Saved by the Bay (11/8)

[Latimeria]

Well since the surf is way up, Squatch bailed on fishing and there was no way in hell I was going to sit at home hearing about the polls all day.  Just before I left work, I got a call that the Grinner Gathering shirts are done and to pick them up!  Sweet!
With the big box in the back of my truck, I didn't have to want to go too far away from the swag, so I decided to hit FI so I could hang close to the truck and still get my fishing in. 

Conditions were pretty windy at first, but the wind died with the sun setting.  I decided to try something again (It's been a while since I've used them)... use circle hooks.  I've had horrible luck on circle hooks in the past but don't want to totally count them out so gave them another shot.

About an hour into soaking some mack, I heard the quiet sing of a drag.  I looked up to see the magic spinner doubled over and ran to the rod.  Just as I got there, the rod and holder got pulled down into the water!   YIKES!

It was a great fight as I got him on the 25# test and it was a decent leopard.



Just over 4 feet and had beautiful colors in the glare of the sun!



It finally got dark and as I was casting some new baits out, I heard someone by my stuff.  I looked back to see a guy making a fire in the pit I was at...  I just watched a minute and he walked off leaving me a beautiful fire.  He stopped back just to say hi and that he was happy to make a fire for me.  Weird, but super nice and very welcome!

Just then, I heard a reel screaming and ran down.  I wasn't sure what rod that was going off and realized that it was BOTH RODS!  YIKES!

I fought both fish holding both rods as the rod holders were not very strong and I slowly reeled in one and then the other.  Then my spinner goes on a HUGE screaming run out and I think got me in a buoy because it snapped immediately.  I started working on the other rod and after a few minutes fighting it, the ray flopped and popped off the line.  UGH.... Chinese fire drill for 10 minutes for nada... Oh well, it was still a blast trying to get both in.

I retied and cast a few more baits out and started to warm up by the fire.

It was 30 minutes later and Boom!  Magic Spinner was on again!  It was a short fight, but the second target species hit the sand.



The fires were burning strong on the beach...



I was getting ready to pack it in when my heavy rod clicker started screaming!  I ran down to the rod and the second I went to grab it, the bat let go.  It had to be a bat as the line was screaming out at 50 mph, but hey.  I don't count me losing that one since I never got to grab the rod let alone set the hook, so I batted .500 tonight... not the <.500 that squatch was calling.

Oh well, I packed it in and got home to the hear the news.

Tonight I'll be packing and sorting the shirts.  They came out awesome and even put the patch on the front pocket since it was only a one pass color and they went the extra yard for us.

Well, until next tide!

Thanks for reading.

[sasquatch]

So you miss a hook set but it doesn't count? Hmmmm. Guess there is more than one guy out there with fuzzy math skills.

[Latimeria]

So you miss a hook set but it doesn't count? Hmmmm. Guess there is more than one guy out there with fuzzy math skills.

I never got the rod in my had, so I missed nothing since it wasn't there at the moment I grabbed the rod.  That doesn't require fuzzy math.

[sasquatch]

If you say so.

[1morecast]

Glad to hear the bay is showing some signs of life again. Mike and I can't give up on the surf yet, we're still hoping for some more"exotic" sharks soon. Besides, we're scoping out spots for the pre-grinner gathering location. 

[xjchad]

Glad you had some fun!  Great pics of the Leos!

[Eric H]

Purdy leos Tom.

Nice bay sesh in anyone's book

[KogaHead]

Tom you Bastid!

[Pinoyfisher]

Finally, a legit bay sesh! Binh and I almost hit the surf, but my back had other plans 

[vdisney]

Rod in the water?  Double hook up?  Sounds like quite the night, nice leo..............V

[Latimeria]

Tom you Bastid!

You are a forum sniper, Chris!  Nothing from you, then BAM.... BOOM.... See Ya! lol

[Latimeria]

Thanks guys.  It was a super relaxing solo session.  Much needed one also.

[faster u fool]

killer