Got One! (9/6)

[Latimeria]

Conditions were right with the big moon and incoming tide.  Squatch couldn't make it due to some wrist issues, but I saw a text from Rasta that him and Tinker Bell were down at the surf in super weedy conditions.  They made a move and I met up with them hoping to pad my shark lead over Squatch (with any sized Soupie or Seven).

It was nice catching up and I was on edge since the bait thieves were out in full force.  Lots of pinched bait corners or half moons cut out of them.  Finally I get a hit and run to the rod.  I swear I must have reeled in half of the line just in slack and thought I lost it, but in true fashion, it swallowed the hook and just swam around the shallows with it.

Josh said it was the biggest Butterfly Ray that he's ever seen!  It must have been 8' across!



(OK, well it was just a decent one and Josh was quick to point out that he's caught them bigger so I had to razz him here a bit)

That was it.  Josh got some bait thieve bites and we called it the night since 10:30 came up really fast.  It was fun seeing Tinker Bell again and Josh was on his good behavior so a win-win type of evening. 

It looks like we called the wrong beach, but it was super fishable with minimal weeds in the water so we actually had soaking time in.  Occasional lumps of kelp, but easily got 30 minutes in before it would find your line.

Things look good all week and at least we don't have a hurricane barreling in on us, so it should be a good, or at least improving, week of fishing.

[j.rasta]

Good seein ya out there toe-mas, I'm Savin my big shark luck for my vacation B)

[sasquatch]

Glad you didn't pad the cushion.  Still wish I could have made it.

[vdisney]

Josh said it was the biggest Butterfly Ray that he's ever seen!  It must have been 8' across!

8'  I'd paid money to see that one, a beast 

[Latimeria]

Josh said it was the biggest Butterfly Ray that he's ever seen!  It must have been 8' across!

8'  I'd paid money to see that one, a beast

It wasn't, but I was just giving you a "Josh Response".  It was closer to 4'.  LOL

[BenCantrell]

Sweet butterfly!  IGFA all-tackle record is 21 lbs 8 oz.  Think some of these ones are topping that?

http://wrec.igfa.org/WRecordsList.aspx?lc=AllTackle&cn=Ray,%20California%20butterfly

[Latimeria]

Sweet butterfly!  IGFA all-tackle record is 21 lbs 8 oz.  Think some of these ones are topping that?

http://wrec.igfa.org/WRecordsList.aspx?lc=AllTackle&cn=Ray,%20California%20butterfly

I'm pretty sure that I've beat that one before.... Great, now I might have to start weighing Butterflies.

[spideyjg]

Probably like the 7Gill record that seems too low.

I could see weighing a butterfly but not a 200+ 7 gill

Jim

[BenCantrell]

You guys have probably beat the world records of every large surf species down here multiple times.

IGFA membership for a year is $50, submitting a record application is $30, and you will probably have to kill the fish unless you get a scale certified ahead of time. 

I did it for the lionfish I caught in FL, but I don't plan to ever do it again.

[Pinoyfisher]

Josh was on his best behavior?! Lol!!!! I'll avoid that beach, got my fill of butterflies. 

[Fish Jerk]

You guys have probably beat the world records of every large surf species down here multiple times.

IGFA membership for a year is $50, submitting a record application is $30, and you will probably have to kill the fish unless you get a scale certified ahead of time. 

I did it for the lionfish I caught in FL, but I don't plan to ever do it again.

LOL.

I, at one time, entertained the idea of trying for the Seven gill world record. A couple thoughts occured to me.
First, since there is no catch and release record currently for Seven gills, I would need to kill the shark (which I would hate to do for a record size one).
Second, the logistics required to try and get a 300 lb fish off the beach and to someplace with a large enough certified scale to weigh it would be extreme.

Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that its really not worth it, just to have your name in the record book.

[LONGCAST JOE]

First, since there is no catch and release record currently for Seven gills, I would need to kill the shark (which I would hate to do for a record size one).
Second, the logistics required to try and get a 300 lb fish off the beach and to someplace with a large enough certified scale to weigh it would be extreme.

Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that its really not worth it, just to have your name in the record book.
[/quote]
I concur....it also seems to me that your name in that book doesn't carry the prestige that it did in the 20th century, but maybe that's just my perception of it...

[xjchad]

Cool ray Tom!
Glad you had some nice conditions!

[Pinoyfisher]

We all know the Specialty Shark list is far more important anyways!!