skunked4life
11-04-2013, 07:12 AM
Prologue:
I have been trying to find time to get out for some winter perching, but I am having a hard time letting go of my chase for another legal butt to end the year. I have not fished with SP Dan since before HG5 and thought that maybe Saturday would be the day to plan a sneak attack!
Satruday -
AO: Dan's Haunt
Gear: LC Flashminnow S.W.A.T. Surf Series - Electric Grunion
Time: 5:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Conditions: Light swells (almost flat), light bait presence, high and outgoing tides (peak at around 5.9)
Misc: Tons of Seaweed and logs floating about
I depart for the AO a little early to try and sneak attack on Dan. Due to freeway closures and my routine for picking up a hot dog at 7-11 before hitting this particular AO, I get to the spot at 5:15 ish. No one is there??? Really? I usually see at least one S.W.A.T. assault vehicle at this time. No one is fishing today I guess.
I head on down to the first AO where I originally thought that Dan would be at by this time. I start casting and immediately realize that today will be a challenge. Lots of kelp stringers and logs (where are these logs coming from?). I cast for about a half hour in the dark until I am spooked by a loud war cry...."Poacher!!!" yells someone in the distance. I start to look about and cannot see anyone. I begin moving towards the south end of the beach and then see a familiar red hat. "Dan!" I run over to greet him and give him a hand shake. "Let's fish!" Dan says, "the plan is that we each catch 3 legals and then head for breakfast!" About 6:15ish, I get hit way out there. The off shore wind really helped me get the LC out far. This guy was putting up a slight fight and I felt a little worried that I was hooked a little weak on the fish. I manage to bring it in and it looks to be a 1 foot smelt. Dan looks over as the little guy self releases. I cast again and hook into another one but it shakes loose. Ok, let's keep at it. I bring in another smelt. Ummm, not quite what I was looking to catch. Dan takes the journey north while I decide to hit up the summit. Up and down I go. The next AO looked a little unfamiliar as the water level was so high that I see virtually no beach at all. I begin to cast and notice how wonderfully flat and calm it is. The water clarity is crystal. No takers though. After about 45 minutes of casting, I realize that this AO is not going to produce and that since I couldn't make it to the other side of the beach due to no walkable shore line, I go back over the summit.
Back over, I don't see Dan. I send him a quick text and continue to fish. Third cast in, I hook into dead weight. Halibut!!!! I feel that this one is pretty heavy, but that doesn't mean anything. I get him to about 4 feet in front of me and confirm the catch! As reel and make the mistake of reaching down, it unhooks..."WTF!" Well, I know that they are still here and that I may get another chance. I cast out again and get slammed from the side! Ooh! Could it be??? I feel the left and right head shakes and it starts taking off towards the sea. I adjust the drag appropriately (Bachiboy gave me a How-to-Properly-Use Drag Star 101 a couple of weeks before). I get it in closer and see the silhouette of a long fish, NOT a SNGF, and its tail splashes in the water. It takes off again. I manage to get it in real close this time. The absence of water movement did not help the cause. I get it in close and see...spots...Ugh.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/null_zpsaba3abeb.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/null_zpsaba3abeb.jpg.html)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/null_zps1ea0d3da.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/null_zps1ea0d3da.jpg.html)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/null_zps7037dabc.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/null_zps7037dabc.jpg.html)
It taped out at about 33 inches. My PB Leopard but not the intended target. Nonetheless, it put up a great fight, I actually fair hooked this sucker and I had a mile on my face.
I then se Dan WAAYYY out there. I make my way over to him and he says "one more cast and I am done." One more cast turned into another 15 to 20 minutes of fishing. We washed off the sand and chatted up a little bit before saying our goodbyes.
Keep the corny jokes coming old man and remember, if the joke, pun or wisecrack is from before the 1900's, it's likely that I have not heard it and will laugh! :LOL:
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/null_zpsd9400383.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/null_zpsd9400383.jpg.html)
Me and my Buddy Dan.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/null_zps2121e7d8.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/null_zps2121e7d8.jpg.html)
Sunday -
After texting and talking to some senior S.W.A.T. members and getting a smack talk smack down from Central Command, I make the decision to fish on Sunday contrary to the advice given.
