Still looking for my first Soup, the obsession is getting bad. To the point of being Fin-addict ...
Decided to commit to a later hour (past 9
), and found a stretch of beach with relatively low weeds & kelp.
Sunset brought a few good rod tip thumps, and a small eel which mangled Paul's wire leader. Hate those damn things.
I then get a good drag burner only to spit the bait when I engaged the reel. Almost! Damn!!!
Have a good feeling about this spot though.
Roughly 9pm and Paul gets a wiggle on his bells.
Sets the hook and he's dragging in a fish. Wasn't really paying attention until the eyes lit up as it rolled in the surf. I'll be damned Paul has another 7 under his belt.
Had the honors of the tail grab and the fugger almost got me twice, with another 3 or 4 attempts that were still too close for comfort. Felt like dancing with a rattlesnake ...
Bite past the tail? No problem
Jaws up ...
Got a tape on it and sent him back to the sea. 75 1/2" ...
By now we've chummed the area pretty good with frequent bait changes. Had several mangled baits and empty hooks come back, so knew there was a ton of life in the area.
About a half hour later I get another chance. Good tip bounce and I grab the rod. Let the fish run and buried the hook.
Pissed off and heading straight out to sea, I could feel the hard tail thumps as line peeled off the reel.
A thought crossed my mind "will this 60lb leader hold up?"
Nope
**POP**
ALMOST ....
re-tied but that was it. Packed it in at 11p.
Stats for the 7 gill (4/14/15 - 75 1/2" - Male - Mackerel tail - 2-3 surf - outgoing tide)
Get bent guys!!
WMB
