bachiboy
11-23-2013, 10:17 PM
Today, I went out for the first time in a couple of weeks. I was all ready to go last weekend and Friday night I came down with a nice case of the stomack flu. After kicking the bug fairly early in the week, the rains came and I thought I’d wait for a clearing to make a run on an old faithful A.O.
I made a call the last night to meet up with the DANIMAL and we made plans to head down at greylight. I arrived a little late but Dan was there waiting with a bit of a hang up with his car. He needed to go back home and take care of the minor problem and said he’d meet me back down on the sand. I proceeded to gear up and headed down to the farside for a quick look. My gameplan was to hit this first stretch and, if the fish weren’t cooperating, hop over Heartattack Ridge to the second option.
The water was dead calm, and unfortunately the fishing wasn’t a whole lot better. There was a really strong bait presence but the fish just didn’t seem to be active. I did manage one 12” turd roller, but it just didn’t seem like it was gonna happen. So over the ridge I went.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/turd_zps587f964d.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/turd_zps587f964d.jpg.html)
This was my first venture over the ridge and man did that SUCK! But, after some huffing and puffing, I made it over and went straight for the rocks where I had some luck on my last trip to this spot a couple of weeks ago. I ended up getting no love from the rocks and put my feet back on the sand working some nearby structure, but didn’t manage any strikes there either. The water was crystal clear and there didn’t seem to be much at all in the way of bait presence. I began to second guess my decision to leave the first stretch of beach. I figured, what the heck, I’m here, Dan had made it down and was working his way down the beach toward me...it was just a great day to be out, especially after the unexpected break in my weekly outings. As I started working my way up toward Dan and made it within 30 yards of his position, and I finally get some love on a long cast out...paydirt! It dogged a bit with a few headshakes so at first I was guessing a flattie but it ended up being this chunky little 13” calico.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check1_zpsc1408d86.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check1_zpsc1408d86.jpg.html)
Dan and I continue to work the area and I get that tell-tale hit and vibration of a torpedo which promptly comes unbuttoned. Next cast, another hookup and this time I get the little tube in. We’re thinking that the torpedos were gonna start swarming and I tell Dan that maybe it’ll spur on some better game to join the fun and, sure enough, I game slammed on another bombed cast. This cast actually had backlashed...*cough*, I mean overrun a bit and, as I gave the line one strip, noticed the line started taking off. I immediately put the reel in gear and hammered the hooks home. This gave the fish time to turn his head and I could feel him dogging me pretty good. By the weight I knew it was a little better fish and after a short tussle, managed to beach this nice checker which taped out just around the neighborhood of 18”.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check2_zps1332ad33.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check2_zps1332ad33.jpg.html)
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check2a_zps27678bd3.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check2a_zps27678bd3.jpg.html)
I keep firing away and about 15 minutes later get slammed again. This fish seems to have some weight to him as well and I get him on the sand where he tapes out at around 19”.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check3_zps9cb7af31.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check3_zps9cb7af31.jpg.html)
Dan gets no love and starts working his way up the beach more. When he gets about 50 yards away, I get into checker number 4, a nice healthy 15” model. While I was fighting him, I felt some pretty good weight and thought I had another high-teens fish, but it turned out to be a side of salad that clumped on the line.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check4_zps7ff4f7f0.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check4_zps7ff4f7f0.jpg.html)
I’m really pushing my luck on my curfew at this point, since I was already almost an hour past the time I was supposed to start making my way out of there. I figure I’m not gonna get much more chances at a nice bite like this, getting so late in the year, so I keep bombing away. Just as I’m thinking the well has run dry I get hit, but it’s another torpedo. I release him and next cast, one more little slimer. I’m thinking, “well, it worked last time, so maybe another checker will join the fun”. Next cast...yep, I hang a fish, only this isn’t a silver shaker. He’s got checkers and I beach my fifth calico for the day...about a 14-15” fish.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check5_zps136d553c.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check5_zps136d553c.jpg.html)
I work for another 15 minutes but figured, I’d better head for the hills and get my butt home before it really hits the fan. All in all, a VERY nice session. Got some nice fish and got to hang out with brother Dan again.
Dan - Great to see and fish with you as always. We couldn’t ask for a much nicer day out. Looking forward to seeing you at the Christmas party if not sooner!:Wink:
Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!
Don
Some bonus shots over the last month...
I went out with a different game plan a few weeks ago and took my son’s 2 foot rod out for some perchin’. Ended up with about 15+ fish with the biggest about 12”. Here’s a couple shots of the first pigs to hit the sand.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/pig1_zps18e20d76.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/pig1_zps18e20d76.jpg.html)
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/pig2_zpsdc6d194c.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/pig2_zpsdc6d194c.jpg.html)
Here are some shots from my previous visit to the A.O. I hit today. Two of the four checkers I got that day and the sanddab-sized pancake that tried to tangle with an LC almost as big as he was.:LOL:
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check7_zps8b6af29c.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check7_zps8b6af29c.jpg.html)
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check6_zps4f463025.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check6_zps4f463025.jpg.html)
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/pancake_zpsca2f4327.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/pancake_zpsca2f4327.jpg.html)
I made a call the last night to meet up with the DANIMAL and we made plans to head down at greylight. I arrived a little late but Dan was there waiting with a bit of a hang up with his car. He needed to go back home and take care of the minor problem and said he’d meet me back down on the sand. I proceeded to gear up and headed down to the farside for a quick look. My gameplan was to hit this first stretch and, if the fish weren’t cooperating, hop over Heartattack Ridge to the second option.
