Diamond in the Rough ...

[WheresMyBeer]

Hit MB post SNBF. Plans went awry on Saturday so missed hanging with most of you. But SD winning is the main goal !!
Went back to the scene of the crime (victory) and set up shop. Snatched some wood from a nearby pit and got to work.
Few rips here and there but nothing stuck till about 8:30 when Paul's rod gives a bow. Line peeling knew it was a big girl. Fought for 15 and wound up in stale-mate as it hunkered down for the next 15. As he's trying to work it out, his second rod goes off and we have a double running.

Long story short - Paul lands a heck of a Diamond (solo). After thought was - we should have grabbed its stinger, but oh well. next time. She was so big and preggo. Paul thought he saw her dumping pups. Quick pic and she's back in.




I land a decent 40+ ... but 'yawn' compared to what we've been pulling on lately.
 



That was it for our 3 hour session. Had a nice fire pit going, and some Limoncello .... always good times in the bay.


Tight lines gang!

Catch Big Fish!!

Aloha~ WMB

[Jaws]

Nice haul for a short session! Way to go guys!

[sasquatch]

Thanks for the pic of that nice fire. Things heated up for me after that.

[raychavez91]

Awesome diamond guys! Never seen 1 of those rays before

[j.rasta]

Nice sesh guys! Limoncello, a fire, and some fish sounds like a perfect combo B)

[Latimeria]

Beautiful Diamond Paul got!  (Nice bat to you too, Dave. lol)

I have to make one honest effort before my surgery just to get out there and pull on a big fish. 

[Tim524]

Nice haul How often do you replace your line after pulling in big game ?

[WheresMyBeer]

Nice haul How often do you replace your line after pulling in big game ?

I learned pretty quick (like the next fish) after fighting a 56.5" the line gets pretty stretched out. The 40lb couldn't handle the next bite when I buttoned down with reasonable drag. *pop* ... was another nice ray.

That said, I've routinely gone 10, 12, 15 trips without changing up. Will clip the top end down a bit .... But usually wait till the line looks ghost white and fugly.

With sharks though, would recommend retying a good 10ft section of mono after each fight.

[Eric H]

That's a nice diamond. I've never even seen one in person.

[WheresMyBeer]

That's a nice diamond. I've never even seen one in person.

I've caught 4 really nice sized ones in MB and a few smaller ones. What they lack in wingspan length they make up in overall girth. That one Pauls is over 100lbs I'd bet. Almost twice as thick (torso) as a bat.

They also have the longest barb of any local rays. TOM was kind enough to cut one off for me several years ago. The stinger is badass !!

[Eric H]

I got this big butterfly

http://www.scsurffishing.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=102071&highlight=

They put up a good fight but not like our typical bats. They also lack the thickness.

Id love to get a big diomand or round ray.

[Latimeria]

I'll post up some BIG diamonds that we have caught over the years.  That is a good one Paul caught, but no monster like they sometimes get out here.   

[WheresMyBeer]

This was my PB .. looks pretty close to Paul's ... don't think I'll give up honors yet ... LOL 

[bmercury]

The diamond rays seem to be the least agreeable ray I have caught. None of them were to that size. Congrats on getting away with picking them up in that position and not getting stung 

I think with the length/action of their tail/stinger I would prefer not to catch another.

[vdisney]

That's a nice diamond. I've never even seen one in person.

Me neither Eric, looks like we got to add another to the 'ol list