Putting in Work (11-06-17)

[Pinoyfisher]

I had this drawn out report semi finished, but just got tired of trying to complete it on my phone, so, I'm gonna do a quick one on my computer and get to work.

Late start to begin with coupled with a longer than usual drive to get to the spot I felt was best for the conditions and tide. On the sand by 9:30pm. Bait in the water in 2 minutes. First hour was nothing, but lobster bites. They were picking my baits clean. Pretty annoying. I get a visit by someone's cat and he hangs out with me the whole night. I hooked him up with a mack tail and he lets me pet him. Almost got him to sit on my lap... Lol!!





The tide is peaking and I'm exchanging text messages with Andre as he is also fishing up in his hood. He was supposed to come down here. He lets me know he's gonna pack it in and head home. I tell him I'm gonna wait for the outgoing. A few minutes after that text, I get a funny looking hit. Rod tip shakes like a lobster bite, but it does a hard dip then nada. I hop up to check it out. Line is slack and we all know what that means! I quickly take up the slack and the line comes tight. I swing for the fences and jam the hook deep. Instant blistering run follows with lots of head shakes and tail slaps. A very bulldogged fight like of past 7gill battles I had, but this one is much more powerful. It takes me about 30yds south of my sand spike and just stays out in waist deep water for about 5mins before I could finally turn her. Once I get good look at it, I realize I'm not sure how I'm going to land it. It's the biggest shark I've ever seen in person. It takes me about 10 tries before I can finally haul it up to where the waves only wash over it's head. I book it to my backpack and grab the tail rope. Mind you, I'm doing this with a sprained ankle I incurred running over to help Binh land his soupfin from a few days ago. I stepped in a hole someone dug. I hate that sh!t!

Tail rope applied. I wrap it around my body and drag it to higher ground. This mofo is f'ing heavy!! I'm guesstimating it's almost if not over 200lbs. I pull out the hook and go to measure before pics. Sh!t, can't find my tape measure. It must've fallen out of my pocket during the fight. I lay her straight and make marks in the sand and then cut the tail rope to length. I measured the cut section at home and it tapes out at 96.5" PB!!! Hell yeah!!!







This one put me to work. Could have really used a sand hand, but that tail rope was a life saver. I do have some abrasions on my hand and wrist from the tail whipping. Damn, it's an obsession! That slow climb...

[xjchad]

Right on Mike! Congratulations!!
That big girl is beautiful, love the pink hue she has too!
I don't doubt she's over 200!
Congrats again, you earned it!!

[Latimeria]

Congrats Mike!  Well damn... now I have to add a few sharks to the list.

BTW, I heard from Len yesterday that the rod was completed and it's a beast!  I'm going to fish 5 days a week until I can beat that girl you caught!  LOL
(Also, how ironic that I think I know that cat)  LOL

Squatch can smell you coming!

[1morecast]

Dang...Mike! That is a beast of a shark to land solo. Most guys would have lost that fish in the shallow white wash. Probably not 200lbs, but that is no dink either. Sorry I couldn't have been there to lend a hand hauling that bad girl up the sand. You deserve every bit of that 1st place prize for the way you solo landed that fish. I bet you'll have more company on the sand now. 

[Pinoyfisher]

I bet you'll have more company on the sand now. 

Kind of agree with this. Not company with me per se, but more peeps fishing the surf.

[spideyjg]

Maybe I need to bring one of my cats.

Congrats Mike. Didn't help the old bones and bad ankle did it.

Looks like the winter 7 gill love in is starting early.

Jim

[WheresMyBeer]

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Nice HUGE shark Mike. That's just awesome!

[Pinoyfisher]

Maybe I need to bring one of my cats.

Congrats Mike. Didn't help the old bones and bad ankle did it.

Looks like the winter 7 gill love in is starting early.

Jim

At one point, the cat went up and started sniffing the shark. They were nose to nose. Almost took a picture of it, but was scared the shark would snap at the cat and kill it. Ended up shooing the cat away.

[Pinoyfisher]

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Nice HUGE shark Mike. That's just awesome!

Lol!! I'm just glad you're too busy to fish, gives me a chance to pad the lead

[xjchad]

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I'm thinking he tied the tail rope to his bumper and pulled on it for a bit before he measured it... 

[xjchad]

Mike,
Good job on the pics too.  You take better pics of yourself than Binh does! 
Or did the cat take them? (Probably still would have been better)

[sasquatch]

You put the time in. You are being rewarded. Nice fish.

I would have videoed until the cat got bit.

[vdisney]

You put the time in. You are being rewarded. Nice fish.

My thoughts exactly, congrats Mike

[xjchad]

I would have videoed until the cat got bit.

Me too, not a cat person.
Fresh bait, hmmmm......

[Pinoyfisher]

Mike,
Good job on the pics too.  You take better pics of yourself than Binh does! 
Or did the cat take them? (Probably still would have been better)

Agreed!