So my young team has been curious for a while about my late night fishing excursions and coming to work exhausted the next day. Is it really worth the trouble? What's the big deal? Well... Let me show you and you be the judge!
We had this planned several times, but the tide wasn't always right or they had plans. Everything came together last night.
We hit the bay for a more promising night than dealing with the surf and kelp. I brought 2 bags of primo bonito chunks, some fire wood, 3 long rods, and my buddy brought 2 small rods, shrimp and some Shock Tops
I casted out our first offerings at 9pm. The long rods sat long enough for them to ask if this is how it always is. Lol! The small rods kept their interest though, as shrimp gets bit even at low tide. A couple round rays, a baby bat, a horn shark, and some sub-legal spotties hit the beach. An hour passes, time to check the big baits. Nada. Had to remind the group that fist sized baits are for a specific quarry and that once the tide starts to move, it'll be game on. 2nd bait check commences 30mins later and a chunky spotty somehow wolfs down a bonito head
Nada on the other 2 rods. More baits sent out.
More wood goes into the pit and work stories are shared as everyone there, but me and my buddy Oscar were just laid off Monday
Good bunch of kids too. Then everyone stops laughing when they hear a couple short runs of the clicker. Then the vintage run of a big bat gets everyone running to the rods! I grabbed the 12'er, put it in gear, turn off the clicker, hand it off to closest the person... Karla. She gets worked and ran out of steam. Hand off! 20mins goes by and 3 more hand offs later a solid 43"+ hits the sand. High fives and "holy sh!ts" are exchanged. Quick pics and off it goes. No less than 20 seconds later, the 9' goes off! This one is all business!! Puts the 1st to shame. Poor Hieu has to run her little a$$ 20yds down the waters edge to keep! Several hand offs later and it goes to me as it hunkers down in the mud. 5mins goes by before I can get her lifted and turned. Jon is spent so Karla steps up to finish it off. Trooper! I guess its apropos since she's an Army reservist too.
Another 10mins of give and take and an easy 50" bat is in knee deep water and has also hunkered down. Karla is determined to lift and beach this big girl! Just as I'm about to wade in, the 60lb mono finally reached its limit and snaps. We all rush to the waters edge to watch her slowly swim away. A definite 50". What an awesome fight for 3 youngins who've never even touched a rod!
I call it after that as it is nearing midnight and 2 of us still had to work in the morning. Lots of fun for some great peeps! Karla wants to buy a yearly license now... Lol!!
Karla with the 43"+
Hieu with the 43"+
Jon with the 43"+
The misc...
