Got started a little later than yesterday, following the tide and hoping to wait out the afternoon wind a bit. Calmer conditions this time, maybe 5-7 head wind, similar swell but obviously less chop.
Took a few casts but broke the skunk with a small perch quickly enough.
A few casts later I got a good croaker thump, but farmed it because the drag was set too loose on my new Daiwa Laguna reel. The drag cam keeps getting knocked as I open the bail and it slips around way too easily. Frustrating.
A few casts later and I got another good thump, then that came unbuttoned. Reeled up and my hook was bent out! Absolutely ridiculous, there wasn't more than a couple pounds of drag. Very frustrated now. These Mustad #5 baitholders were a limited stock on ebay, perfect size, but every time I touch them with pliers in a fish's mouth they snap. Every time. Now bending? Brittle and bendy? No way.
Cut the hook off and retied. As I cinched the knot down the line snapped above the hook. Are you f@cking kidding me! I said that out loud. Older lady was walking by and laughed and said hi. I laughed at myself and said hi. But seriously. Reel, hook, line problems? Just go home now buddy.
Kept it moving, nabbed another perch. Long stretch of nothing. Then my c-rig got a ridiculous tangle. Was sick of the 8# leader material anyway so cut back to the 10# shock leader and tied on a 1oz KM. Didn't take long before I hooked into a decent jacksmelt. Got a few more bumps and short bites for the next 20 minutes. Then snapped it off on a cast, braid just kinda stuck to my finger too long. Bled a little bit. What's going on today!?
Tied on a 3/4oz KM and nabbed a WSP.
Next bite loaded up nice and pop! Line snapped like nothing. Seething with rage. I haven't had line issues in years and all my gear was failing on top of it.
Tied on my last 3/4oz KM and stuck 4 solid YFC on the way back to the car. Evened out my mood.
Gonna strip the top 20 yards of my fluoro filler spools off. Maybe they were getting worn by sitting in bags or the back of my car. Order different hooks, thinking the Matzuo sickles. And find a way to settle the drag cam.
