I'm not sure where to start, so let's go to the beginning.
I got to the beach before Steve and eye-balled some potentially tough fishing conditions. The surf was small, but there was a lot of salad in the close break and it would have been too frustrating. I called Steve and took the drive to meet him at another beach since Plan A was out.
Plan B was a little weedy, but nowhere as bad as the first beach so we set up and gave it a go. It was funny that our Game Warden friends showed up again and we had a fun talk with them. OK, back to fishing... Steve picked up weeds on his first 3 casts and I thought Steve was going to pack it in because of all the salad. I was not getting a bunch of weeds, but Steve kept casting on a lump of weeds and altered his landing spot on the remaining baits.
As the sun was setting, we both saw Steve's rod do a double bump. Steve grabbed the rod and I actually seen him set the hook. I wasn't sure if it was a shark or not, then saw his rod start bouncing just like a shark! It was a nice one too!
Since it happened at sunset, a few people saw it and was really freaked out when I landed it. One lady said "I thought you caught a turtle." Steve said "I wish I caught a turtle". lol
Steve had to take notes of the sizes since there were more than one caught tonight.
Conditions:
Incoming Tide
Mackerel
Full Moon
1'-2' surf
Steve finally beached his 88" beauty and was sure to let me know he was one more shark closer to me on the list!
(Female)
#1
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/Latimeria3/P1010243_zpsf1s0poam.jpg) (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Latimeria3/media/P1010243_zpsf1s0poam.jpg.html)
Not too long after Squatch gets a big bite, but misses it and I followed up with a similar swing and miss. Damn, could have had 2 more on the beach, but no worries. It was about to go wide open.
On the next cast or two later, Steve's rod does a big jump and he's on with another shark! I went to reel in my rig when I noticed my line was laying straight on the ground. I reeled in as fast as I could and caught up with her. A DOUBLE HEADER!
They kept crossing and trying to mess us up. We were assuming they were Soupfin, but were so much stronger than our last few.
Unbelievably, we did the sand dance and both tailed our huge Soupfin at the same time for the first double header of big sharks that I could remember in at least the last 6 or 7 years.
Squatch's Soupfin - 75"
Latimeria's Soupfin - 73"
(Both Females)
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/Latimeria3/P1010261_zps0j0hddlb.jpg) (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Latimeria3/media/P1010261_zps0j0hddlb.jpg.html)
BOOM! #2 and #3
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/Latimeria3/P1010268_zpsmoygcpbl.jpg) (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Latimeria3/media/P1010268_zpsmoygcpbl.jpg.html)
So far all three sharks were just fat and robust!!!
So, it was already a successful night and we could have driven home happy, but that was not enough.
Steve had a bad backlash and wound up busting off I think. All I know is Steve was out of the water giving me the entire surf to myself, so I pitched a great fresh bait out and hoping.
Soon as Steve got his new rig tied on, I saw my rod bounce and double over! Shark on!
This one felt big and did a lot of running, so I almost thought it was a Black Sea Bass, but soon got it to the surf and realized it was a feisty Male Sevengill!
68" Male Sevengill
#4 (Firecracker crazy shark)
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/Latimeria3/P1010285_zps8k0ki21l.jpg) (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Latimeria3/media/P1010285_zps8k0ki21l.jpg.html)
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/Latimeria3/P1010287_zpsxulbb7ej.jpg) (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Latimeria3/media/P1010287_zpsxulbb7ej.jpg.html)
We should just call it quits now as we both caught a Sevengill and Soupfin and a second first of the evening.. a 4-shark night. I only can recall 3 shark nights, but don't remember a 4 shark night.
Yep, we should go home, but both of us get bit again! Damn! Both of us lost the fish and it could have been an 8 fish night to go along with the last two we missed also. That just meant we still had time to fish... especially since it was only 7:00 at this point!!!!!
So now Steve is a little bummed that even he caught 2 sharks (one of each) that he did not climb up the leaderboard and gain ground on me. How do you make Steve feel better? Catch another Sevengill and a WHOPPER! ;D
I had a great bite and set the hook on what I thought might have been reef.... until it started swimming away! lol
This one was big and we both knew it. What a pain in the ass trying to get it tail grabbed and slid onto the beach. She was big and round!
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/Latimeria3/P1010293_zpshprohov0.jpg) (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Latimeria3/media/P1010293_zpshprohov0.jpg.html)
#5
Female - 98.5"
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/Latimeria3/P1010288_zpshfmisged.jpg) (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Latimeria3/media/P1010288_zpshfmisged.jpg.html)
Now Steve is bummed because after all of that, he's now down one on the list.
It wouldn't take Steve long before he got the chance to tie it up with the SIXTH shark of the evening!
Squatch got the typical shark bite and sent the hook home! Shark on again!!!!
#6
Female and 84"
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/Latimeria3/P1010305_zpstyhe7riw.jpg) (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Latimeria3/media/P1010305_zpstyhe7riw.jpg.html)
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/Latimeria3/P1010298_zpso4ezj0vu.jpg) (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Latimeria3/media/P1010298_zpso4ezj0vu.jpg.html)
Tied up at 3 a piece and should have had 10 sharks on the beach instead of the 6 if we would have not lost the earlier fish.
Well, just like in sports, there needs to be a winner. We figured a 7th shark would be busting the Casino with all of these big-fat sharks...
Steve's on and wanting to take the lead!!!
This one he was calling as a big one from all the fight it had, but I think it was just us being sore and tired from fighting and landing all these sharks.
Not a monster, but a legit female Soupfin for sure!
#7 68" and FAT!
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/Latimeria3/P1010312_zpscqusyfbn.jpg) (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Latimeria3/media/P1010312_zpscqusyfbn.jpg.html)
She also looked like she was tasted by a big Sevengill from the cut on her, or could have been reef. It looks toothy though.
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/Latimeria3/P1010307_zpsi6wuekcw.jpg) (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Latimeria3/media/P1010307_zpsi6wuekcw.jpg.html)
Well, we packed it in at 9:00.
Final Tally, 7 surf sharks.
Steve: 2 Soupfin and 2 Sevengills
Me: 1 Soupfin and 2 Sevengills
It was the night of the firsts.
First 4 shark night (Overshadowed with every one afterwards)
First double header
First 7 shark night
First 4 shark night by one person
All quality fish...
Wow, just wow. I'm sore as sh!t this morning as none of the sharks wanted to stay near the rods, so we had to drag them all a long way each time. My back is killing me!
Great job Squatch! The bar has been raised!
Thanks for reading and until next tide!!!!