AO: North SD
Conditions: nearly same as before and higher tide
Time: 6:15 to 8:15am
Arrived at grey, er broad day light. I am going to have to adjust for Day-light savings time. Began the trek towards the sand and notice, "what sand?" The water level was so high that there was very little visible shore line. I get down there and begin to cast. On my third cast I get slammed pretty decently. I manage to keep the guy on the hooks and bring him towards the beach. I see that it is some type of croaker, about 15 to 18 inches but cannot make out what it is. It makes one last jump, perfectly timed with a rogue wave, and it unbuttons just as I get over taken by the wave. Baptism number one for the day.
I shake it off, literally, and continue to fish. The conditions are near impossible to properly fish the LC, but there are pockets of time where the water lay flat for about 20 seconds or so. After about 30 minutes, I see another rogue wave creeping towards me. I back up and the rocks under me begin to subside...down I go again into the deep blue abyss. This time, I was under for about 5 seconds. Luckily, the new waterproof jacket that the wifey bought me for my birthday last week kept me nice and dry, to some extent.
I checked my reel, got the green light, and kept going. 30 minutes later, my line snaps on the cast. All of the abrasion from the rocks and sand must have weakened the line already. Oh well, what is that...number 10 for the year? Half way there to catch up with Bachiboy! :ROFL::ROFL::ROFL:
With a big FAT stripe on my back and three (but the details of the dunking in between are a bit fuzzy) dunkings, I decide to call it.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/null_zps725368f8.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/null_zps725368f8.jpg.html)
Epilogue:
Two lessons learned this weekend: 1) solo therapy is a good thing only when the conditions do not warrant dangerous conditions; and 2) passive forgetfulness is a habit: I am glad that I keep in touch with as many people as I can remember and was happy to see Dan this weekend!
Have a great week everyone and thanks for reading!
Skunked4life, aka Corporal Croaker (ie: "wrong kind"), aka Ken
I have been trying to find time to get out for some winter perching, but I am having a hard time letting go of my chase for another legal butt to end the year. I have not fished with SP Dan since before HG5 and thought that maybe Saturday would be the day to plan a sneak attack!
Satruday -
AO: Dan's Haunt
Gear: LC Flashminnow S.W.A.T. Surf Series - Electric Grunion
Time: 5:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Conditions: Light swells (almost flat), light bait presence, high and outgoing tides (peak at around 5.9)
Misc: Tons of Seaweed and logs floating about
I depart for the AO a little early to try and sneak attack on Dan. Due to freeway closures and my routine for picking up a hot dog at 7-11 before hitting this particular AO, I get to the spot at 5:15 ish. No one is there??? Really? I usually see at least one S.W.A.T. assault vehicle at this time. No one is fishing today I guess.
I head on down to the first AO where I originally thought that Dan would be at by this time. I start casting and immediately realize that today will be a challenge. Lots of kelp stringers and logs (where are these logs coming from?). I cast for about a half hour in the dark until I am spooked by a loud war cry...."Poacher!!!" yells someone in the distance. I start to look about and cannot see anyone. I begin moving towards the south end of the beach and then see a familiar red hat. "Dan!" I run over to greet him and give him a hand shake. "Let's fish!" Dan says, "the plan is that we each catch 3 legals and then head for breakfast!" About 6:15ish, I get hit way out there. The off shore wind really helped me get the LC out far. This guy was putting up a slight fight and I felt a little worried that I was hooked a little weak on the fish. I manage to bring it in and it looks to be a 1 foot smelt. Dan looks over as the little guy self releases. I cast again and hook into another one but it shakes loose. Ok, let's keep at it. I bring in another smelt. Ummm, not quite what I was looking to catch. Dan takes the journey north while I decide to hit up the summit. Up and down I go. The next AO looked a little unfamiliar as the water level was so high that I see virtually no beach at all. I begin to cast and notice how wonderfully flat and calm it is. The water clarity is crystal. No takers though. After about 45 minutes of casting, I realize that this AO is not going to produce and that since I couldn't make it to the other side of the beach due to no walkable shore line, I go back over the summit.
