SWAT and Family - HaliPalooza 2014!!! (Day 1)

[bbqsushi]

They say that fishing is much like gambling. Each cast, a pull of the handle, a hand delt, or a roll of the perennial dice. As such, every now and then, the stars will align and you get a 45 minute roll at the craps table or one of those black jack streaks where the dealer can’t win to save his life. This was one of those moments. I’ll call it HaliPalooza. A day when you get a small payoff for the thousands of previously unanswered casts, and the hundreds of tangled lines, the wasted stack of hall passes, and for some, dozens of lost LC’s. This was payday...

My brother Al had gotten the “itch” after a productive surf-perch day a few weeks back and his boys were still out for the Christmas break. (I’ve never met any other kids who are as IN to fishing as his twin sons, Joshua and Jonah (12 yrs old)). They all wanted to hit the surf before getting back in the 2014 routine. I was game, of course, so we decided to hit it on Saturday. (1/4). I had heard some SWAT rumors of some Buts being caught at one of the not-so-local hot spots, and confirmed it with Brother Ken (skunked4life), who had pulled a few out around New Years. Since the rest of the coast seemed quiet, we decided to make the drive and meet there at sun up. I texted Ken and he was into it – said he’s see me there in the morning! Al and the boys were in the parking lot as I arrived in the dark, and the S4L mobile was parked and empty. We suited up (and when I say suited up, I mean, it was cold and the boys were in shorts and a hoodie – hardly the coverage necessary for a high-40’s morning, but they didn’t care), and headed for the sand. Ken was in the honey hole flinging his favorite LC in to the darkness – the entire stretch of beach was otherwise, empty.

Al has done his fair share of surf fishing throughout the years, but hadn’t yet pulled a Halibut out of the surf, neither had either of the boys. He had his doubts, and was expecting a couple hours of casting practice. That was, until the first hookup of the day happened to him, on his second cast. All I heard was Al yelling, “WHAT THE HECK???????” as he set the hook, and his rod showed its arc in the grey light. He absolutely couldn’t believe it, as he dragged in his first Hali caught on an LC!! What a feeling!!! After CPR-ing the non-legal specimen, and a few minutes of shouts, hi-fives, and the famous happy dance, we were back in it. Al was now rigging the boys up with LC’s from his stash, and HaliPalooza had begun!!

I lost count of the double hookups, farmed fish, and maybe even the total count. There must have been hundreds and hundreds of Halibut nesting or feeding in that stretch of beach. It was off the chain!!! This went on for about 2 hours of non-stop action. (06:30 – 08:30) It was the best morning of fishing that I’ve had in quite some time. Joshua and Jonah had a BLAST and their mother told me that they came home yelling about THEEEE best day of their LIVES, EVER!! (they’ve had many of those, of course, but I’m sure this one was close). We THINK that the total count of beached Buts was 33. However, Al told me that Jonah’s recount seemed to grow on the drive home. In any case I’m pretty sure that I’m in for another thousand unanswered casts, and unproductive hall passes, along with hundreds and hundreds of dollars of gear and tackle, before another day like HaliPalooza comes my way…. Until then, wishing you all tight lines in 2014!!


Some Photographic Evidence:

Al with the first catch of the day!

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q761/BBQSushi/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/AlFirstCatch_zps5f645b5f.jpg (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/BBQSushi/media/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/AlFirstCatch_zps5f645b5f.jpg.html)

The first Brother double hookup!

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q761/BBQSushi/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/BrothersDblHookup_zpsf753239c.jpg (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/BBQSushi/media/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/BrothersDblHookup_zpsf753239c.jpg.html)

Jonah on his first fish! Check out his waders!! Oh... Wait... Nevermind!

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q761/BBQSushi/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/Jonahhookup_zps7a1939ab.jpg (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/BBQSushi/media/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/Jonahhookup_zps7a1939ab.jpg.html)

Johah and "Uncle Kenny" with another Daily Double!!

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q761/BBQSushi/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/JonahandKen_zps67e38b56.jpg (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/BBQSushi/media/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/JonahandKen_zps67e38b56.jpg.html)

Josh and Me with a nice Double Up!!

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q761/BBQSushi/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/JoshandMe_zps0c51d959.jpg (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/BBQSushi/media/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/JoshandMe_zps0c51d959.jpg.html)

Ken with a beauty!

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q761/BBQSushi/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/KenLegal_zpsa80abc14.jpg (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/BBQSushi/media/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/KenLegal_zpsa80abc14.jpg.html)

Another Legal for Ken, in the classic Arthur pose!!

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q761/BBQSushi/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/KenArthuring_zpsb512c79c.jpg (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/BBQSushi/media/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/KenArthuring_zpsb512c79c.jpg.html)

Stoked Family!!!

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q761/BBQSushi/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/AlJandJStoked_zps7254957a.jpg (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/BBQSushi/media/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/AlJandJStoked_zps7254957a.jpg.html)

This is one my Legals doing "The Arthur".

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q761/BBQSushi/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/MeArthuring_zpse0a01c36.jpg (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/BBQSushi/media/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/MeArthuring_zpse0a01c36.jpg.html)

The final SWAT Pose.

