bbqsushi
01-05-2014, 12:18 PM
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
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