(I'll start by saying sorry for the long post LOL)
My wife and kids were out visiting her parents for a couple of days so I took the opportunity to get some more time on the sand.
My dad got off work a little early and made out about the same time I did. We wanted to try a new spot Joe had filled me in on.
Conditions were pretty good, light breeze and 1'-2' waves, but there was a slight downhill current that was bring in a small amount of weed debris.
I also found a new source for macs that are frozen, but way more fresh than the others I've been using so I we very optimistic!
We set up shop, got some baits out, and relaxed for a bit. I also started keeping better track on my soak time, stetting a timer for every 20 minutes (any feedback on that would be great).
Well after a couple soaks and no action we decided to move down to the usual spot. That was the right decision. After about 10 minutes my dad's pole starts getting some shakes, as he walks up to it, bendo! After a really fun fight, I get to play sand hand and drag this pretty Leo up on the beach. 49.5" male. He beat my PB leopard by more than double!
We get it back in the sea and a few minutes later my rod goes off. I put the reel in gear and it starts peeling line. Made two decent runs and we can see the 7gill thrashing and coming half way out of the water. I wanted my dad to see how strong they are so I handed the rod off to him to fight it a bit and bring it in. Once he got it to the skinny I tailed it and got it up on the beach. As he putting my rod in the spike, I look behind him and see his rod going off! I yell at him to get it and he's on too! So now he's fighting his while I'm trying to get pics and measurements on mine, it was crazy! Right as I get mine taped, the hook pulls on his and it's gone
Mine was a fat 92" male.
Those eyes though.
While getting the hook out of his jaw, I got tail whipped pretty good. That shark burn is no joke!
This guy was feisty, kept trying to bite me all the way back in the water.
We get fresh baits in the water and sit down for a bite to eat. About 20 minutes later my dad's rod starts going off again. He sets the hook and a nice 7gill breaks the surface! He fights if for a bit and gets it in pretty close. I'm so stoked my dad is going to finally get a big shark! Right as it gets into the whitewater it makes a strong run and pop!
Another one gets away. When he reeled in the slack I found that the rub leader had broke a few feet from the swivel. It was pretty messed up from the first one he had on and I didn't even think to replace it before he put another bait out. Rookie mistake!
After looking at his I decided to bring in my rig and check it as well. Both were pretty scuffed and nicked so we tied on fresh ones and got back to fishing. As the sun started to set, the downhill current picked up pretty good and started bringing in the weeds. We were starting to have trouble keeping the baits where we wanted them. After 5 minutes or so they would start to migrate south from the weed build up. We're about to call it quits and I'm starting to bring it in when I notice my line is moving south much faster than it should. I bring it tight and the drag starts ripping! This one feel really good, it's the hardest fighting one so far. I can feel the tail slaps and see it on the surface pretty far out. I can't seem to gain any line on this one and start following it down the beach. After 4 really good runs we end up in a standoff with him just outside the breakers. My arm and back were starting to burn. I slowly worked it closer and closer until the waves help push him up on the sand. We realized later that the heavy current probably had a lot to do with this one fighting so long. Another male that measured 88" but sure felt bigger! His stomach was in his mouth so we got a quick measurement and pics and sent him back out.
We tried one more set, but the current and weeds were too bad so we packed it up. Ended the night with two big brother sevengills and a nice leopard! It was a great evening and I'm so glad my dad finally got hooked up a few times and landed that nice Leo. Might try to make it out again tonight...
