Flood Time Sharking (5/23)

[Latimeria]

Flood as in Big Evening High Tide from the New Moon...

Well, it was Tuesday and I had to consider if I was going to shark fish. Steve was taking care of very important family matters up at his parents place in Central CA and I put the call out for anyone who wanted to fish.   No takers so I started getting lazy and wasn't sure if I wanted to do a solo mission or not... but I powered through and said I'd give it two hours and see if I could get one in that short time window.

Lots of kelp and grass on the beach, but the water was very clean.  Waves varied from almost flat to 3-4' hard breakers depending on the surge.  About 45 minutes into the soak (2nd bait), I get the 7-gill rod bob, followed by a heavy pull and tail slaps!  I was on!  One big roll and direction change and POOF!  GONE!  Pulled the hook....  Time to re-bait and get it back out there. (Funny thing was I did get the bait back and except for the tore up mackerel nose, it looked sushi grade)

30 minutes later and I get a THUMPING BITE!  I jumped up to grab the rod and it was gone.  I gave it a 5-minute more minute soak before reeling in no bait.

I'm now setting the 15 minute timer as it is closing in on 10:00.  i look up to see a small tap on my line.  I walked up and got the rod in my hand when the line just loaded up and I buried that hook into him!  My drag was rather tight, and I got him close in before he realized that he he was hooked! Now the fight began and he grew quite a bit.  It was actually a tough fight and it did not want to come in.  i was guessing a juiced up male as I have noticed the swollen males seem to have a lot of spunk in them.

The bastard took me down the beach about 70 yards even though I tried to keep him in my zone.  I threw the tail rope on him more as a tether to give me a rest.  I need a bigger rope if i really want to use a tail rope correctly.

Big Mad Male


He wasn't very cooperative, but I got the data.  Trying to take pics while gathering the data was an entire different thing.  lol



Look, he's in the shape of a 7... lol



90".  Male.  Took a Mackerel Head. Waning Crescent. Flood Tide. 2-4' surf.

He started to spit up his stomach, so i worked fast for the quick release.  He was a little sluggish when returning him, but got his bearing and swam out from my hands.

Well, another one for the 2017 books!  Thanks for reading and until next tide!

[sasquatch]

Congrats. Sort of glad you lost one of them. Not really glad, but sorta. You know how it is.

[Latimeria]

Congrats. Sort of glad you lost one of them. Not really glad, but sorta. You know how it is.

I know exactly what you mean. 

(I might have to go out tonight and tomorrow and try to get closer to 50) 

[xjchad]

Congrats Tom, nice shark!  I hope I can get out again before they are gone!

[sasquatch]

Congrats. Sort of glad you lost one of them. Not really glad, but sorta. You know how it is.

I know exactly what you mean. 

(I might have to go out tonight and tomorrow and try to get closer to 50) 

I would love to join you. Not going to happen though. Mediocre luck.

[1morecast]

Congrats. Sort of glad you lost one of them. Not really glad, but sorta. You know how it is.

I know exactly what you mean. 

(I might have to go out tonight and tomorrow and try to get closer to 50) 

I'm fishing Thursday if you need a sandhand. hit me up

[Pinoyfisher]

Congrats. Sort of glad you lost one of them. Not really glad, but sorta. You know how it is.

I know exactly what you mean. 

(I might have to go out tonight and tomorrow and try to get closer to 50) 

I'm fishing Thursday if you need a sandhand. hit me up

Damn, it's like that?!!

[SevengillTheVC]

Nice going as usual Tom!

[Latimeria]

Congrats. Sort of glad you lost one of them. Not really glad, but sorta. You know how it is.

I know exactly what you mean. 

(I might have to go out tonight and tomorrow and try to get closer to 50) 

I'm fishing Thursday if you need a sandhand. hit me up

Damn, it's like that?!!

You can meet up and fish with Josh and I'll meet up with Binh in a different location for a little 2 on 2 competition.  LOL 

[Pinoyfisher]

Congrats. Sort of glad you lost one of them. Not really glad, but sorta. You know how it is.

I know exactly what you mean. 

(I might have to go out tonight and tomorrow and try to get closer to 50) 

I'm fishing Thursday if you need a sandhand. hit me up

Damn, it's like that?!!

You can meet up and fish with Josh and I'll meet up with Binh in a different location for a little 2 on 2 competition.  LOL 

You can have them both and I'll just bring a 2nd rod.

[vdisney]

Once again Tom, your patience & persistence is impressive.  Congrats my man.............V

[Fish Jerk]

Awesome job Tom.

As an FYI, shoe laces do not qualify as tail ropes. You really need to get a better one.

[Latimeria]

Awesome job Tom.

As an FYI, shoe laces do not qualify as tail ropes. You really need to get a better one.

I know. .. And I have a real tail rope, but need to reorganize the tackle pack to fit it. The shoe laces are perfect in the front pouch.

[Tim524]

Mad lasso skills