Conditions didn't look too bad anywhere last night, so I decided to hit the last spot I fished hoping for another Leo or surf bat.
Dad came out and we got set up around 5:00. Hard to beat this view, it was a great way to start the evening!
I was hoping that as the tide came in, the waves on the outside would settle down and give us some calmer, deep water. Unfortunately after an hour or so it was clear that wasn't going to happen. The surf just kept getting bigger and none of our baits were being touched so we decided to move to calmer water. We jumped over to a protected beach by the harbor and soaked bait there for another hour with the same results.
I did find a nice reel cover for one of my baitcasters though
Decided to move one more time to a spot in the harbor where we could try for bats and at least catch a few critters. I've never tried the light gear here other than letting the kids fish for white croaker. I figured they'd be fun on my 4-1/2' Micro light trout rod. We threw out some big baits and the set up the light rods with squid bits.
I ended up with three new species for my list! The first was this little Sand Bass.
Then I caught this little guy. Any ideas on the ID? Ben?
Then a little Calico.
Then a chunky Calico.
Three new species! Ok, they are dinks, but it was a blast on the ultra light and at least I beat the skunk
As I'm watching the end of my UL twitch again, I see the spool on my heavy rod start to slowly unwind as something swims off with my chunk of mac.
I flipped off the baitfeeder and set the hook on a heavy bat! I've hooked some big ones here several times and always lost them on a buoy or piling so tightened the drag down and tried to muscle it in. This one had a lot of muscle itself and proceeded to peel off line at will. Fortunately it just went back and forth through the harbor and stayed away from the snags. During the fight my dad stuck a small Calico on his light rod (his first also). After a battle of tug-of-war it took off toward where my dad's line was and I could feel the two lines start rubbing. He started reeling in and we tried to get them separated. As I got the beast closer to the dock it made a big lunge and POP.
Another one got the best of me.
Here,s a Pic of the Calico my dad caught. They are pretty fish!
I tied on a new rig and tossed out another mac chunk. My dad had to head home so I started packing up the rest of my gear when my heavy rod goes off again. Hook set and fish on! This one didn't feel as big as the first, but still gave me a good work out! Took me up and down the dock a few times and had a couple long runs out toward the harbor mouth. I finally worked it in close and it kept running under the dock trying to cut me off. I had no idea how to land it solo on the dock. It finally tired out enough that it was just treading water and I took a couple quick pics in case it got away. I was able to get a hole of the shock leader and open the bait feeder on my reel so my rig couldn't get dragged off. The 80 lb leader cut into my finger but I got my hands in it's blow holes and dragged it up on the dock. Measured 42", not a monster, but a new PB for me! I was so focused on measuring it and getting it back in the water I forgot to take pictures of it on the dock so these are all I have
At least what seemed like another surf skunking was saved by the harbor. Hoping this means it's coming back to life after the dredging early this year.
Heading back out again tonight hoping to find a grinner.
