time.
Ken had some equipment issues and was already back at the car, Thien said he was gonna stay awhile and maybe try another AO, Jason and I worked the beach a while longer for nadda, I musta been getting tired 'cause on one of my last casts I get an over run which jerks the line to a stop and BING, LC #2 gone. We decided to call it. As we made our way back to the vehicles it was still early, Jason and Ken invited me to breakfast for which Ken so graciously picked up the check……….thank you, young man, thank you very much and Jason’s company too, nice to see you both again……Tess, he’s agood man……congrats to you two. Gentleman, thanks.....great session and good to see you all.........now Thein, GET THAT INDUCTION FISH!
After our goodbyes we departed……..thinking all the way home about if I will tomorrow or not but I got a text late that night……….sweet, I gotta fish with my LC, I want it back!
Thanks for reading……..’til next time, tight lines everyone…
Date: Saturday, May 25, 2013
Time: 0500-0830 hrs
A.O: Highly Classified
Weather: mild and partly cloudy, Full Moon
Water: 1-3 ft surf with large intervals, mostly clear tofair, minimal salad. Waves breaking annoying close to shore having to reallypay close attention or you’re swamped.
Tide: Almost 1 ft neg incoming
Bait: Lucky Craft Flash Minnow tied to “20”lb PowerPro braidi n aqua green spooled in a Daiwa Luna 253L attached to a 7 ft Carrot Stix
Fish Count; 3 and one that got away
Lost LC’s: 2
After last Thursday’s diabolical session I was really itching for some decent fishing. Looking over the predicted conditions and comparing it to some intel giving to me by S.W.A.T Command Center it was almost a given that this area was where I needed to attempt to get some points on the board before the closing of the month and help secure the leading position for the Ol’ Guys……..
I get parked and dressed I notice some familiar vehicles parked nearby, head off and make my way to the surf. With the full moon it appears like I’m the only one here as I make my way to a very structure infested area. Looking up and down the beach I still don’t see any sign of anyone so maybe those cars are look alikes, I dunno. Fling into the moon light darkness and make some nice clean retrieves……..going very nicely, no tunes this session……just mother nature and the quite buzz of braid going thru the guides. Every now and then a set rolls thru and I have to make some serious adjustments to my position and tactfully avoid getting swamped…….’bout 15-20 casts into it I get a good hit and pulllllllllllll, break the surface with a nice head shake……..whoooo,hooooo……Halibut for sure and by the fight possibly legal size. Zig zagging its way around it breaks the surface again and I can clearly see a good hook-up so I get a little more aggressive and timed with a wave slide up a nice……….shorty:
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/nippletwister_photos/Fishing/052513a_zpsbb9d3188.jpg (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/nippletwister_photos/media/Fishing/052513a_zpsbb9d3188.jpg.html)
After a quick pic and unhook I release it back for anotherday……no tape needed, clearly short.
I go back to flinging and enjoying getting the skunk off, the peaceful silence of the surf crashing with the “plop” of the LC hitting the water. With the low tide I can reach the edges of the kelp patties and just keep flinging left, right, center……right, left, center, center, center, left,right………BAM, El Bendo!!!! Good fight but no shake, taking drag I button down tighter and pull to wet sand a nice YFC….short!:
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/nippletwister_photos/Fishing/3fdbe023-f88f-4354-aade-247934eebf27_zpsae53e144.jpg (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/nippletwister_photos/media/Fishing/3fdbe023-f88f-4354-aade-247934eebf27_zpsae53e144.jpg.html)
Another quick pic and release I was back to flinging, looks like a good morning is in store and with a grin on my face I notice something move in the corner of my eye……..I turn to find Commander Wingnut!
Making his way down the surf line he said he has been here the whole time, was at the other end of the beach and saw me come onto the sand. After some hellos and handshakes we are back to flinging, chatting he let me know that Jason, Thien and Ken where also nearby. We kept at it for a while longer working this area over pretty good. With better intel then I for this AO Arthur advises of some good holes near some rocks and the tide is just right for the spot. “With 3 ft Surf????” ………”Okayyyyyyyy”
We make our way over the rocks and to the leading edges and sure enough, there are some nice holes here……..oh yeah, casting my way thru some nice ally’s with water clear enough to see your lure almost all the way back. With the occasional set rolling thru you really had to watch yourself, have a exit plan ‘cause some of them where sure to wash you off………not 15 mins into it I get hooked up……..nice hard fighter but quickly I get it to me and upon the rocks……another first for the year but still….no points!:
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/nippletwister_photos/Fishing/052513c_zpsfa0dcf5e.jpg (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/nippletwister_photos/media/Fishing/052513c_zpsfa0dcf5e.jpg.html)
As I get a quick pic and release I was back to flinging, this will also be the last time I see this LC. Between casting and dancing around the surf we can see some familiar faces approaching, the three make their way to us and chat for a bit, we all get back to working this rugged out cropping hoping to get something point worthy…..couple of old fogy’s showin the youngin’s how it’s done!
I kept working this same spot, with one eye on the surf andthe other on the LC I get the mother of hook-ups……..”oh my F ing hell…….shut the front door!” this thing is pulling drag and bending that Carrot Stix like it was a Shimano………….I button down the drag tighter to prevent this fish from running into the rocks……..I get some, it takes it back, I get some, it takes it back……..still moving I like to think it was still in open water. Looking for a landing spot and dodging the surf I notice others trying to make their way to assist as I get a lot more back, I stall to plan my final tug and BING…….gone. no points. For some reason I figured 20lb braid had more into it but it was a clean line break, musta rubbed the rocks……….damn.
After that heartbreaker we all go back to flinging, Arthur,or should I say WingNUT, makes his way to a out cropping that was a little too close to Old Man of the Sea, gave Arthur a little reminder of the power and sneakiness of said Old Man……….I was about to start striping off the gear and turn fishing morning to rescue morning but just as quick he pops up with all thumbs up.Seems he was able to jump into a hole behind the rocks I couldn’t see, wet but ok……..whew, time to go. Off the rocks and back to sand. Arthur had expired time wise and had to start his way back. Good to fish with again Arthur, always a good time.
Ken had some equipment issues and was already back at the car, Thien said he was gonna stay awhile and maybe try another AO, Jason and I worked the beach a while longer for nadda, I musta been getting tired 'cause on one of my last casts I get an over run which jerks the line to a stop and BING, LC #2 gone. We decided to call it. As we made our way back to the vehicles it was still early, Jason and Ken invited me to breakfast for which Ken so graciously picked up the check……….thank you, young man, thank you very much and Jason’s company too, nice to see you both again……Tess, he’s agood man……congrats to you two. Gentleman, thanks.....great session and good to see you all.........now Thein, GET THAT INDUCTION FISH!
After our goodbyes we departed……..thinking all the way home about if I will tomorrow or not but I got a text late that night……….sweet, I gotta fish with my LC, I want it back!
Thanks for reading……..’til next time, tight lines everyone…