One More Before the Holidays - S.W.A.T.(ing) in the Afternoon

[skunked4life]

Prologue:
After Thanksgiving weekend, I was sure that I would not have any more sessions for the remainder of the year. This time of year is the storm before the calm for me. I was daydreaming about fishing and decided to run a few errands in the early afternoon and get in a short session.

AO: OC
Conditions: Surf 1-2 with 0.9 swell, virtually no wind and very calm for this AO
Tide: Low
Gear: St. Croix Wild River 8' rod and Shimano Calcutta 200 gtte with 12lb mono; LC FM 110
Weather: Surprisingly warm with the water being colder than the air temp by a smidgen

Got to the AO and noticed no one there. Also noticed a bunch of kelp everywhere. I started casting and was struggling to find fishable waters. Once I found a small hole with minimal salad, I cast and get hit. This little guy jumped out of the water a few times. I guess I should live up to my alias/namesake "Corporal Croaker." VERY feisty YFC:
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/9D7FC9BB-5AE5-44BC-A92C-09E5E7AD5E72_zpsmkpidpue.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/9D7FC9BB-5AE5-44BC-A92C-09E5E7AD5E72_zpsmkpidpue.jpg.html)

Continue to cast for half an hour and nothing. Moved to the next spot. No hole of troughs worthy of casting to so I cast deep into the kelp beds. I see bait fish jumping and target the area. I get hit again with another feisty, yet small fish:
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/E5F29D32-C16B-42D3-80D8-11ABA8610C09_zpskvreqti0.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/E5F29D32-C16B-42D3-80D8-11ABA8610C09_zpskvreqti0.jpg.html)

I see that it is time to go and pick up the baby. I head back and notice another fisherman out in the distance. I move to his location to say hi and chat a little. We chat about using flies and c-rig, etc...He (Benny) mentions how he was targetting halibut. I tell him about FNN, etc and say that I am on my last cast. I cast out to a deep trough running about 15 feet wide and fishy looking. I feel my lure stop and then take off. I turn calmly and tell Benny "you want to see a halibut?" He walks over. It is fighting pretty hard. I tell him that this one is close but feels like a legal. I beach it. Exactly 22 on the dot!
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/99347CD8-85DA-4440-850C-072963D7F564_zps56vapu5z.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/99347CD8-85DA-4440-850C-072963D7F564_zps56vapu5z.jpg.html)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/94FA6155-D909-4089-9A89-55CBFCCF9ABC_zpsv9sbbtuf.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/94FA6155-D909-4089-9A89-55CBFCCF9ABC_zpsv9sbbtuf.jpg.html)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/6B38E216-79E4-4A2F-8756-F3A1D5D93ED8_zpsawlkmt7h.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/6B38E216-79E4-4A2F-8756-F3A1D5D93ED8_zpsawlkmt7h.jpg.html)

I take my pictures and say my goodbyes to the little one.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/17AA25A4-D165-4C0E-9B57-E2DA50422A10_zpsdqw3wyye.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/17AA25A4-D165-4C0E-9B57-E2DA50422A10_zpsdqw3wyye.jpg.html)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/B774C4F4-A731-4B71-ABC4-782C50C1D387_zpsbmdpkynm.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/B774C4F4-A731-4B71-ABC4-782C50C1D387_zpsbmdpkynm.jpg.html)

Epilogue:
So you hit a couple of bumps on the road in this arduous journey we call life. At the time, you think "can it get any worse?" Then you meditate upon the matters and realize that the true question that you should be asking is "how can I make it better?" We have a yearly early morning dawn prayer service at my church this time of year. This means that on top of work and other daddy duties, I am up at 3:30 and serving my congregation and attending service from 4:30 am to 6:30 am. Two weeks went by and I feel revitalized in the spirit. I have had a lot of time to think and mature in the short two weeks. My conclusion and parting words, you can give up when you die...until then, count your blessings and not your failures, give thanks and KEEP FISHING, er I mean keep at it (life).

Thanks for reading.

Skunked4life, aka Corporal Croaker ("wrong kind"), aka Ken

[SP Dan]

Good morning Brotha S4L,

Nice report Brotha! ........ "You want to see a Halibut" ... that was cool! :Wink:
That was great that you were able to land a legal on your last session of 2013!
It's been my pleasure to follow all of your reports and to share in a lot of the fun .... thanx Ken!

"Merry Christmas" and a "Happy New Year" to you and your family Brotha Ken.

Thanx for the fish report with pic's! :Thumbs Up:

SP Dan <"))>< "The Danimal"!

[bachiboy]

Nice going Ken! I think it was about a month ago when you were sayin that you didnt think you were gonna get another legal...then you landed two.:Wink: not quite time to go perchin eh?:LOL: Looks like your getting the gear and technique dialed. Keep it up! There's still some time left to nail one more for the year!

Don

[Nipple Twister]

Corporal, Always like your reports Sir, I was disappointed to read that you may not make it out 'til next year........I feel much better now, thank you. Well done my friend and thats some nice photo editing...........

Thanks for sharing, hope we get some time to hit the surf together soon..........

[skunked4life]

Good morning Brotha S4L,

Nice report Brotha! ........ "You want to see a Halibut" ... that was cool! :Wink:
That was great that you were able to land a legal on your last session of 2013!
It's been my pleasure to follow all of your reports and to share in a lot of the fun .... thanx Ken!

"Merry Christmas" and a "Happy New Year" to you and your family Brotha Ken.

Thanx for the fish report with pic's! :Thumbs Up:

SP Dan <"))>< "The Danimal"!

Thanks Dan! That was the second time that I have actually called a fish. I did so last year around this time too. Both times were in the afternoon too. I was lucky, that is all.

Can't wait to see you again my brother.


Nice going Ken! I think it was about a month ago when you were sayin that you didnt think you were gonna get another legal...then you landed two.:Wink: not quite time to go perchin eh?:LOL: Looks like your getting the gear and technique dialed. Keep it up! There's still some time left to nail one more for the year!

Don

As I was thinking that there wasn't enough time, I kept thinking about the scene in the Godfather where Michael tells his pops, "we'll get there pop. We'll get there.." I got "there" and you were right not to count me out. Although I leave for a week tomorrow, there will still be four days before the end of the year to pull one "last" rabbit out of my hat! Thanks Don for your continued encouragement.


Corporal, Always like your reports Sir, I was disappointed to read that you may not make it out 'til next year........I feel much better now, thank you. Well done my friend and thats some nice photo editing...........

Thanks for sharing, hope we get some time to hit the surf together soon..........

Hahaha...the photo editing? I wonder what magician pulled that off? (Bachiboy)

John, we live so close together and I hardly see you any more brother! Let's fish!!!!!

[CrouchingNinjaHiddenFish]

very nice catches ! that beach looks very nice and peaceful

[Jaysuuun]

Nice trio of fish brotha Ken! You've come a long way in your fishing ventures this year my friend. Keep up the good work and hope to see you on the sand soon Corporal Croaker!

[bbqsushi]

More prayer and more fish in 2014. Nice report Brother.

Fish with ya soon....

Nate