I always know I'll have a great day fishing when I debate going after hearing the 4 am alarm. This was one of those mornings for sure as I was up until midnight after throwing a party the night before.
Well, as I'll go on to describe, today was one of the most memorable fishing days I've ever had.
My roommate was going to be breaking in his first ever rod and reel (he's been borrowing for a few months since he started coming out with me). Now I had two reasons to know it would be solid: my near bail out in favor of sleep and a new rig (they always seem to be hot on their first dips!).
Woke up with the roomy and headed down to Newport Harbor before the sun rose. We arrived and got some solid pieces of bait (all chovies but good size and health), and headed to the AO. Within a minute of my first soak I was bendo on this little fighter.
A solid little Sandy to start the day. Then Ian got his first hookup, a little checker.
Tiny guy, but a beautiful specimen, and a special one as it will go down in his memory as the first fish he ever caught on his own gear. From there it opened up pretty well on the spotties and checkers, including Ian's first legal (a barely over 14 calico) and culminating in his first ever flatty.
The excitement in his face and eyes, and how shaky he was trying to perfect the kung fu tail grip on his first ever hally made the entire day completely worth the sandy eyes and foggy mind of little sleep. Memories he's sure to never forget! Also, I know after today he's got the bug now. Finally, my solid fishing buddy!
Now on to lessons learned.
A few minutes after that pancake (18 inches or so) we drift past another pavilion skiff to hear hoots and hollers. I ask 'em what they've got and they hold up a short hally.
"Right on!" I shouted back.
It was then that the fish started to turn on the line, exposing his underbelly... It was covered in blood. It was then I noticed one of their party cleaning a knife. They dropped the youngling into their live well and proceeded to high five each other and continue the jubilation...
My blood boiled! Not knowing these guys and thinking better of a fight at sea, I bit my tongue in the moment, but immediately fired up the engine and drove the boat somewhere I could inform an empowered party. The person I told (who will remain unnamed or described for his privacy) didn't seem to give a ****!
My blood boiled more. Ian started to get upset too after I gave him a proper explanation of why size limits exist, and it started putting a real damper on our great morning.
We saddled back up and headed back to another AO, determined not to let this crime ruin our day. You can't control the actions of others, let alone allow them to impact your mindset and emotions. We did what was in our power. Our side of the street was clean.
Then some amazing things happened. My rod went bendo on the hardest strike I'd had all morning. A fair fight later and I boated this beauty, 19 inches, gave it a kiss and set it free. Sending him back to grow, eat and make more halibut for my future children to catch one day felt great after everything we'd just seen.
It got better. Five minutes after landing him, I feel a good thump on my line, but then it went quiet. Slow reel, feel some weight, BAM! I'm on again and this one feels GOOD! She goes on a couple respectable runs, and feels heavy between them.
"Grab the tape measurer, Ian! I think we got one here!"
The fish came to color, and it was a nice size halibut, but not quite as if as she felt on the line. Still, I was confident she was legal. We got her to the boat... 21.5 inches! At first I didn't believe it. I must've slipped the fish forward on the deck between looking from head to tail.
"Measure twice, cut once, Cam," I think to myself.
21.5 again. The SWAT guys immediately came to mind. Their wisdom and desire to do right by the sea and her creatures.
I think ordinarily I'd have been pretty upset, but this time I felt nothing but joy. This fish put up a fight 6 inches bigger than she was, and I got to set her free. I got to make the **** I saw earlier right for the harbor.
Poseidon put my righteous indignation to the test.
"Oh you're mad they kept a shorty? Let's see what you do with one that seems like you might be able to sneak by. It's only a half inch after all."
I had Ian shoot the release. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_6v5iRt5tqQ
We went down to the famous Island Grill for a well deserved lunch. Two big old burgers later, we headed back to Burbank, our bellies and our souls brimming over.
Thanks for everything, FNN.