The water was dead calm, and unfortunately the fishing wasn’t a whole lot better. There was a really strong bait presence but the fish just didn’t seem to be active. I did manage one 12” turd roller, but it just didn’t seem like it was gonna happen. So over the ridge I went.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/turd_zps587f964d.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/turd_zps587f964d.jpg.html)
This was my first venture over the ridge and man did that SUCK! But, after some huffing and puffing, I made it over and went straight for the rocks where I had some luck on my last trip to this spot a couple of weeks ago. I ended up getting no love from the rocks and put my feet back on the sand working some nearby structure, but didn’t manage any strikes there either. The water was crystal clear and there didn’t seem to be much at all in the way of bait presence. I began to second guess my decision to leave the first stretch of beach. I figured, what the heck, I’m here, Dan had made it down and was working his way down the beach toward me...it was just a great day to be out, especially after the unexpected break in my weekly outings. As I started working my way up toward Dan and made it within 30 yards of his position, and I finally get some love on a long cast out...paydirt! It dogged a bit with a few headshakes so at first I was guessing a flattie but it ended up being this chunky little 13” calico.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check1_zpsc1408d86.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check1_zpsc1408d86.jpg.html)
Dan and I continue to work the area and I get that tell-tale hit and vibration of a torpedo which promptly comes unbuttoned. Next cast, another hookup and this time I get the little tube in. We’re thinking that the torpedos were gonna start swarming and I tell Dan that maybe it’ll spur on some better game to join the fun and, sure enough, I game slammed on another bombed cast. This cast actually had backlashed...*cough*, I mean overrun a bit and, as I gave the line one strip, noticed the line started taking off. I immediately put the reel in gear and hammered the hooks home. This gave the fish time to turn his head and I could feel him dogging me pretty good. By the weight I knew it was a little better fish and after a short tussle, managed to beach this nice checker which taped out just around the neighborhood of 18”.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check2_zps1332ad33.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check2_zps1332ad33.jpg.html)
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check2a_zps27678bd3.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check2a_zps27678bd3.jpg.html)
I keep firing away and about 15 minutes later get slammed again. This fish seems to have some weight to him as well and I get him on the sand where he tapes out at around 19”.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check3_zps9cb7af31.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check3_zps9cb7af31.jpg.html)
Dan gets no love and starts working his way up the beach more. When he gets about 50 yards away, I get into checker number 4, a nice healthy 15” model. While I was fighting him, I felt some pretty good weight and thought I had another high-teens fish, but it turned out to be a side of salad that clumped on the line.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check4_zps7ff4f7f0.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check4_zps7ff4f7f0.jpg.html)
I’m really pushing my luck on my curfew at this point, since I was already almost an hour past the time I was supposed to start making my way out of there. I figure I’m not gonna get much more chances at a nice bite like this, getting so late in the year, so I keep bombing away. Just as I’m thinking the well has run dry I get hit, but it’s another torpedo. I release him and next cast, one more little slimer. I’m thinking, “well, it worked last time, so maybe another checker will join the fun”. Next cast...yep, I hang a fish, only this isn’t a silver shaker. He’s got checkers and I beach my fifth calico for the day...about a 14-15” fish.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check5_zps136d553c.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check5_zps136d553c.jpg.html)
I work for another 15 minutes but figured, I’d better head for the hills and get my butt home before it really hits the fan. All in all, a VERY nice session. Got some nice fish and got to hang out with brother Dan again.
Dan - Great to see and fish with you as always. We couldn’t ask for a much nicer day out. Looking forward to seeing you at the Christmas party if not sooner!:Wink:
Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!
Don
Some bonus shots over the last month...
I went out with a different game plan a few weeks ago and took my son’s 2 foot rod out for some perchin’. Ended up with about 15+ fish with the biggest about 12”. Here’s a couple shots of the first pigs to hit the sand.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/pig1_zps18e20d76.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/pig1_zps18e20d76.jpg.html)
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/pig2_zpsdc6d194c.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/pig2_zpsdc6d194c.jpg.html)
Here are some shots from my previous visit to the A.O. I hit today. Two of the four checkers I got that day and the sanddab-sized pancake that tried to tangle with an LC almost as big as he was.:LOL:
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check7_zps8b6af29c.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check7_zps8b6af29c.jpg.html)
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/check6_zps4f463025.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/check6_zps4f463025.jpg.html)
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r627/bachidym/pancake_zpsca2f4327.jpg (http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/bachidym/media/pancake_zpsca2f4327.jpg.html)