Cinco de mayo siete del diablo!

[xjchad]

My wife and kids were spending the day with her folks and wouldn't be home till late so I decided to hit the beach.  Haven't been out in over a month, since before the baby was born, so I was stoked to get the chance, plus my dad was able to get out of work in time to meet me up there. 
After work I grabbed some frozen macs and a sandwich and headed to the spot.  Conditions were perfect!  No wind, no salad, 1-2 foot rollers, and a slight uphill current.  I got my first bait soaking at about 5:30 just as my dad rolled up.  This was his first time surf fishing so we had to set up the long rod that he picked up off of craigslist.  I showed him how to use the casting cannon and he took a few practice casts and got a bait in the water.  We sat back and enjoyed the view.



Changed baits every 30 minutes or so and not a nibble.  They didn't even look touched.  At least we got a show from a few pods of dolphins playing a ways out and a solitary sea lion going by.  Then this little plane came buzzing by super low to the water, that was fun to watch.



It started getting dark and bait was getting low.  I had to be back home when my wife got there so I could help haul all the sleeping kids up to their beds.  I was expecting her call any minute when I launched my last chunk of mac.  This was my best cast of the night too so I was anxiously watching my rod and the clock at the same time.  After about 10 minutes I see the line go a bit slack.  I knew something was up because it hadn't moved once the whole evening.  As I head tward my rod it takes a big bow.  As I picked it up it went slack again so I started reeling as it swam toward me. Once I felt tension again I waited for it to turn and I sent the hook.  Instantly felt the head shakes and tail slaps and all I could think was "don't loose it!"  The sheer weight was amazing, no blistering run like a big bat, but just brute strength.  Once I got it to the white water it got really pissed.  I handed the rod off to my dad and grabbed the shock leader.  As I tried to pull him up a bit with the shock leader it snapped!  I yelled as it turned it's head toward the deeper water and lunged for it's tail.  I got a hold of it just in time and started pulling it back up the sand.  The first time it came around and snapped at me I think I screamed like a girl haha!  I used to catch and keep a lot of snakes (including venomous ones) but that was a whole new experience!  I could barely move him so my dad put my rod in the holder and helped me drag it out.  I'm sure it would have been funny to watch as we jumped around trying to keep away from it's mouth.  Adreniline was pumping full speed but I remembered to grab the tape and pliers so I got a measurement and a few quick pics before pulling the hook and getting it back in the water.  Sorry for the poor pics, all we had was the cell phones.  Measured out at exactly 98"!





WHAT A RUSH!
Thank you all for the advice and help you've given me!
Can't wait for the next one!

[Latimeria]

Well Damn!  Congrats Boss!  Well deserved and what a fish to start out with!

Bravo sir!  Cinco de Sevengill!

[xjchad]

Thanks Tom!
And thank you for all the work you do on this site to help newbies like me enjoy the sport!

[vdisney]

Right frick'n on Chad, and a 98" at that!!!!  Mucho congrats my man, Verne

[xjchad]

Thanks Verne!  All your casting advice has really helped me get the distance I was needing.

[Fish Jerk]

Congrats chad. That's a beast.

[spideyjg]

If you are gonna get your first 7gill, may as well go big. Congrats on that beast.

Lesson learned to not try and haul by the line. Use it as a guide for where the head is. You got lucky the line broke shallow. The 7gills tail can beat the tar out of your line. My 106 ruined my leader.

How did your dad react?

Jim

[xjchad]

Ron,
Thanks! Caught on the spinning combo you sold me over a year ago!

Jim,
I was definitely lucky, I won't do that again!  I'm also going to switch from 80 to 100 lb shock leader.
I think my dad was a bit shocked at first, but jumped right in and grabbed it with me.  A dad will do anything for his kid!
He's hooked too now, we're planning our next trip already.

[raychavez91]

Freakin awesome, what a night with pops topped by an 8ft shark! Great detailed report aswell, keep at it dude.

[sasquatch]

Very cool. Love/hate the tail grab dance.

[BenCantrell]

Awesome, congrats!!!

[Pinoyfisher]

Hell yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LONGCAST JOE]

Awesome Chad! Surprised at the calm conditions as that' s not what the surf report was calling for. I was hoping that was you that texted me last night...All my contact names got erased so I got this text that just said  - 98"! from a # without a name , the sick part is I new exactly what it meant with no further explainations. Just wasn't sure if it was you or Ron.
JOE

[Eric H]

Again, nice going Chad!

Total bonus you got to enjoy that with your father.

Conditions like that,  they will come into just a few feet of water to grab your  bait

Skipped the leos and went straight for the 7s  They will come as bycatch anyway.

Damn I miss those things...............................................

[HalibutJoel99]

Nice shark! Congrats!