Took advantage of the weather window and headed to the bay to burn some wood and soak some baits with my 9yr olds. We got to the spot at the same as another group was setting up around the bonfire ring next to us. Sent out some shrimp on 2 perch rods and squid on my long rod. got the fire started and some of the kids next to us came over to us to play with my boys. Stoked to have some kids to keep my boys entertained. I told them to have fun and that I'd yell for them if we had any action.
Lots of critter bites, but surprisingly nothing stuck. As the sun starts to set, one of the rods doubles over and I yell for the closest boy. Matty runs over and it's game on. It was a pretty solid fight on 8lb and I was concerned the line wouldn't hold or the little Wal-Mart no.6 bait holder hooks would snap. He gets it in the skinny and it's a solid horn shark and his biggest fish to date!
By this time, I have about 8 kids and their parents crowded around me asking questions and wanting to take pictures with it. I let the kids get in on some pics and I send it back home. Re-bait and listen to my son excitedly talk about the fight it put up. We high five each other and I'm brimming with pride
The sun sets, our little fire is roaring, and I'm thinking about how awesome our city is and then I see a rod tip do some wiggling. Call over my other my as it's his turn. This one wasn't much compared to the horn shark, but it was another shark. Sharks are cool, big or small. He slides up a little spoof-fin and it draws another crowd.
More pics and then a quick release. All the kids head back to playing, except one. He stays next to me the rest of night waiting patiently. I ask him if he'd like to reel in the next one if we're lucky enough to get another bite. "YES!!!" He's never gone fishing or even help a fishing pole. My fingers were crossed that I could deliver before it was time for me to head home. about 30mins goes by and my prayers were answered! It was a little bigger than the 2nd shark and luckily it bit on the lighter of the 2 perch rods I brought, so it felt much larger. He was pretty happy! Spoof-fin shark number 2.
We high fived, released the shark, and he ran over to ask his dad if I could the text the picture to him. Stoked all around. Good karma for me, I won the FFL championship I'm in and I won $25 on a scratchers I got as a stocking stuffer. Now if only the rains and winds would stop long enough for me to soak some big baits. Oh yeah, no love on the long rod.