It's been harder to get time on the sand lately with all that I've had going on, but when Joe texted me on Monday that he was going out on Wednesday I decided I couldn't pass it up. The tide and forecast looked great and didn't disappoint. Surf was around 2' but breaking right on the sand and what kelp there was in the water was all close in too. The best thing was that the insane current we've been having was completely gone! My dad met me there around 5:30 and we got set up quickly.
I've been fishing two poles lately and around 6:30 my lighter rod takes a deep bow and the reel starts screaming as a bat takes off with the bait. Joe had texted me earlier that if I fished with him I'd be guaranteed a new PB bat since he's been raking them in lately and I knew right away this was it. After a few runs left, right, and out to sea, I finally got in into the wash and onto the beach where my dad dragged it up on the sand. Measured at 45.5" beating my previous PB of 42"!
Got all the rods rebaited and back out. A little after 7:00 we noticed all the sandcrab beds and dug a few up. They were huge, quarter size at least and thousands of them! My dad had take some over to show some little kids nearby when I noticed his pole was doubled over and the sand spike getting pulled down as well. I sprinted over as I yelled to him and grabbed it in time. Dad got there right away and held on as this bat took off. Joe showed up as he was fighting it and got set up down the beach. This was definitly a larger model.
The fight lasted a good 20-30 minutes before I could finally get my hands on it. Joe walked up as I got it on the beach and called it at 49"! New PB for my dad and now he's got me beat as well!
Once it got dark things slowed down. Around 8:30 I see the glow stick on my heavy rod start to wiggle. As I picked up the rod I could feel it bounce and set the hook, fish on! This fish definitely felt sharky! Huge run right away with tail slaps. Then back and forth and more runs. It sure didn't seem like a sevengill, but neither did the 104" male I caught last time. After about 10 minutes it headed toward some structure. I was trying hard to turn it. Buttoned down the drag and pulling hard up the beach when, pop...
Not sure what it was. Maybe a big 7? Didn't jump and go crazy like I thought a soupfin would. Lots of weight though for sure. Oh well, there's always next time.
No sharks on the sand for us, but at least we got to battle some big bats