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q761/BBQSushi/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/KenandMe_zps67a4fe08.jpg (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/BBQSushi/media/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20NATHANs%20iMac/KenandMe_zps67a4fe08.jpg.html)



Good luck out there!! Totally stoked!!!
Nate

[bachiboy]

Awesome...totally awesome!!!! You were due...all of you. Thanks for the intel, we made quite a day of it ourselves today, but I'll let Danimal tell that tale. :Wink:

Congrats man!!! Tell Al and the boys I said, "VERY well done!"
Don

[skunked4life]

Well, not much more I can add really.

I don't know what was better, pulling in all of those fish or all of us running around to see what each other caught! Thanks for being a great wingman Nate!

Here is my contribution:
With all that was said and done, my lost LC (which was recovered this morning!), the multiple injuries (LC's stuck in fingers and halibut biting fingers) and the multiple snags on kelp really didn't seem like big deals when EVERYONE was catching fish and EVERYONE had smiles on their faces!

Nate had the sole non-halibut bite coming from a YFC that actually took him into the kelp and gave him a run for his money. ALL of the fish, whether shorts or legals, were extremely aggressive and fought hard! And let me say that the twins are two of the most accomplished anglers I have EVER met. They can sling the LC a mile and know how to finesse a fish!

Total fish count: Me 3 legals and 6 shorts, Nate 2 legals and about 7 shorts, Al 5 shorts, the twins 1 legal and 11 shorts. How can you beat that?

Here are some more pics:
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/D52A75D4-6AB2-49F1-A93B-C048E3DD5A27_zpsfzidixvp.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/D52A75D4-6AB2-49F1-A93B-C048E3DD5A27_zpsfzidixvp.jpg.html)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/122DAEAD-9E03-45EA-BB2E-B99AEE5B8554_zps4cigwwf7.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/122DAEAD-9E03-45EA-BB2E-B99AEE5B8554_zps4cigwwf7.jpg.html)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/677A2B30-E174-47D3-9E72-8F22EDC98027_zpsbejahvpw.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/677A2B30-E174-47D3-9E72-8F22EDC98027_zpsbejahvpw.jpg.html)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/B42343A8-50A7-4CD3-A7FA-695AB1085606_zpsdagjmca2.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/B42343A8-50A7-4CD3-A7FA-695AB1085606_zpsdagjmca2.jpg.html)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/F7214E35-06CF-4D51-9A91-42CE8C683F13_zpsjtgpao8p.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/F7214E35-06CF-4D51-9A91-42CE8C683F13_zpsjtgpao8p.jpg.html)

And the parting Butt shot...
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/benjilovers/13167200-9D89-4255-B3B2-AAD91F1E37B7_zps6fhy0gqz.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/benjilovers/media/13167200-9D89-4255-B3B2-AAD91F1E37B7_zps6fhy0gqz.jpg.html)

Thanks for the memories Nate!

Skunked4life, aka Corporal Croaker, aka Ken, aka "Uncle Kenny"

[Sonnyyy]

You guys killed it out there! What a blast that must of been!

[Which Way Out]

So you found the keys to the fish hatchery did ya...............

Wow what an epic day. So much more fun when everyone gets on some fish.
Thanks for breaking in the New Year

WWO

[fishshep]

THREE!!! :Shocked: Legals are hard to come by , but THREE :EyePop:

Congrats :Big Grin:

[skunked4life]

THREE!!! :Shocked: Legals are hard to come by , but THREE :EyePop:

Congrats :Big Grin:


Thanks Daniel, but re-read the post. 6 legals all morning. :EyePop:

[DockRat]

What Lake is that ? Michigan, Superior ? What a weird winter. No Rain, Surf. We need storms, Sierra snowpack is at 20% of normal.
Congrats on a epic outing.
DR

[Al in Whittier]

Thanks to Uncle Nate and Uncle Kenny:

My boys had the time of their lives. They slept with one eye open the night before because they were worried I was going to go without them (and this is when I didn't think we were going to catch anything). I woke them up at 5a and they jumped out of bed and screamed "yeahhh!"

So you can only imagine how excited they were after catching so many. They are still buzzing about this today and so am I. I think they told just about anyone that would listen to them about their catch.

Great to have a such a time with the boys without video games or ipad aps.

It's a day we'll never forget.

[skunked4life]

Thanks to Uncle Nate and Uncle Kenny:

My boys had the time of their lives. They slept with one eye open the night before because they were worried I was going to go without them (and this is when I didn't think we were going to catch anything). I woke them up at 5a and they jumped out of bed and screamed "yeahhh!"

So you can only imagine how excited they were after catching so many. They are still buzzing about this today and so am I. I think they told just about anyone that would listen to them about their catch.

Great to have a such a time with the boys without video games or ipad aps.

It's a day we'll never forget.

Al, in that short time, I felt that we bonded and you guys felt like family. Hell, you are S.W.A.T. family! Your boys are awesome! I will say though, my fondest memory is when one of us hooked into a nice one and while pulling the hooks out of the fish, Jonah hooked me, I hooked Nate and Nate hooked Jonah. Oh man, that was comedy! If ever I stumble upon another bite like that, I will personally invite you and the boys! Let's do it again soon!

"Uncle Kenny"

[murrieta angler]

What a fantastic report Nate!!!
I absolutely love that fact that it was a "Family Affair";;;
http://www.last.fm/music/Sly+%26+The+Family+Stone/_/Family+Affair :LOL:
Robert
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