Thanks to Jaws with some fresh intel, I had somewhere to go. Thanks buddy! Get better soon!
Rewind. The night before I packed up all my gear and headed for the surf for some grinners. Shark cart and all. Got to the spot, walked the walk to get there. Only to be met with disappointment. Unfishable. Had to walk away. Didn't even put a line in the water. Went home and drank beer instead.
Fast forward to the next sunset. I got to cash in on my fish karma.
What a perfect evening. Traffic was easy, parking was easy, and setting up was easy. When does the hard work start?
From my chair I could see to the left a family outing with a couple rods, to the right I spot someone scouting a location to put a sand spike.
After a quick convo I found that I would be in the great company of another forum member the rest of the night!
Lamnidae it was great meeting you brother! Hope to fish with ya again!
(http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p791/xpoc33/IMG_5119_zpsiw6oqurq.png)
The tide swing was very minimal, what little wind there was died out at sunset, no weeds to deal with.
Opening my bait cooler, I found that Squidward had not defrosted yet. He was still in a cryogenic state. Instead I took ½ a mack and impaled its eyes through my 10/0 Circle that was connected to 100lb mono with a 3oz cannonball setup. Followed by a swivel, then 80lb braid that was spooled on a Saltist 40.
I adjusted the drag on the reel, then tossed the whole setup into the pond with my 6' 40lb Seeker.
Set the clicker, set my 30 minute bait timer, sat back and watched the sunset.
No action on the rod.
After the timer was done I checked the bait. No love. Decided to toss is back in while I ate dinner.
Afterwards I was able to coerce Squidward out of his deep freeze and pinned him and his brother on the 10/0. Tossed in, set the timer again.
10 minutes in there was a tug that I caught out of the corner of my eye. After turning my head, I got to watch my rod and spike bend over then my reel started to scream. I jumped up got the reel in gear and set that hook.
It has been a while since I've hooked into something of this size. I was nearly pulled into the bay. After regaining my balance I couldn't help but notice all the line she took out.
After buttoning down my drag I slowly worked her within 10 yards of shore. She must of realized at this point she was loosing. At her last attempt of escape, she went AIRBORN! 8)
After seeing the massive size of this bat I called out for Lamnidae. I drew her back to shore after she took me for another walk up and down the sand(should have brought a step counter :D). Lamnidae made the nose grab. Then dragged her prego butt ashore. Thanks for being Johnny on the spot, dude. I appreciated the help!
At this point every person within ½ a mile has encircled me and my catch. I get the rod back in the spike and grab my camera and had it off to a guy in the crowd. Getting the tape over her back it comes back with a 57"! New PB woohooo!!!!!
(http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p791/xpoc33/DSCN0608_zpscrvehvy4.jpg)
(http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p791/xpoc33/DSCN0609_zpsmdijwgv0.jpg)
(http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p791/xpoc33/DSCN0610_zps32ddkvl1.jpg)
(http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p791/xpoc33/DSCN0611_zpsfoxtpw4d.jpg)
Got the hook out, and gave her a proper send off. She left happy, but beaten.
Threw out 3 more double squids for nada, meanwhile Lamnidae gets two more bats on the sand. A 34", and a 47".
(http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p791/xpoc33/IMG_5108_zpsfytyahmx.jpg)
(http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p791/xpoc33/IMG_5111_zpszi0w3zml.jpg)
(http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p791/xpoc33/IMG_5114_zpsjkiabqjy.jpg)
I don't have a pic of the man posing with his 47" or the tape shot. That's on your phone dude! Post it up!
What a great night.
Excited for the bat fights!
Tight lines! 8)
An incredible ray for sure! Well done guys!
Your smiles say it all!
57????? Damn, congrats on a monster
Wow what a monster!! Congrats!! 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Congrats buddy! You are making being sick exponentially worse!!! The itch to get out there is mind bending!
Beast!!! Save some for the bat fight!!!
Lots of pregnant bat are going to really skew the weight to wingspan ratio.
Awesome catch dude.
Jim
Hell of a nice fish.
Wow, what a beast! Congrats on the PB!!
Xpoc,awesome to meet you and to assist with such a beautiful animal. Such an awesome time. These girls had their game faces on and fought hard.
: lamnidae February 14, 2016, 04:45:06 p
Xpoc,awesome to meet you and to assist with such a beautiful animal. Such an awesome time. These girls had their game faces on and fought hard.
x2 8)
Them girls were in their prime!
SD4TH3W1N
Excellent ray! Huge!
57 is my pb as well, Nice Job 8)
Hell yeah! That's awesome Dakota! Congrats knt the pb bro!
Monster Bat !!! 8)
Thanks all.
Say what is the local record? Is it Jaws with that 57.5 or?
State record weight is 181 lbs and a 4th 9in wingspan.
The Bat wingspan chart shows yours in that ballpark.
I would love to claim that it weighed that much 8) ...It didn't though
I'm talking wingspan, on this sight, who holds the record?
Epic Bat 8)
Chris has the record w/ a 60" plus wingspan.
The report and pics are somewhere on scsf..
: Eric H February 20, 2016, 08:36:52 p
Chris has the record w/ a 60" plus wingspan.
The report and pics are somewhere on scsf..
Found it!
62"! you only missed him by 5" :o
http://www.scsurffishing.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=82449&highlight=gotham
I thought you had to get rid of your long rods due to back issues?! Lol! I think you just caught a pretty damn good reason for some back issues ;) In fact, my back hurts now just reading your post and thinking about tugging on that beast!!
: Pinoyfisher February 20, 2016, 11:31:52 p
I thought you had to get rid of your long rods due to back issues?! Lol! I think you just caught a pretty damn good reason for some back issues ;) In fact, my back hurts now just reading your post and thinking about tugging on that beast!!
I am.
Da rainshadow is still for sale.
Getting rid of all rods over 7ft.
That bat did a number on me.
Yoga for recovery! 8)
My last PB was 56" I was packing a lot more weight back then.
(http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p791/xpoc33/DSCN0255_zps4e1a7405.jpg) (http://s1351.photobucket.com/user/xpoc33/media/DSCN0255_zps4e1a7405.jpg.html)
Thanks for finding that record 62" bat Josh. Out of the surf no less!
The little Bay has a 60 " plus just waiting for someone, just waiting.
Well yours went airborne too. It wanted to be a Manta Ray.