Back over, I don't see Dan. I send him a quick text and continue to fish. Third cast in, I hook into dead weight. Halibut!!!! I feel that this one is pretty heavy, but that doesn't mean anything. I get him to about 4 feet in front of me and confirm the catch! As reel and make the mistake of reaching down, it unhooks..."WTF!" Well, I know that they are still here and that I may get another chance. I cast out again and get slammed from the side! Ooh! Could it be??? I feel the left and right head shakes and it starts taking off towards the sea. I adjust the drag appropriately (Bachiboy gave me a How-to-Properly-Use Drag Star 101 a couple of weeks before). I get it in closer and see the silhouette of a long fish, NOT a SNGF, and its tail splashes in the water. It takes off again. I manage to get it in real close this time. The absence of water movement did not help the cause. I get it in close and see...spots...Ugh.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/null_zpsaba3abeb.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/null_zpsaba3abeb.jpg.html)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/null_zps1ea0d3da.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/null_zps1ea0d3da.jpg.html)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/null_zps7037dabc.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/null_zps7037dabc.jpg.html)
It taped out at about 33 inches. My PB Leopard but not the intended target. Nonetheless, it put up a great fight, I actually fair hooked this sucker and I had a mile on my face.
I then se Dan WAAYYY out there. I make my way over to him and he says "one more cast and I am done." One more cast turned into another 15 to 20 minutes of fishing. We washed off the sand and chatted up a little bit before saying our goodbyes.
Keep the corny jokes coming old man and remember, if the joke, pun or wisecrack is from before the 1900's, it's likely that I have not heard it and will laugh! :LOL:
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/null_zpsd9400383.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/null_zpsd9400383.jpg.html)
Me and my Buddy Dan.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/null_zps2121e7d8.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/null_zps2121e7d8.jpg.html)
Sunday -
After texting and talking to some senior S.W.A.T. members and getting a smack talk smack down from Central Command, I make the decision to fish on Sunday contrary to the advice given.
AO: North SD
Conditions: nearly same as before and higher tide
Time: 6:15 to 8:15am
Arrived at grey, er broad day light. I am going to have to adjust for Day-light savings time. Began the trek towards the sand and notice, "what sand?" The water level was so high that there was very little visible shore line. I get down there and begin to cast. On my third cast I get slammed pretty decently. I manage to keep the guy on the hooks and bring him towards the beach. I see that it is some type of croaker, about 15 to 18 inches but cannot make out what it is. It makes one last jump, perfectly timed with a rogue wave, and it unbuttons just as I get over taken by the wave. Baptism number one for the day.
I shake it off, literally, and continue to fish. The conditions are near impossible to properly fish the LC, but there are pockets of time where the water lay flat for about 20 seconds or so. After about 30 minutes, I see another rogue wave creeping towards me. I back up and the rocks under me begin to subside...down I go again into the deep blue abyss. This time, I was under for about 5 seconds. Luckily, the new waterproof jacket that the wifey bought me for my birthday last week kept me nice and dry, to some extent.
I checked my reel, got the green light, and kept going. 30 minutes later, my line snaps on the cast. All of the abrasion from the rocks and sand must have weakened the line already. Oh well, what is that...number 10 for the year? Half way there to catch up with Bachiboy! :ROFL::ROFL::ROFL:
With a big FAT stripe on my back and three (but the details of the dunking in between are a bit fuzzy) dunkings, I decide to call it.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/null_zps725368f8.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/null_zps725368f8.jpg.html)
Epilogue:
Two lessons learned this weekend: 1) solo therapy is a good thing only when the conditions do not warrant dangerous conditions; and 2) passive forgetfulness is a habit: I am glad that I keep in touch with as many people as I can remember and was happy to see Dan this weekend!
Have a great week everyone and thanks for reading!
Skunked4life, aka Corporal Croaker (ie: "wrong kind"), aka Ken