SNBF (31MAR2018)

[Pinoyfisher]

Binh, Andre, and myself hit the surf. We all fished 2 rods, one for bats, it was bat fight after all, and the other for the toothy kind. But, we were mostly targeting grinners.

Had to fish in tight the reef to get away from the beach goers. That would make landing a big bat tricky as hell!! Double pinned squid hits the water around 2pm and Boz makes an appearance. A few minutes later and I'm on. Not huge, but could tell I was about to be on the board for the bat fight. Luckily, I had the ever present Boz there to take some pics and offer some moral support. A quick measurement, 38", and release. I drew quite a crowd too.



2nd bait out, this time it was mackerel. Andre is setting up next to me. Bait soaks for a hot minute and I'm on again. Much bigger than the first and heading straight for the reef.



Phuck! And just like that, I'm in the rocks  Did everything I could to free it up and nothing was working. Time to go rock hopping. In the next pic, you can see where I'm standing and the partially submerged and surf grass covered rock a feet to the right. That's the rock where my line is hung up on.



There was a lot of plotting and planning on how I'd get to that rock with Andre. It was pretty sketchy!! Decided to just go for it and I stepped off of the rock... bad idea! I'm now in chest deep water with waves rushing in and water in only inches from filling my waders. I took a few tries, but I'm able to climb back up the original rock and plan a new strategy. Andre suggests taking the long way around and I slowly inch my way in murky water and random rocks to my destination. I brace myself for the larger waves that completely cover the rock occasionally and free the line. Only to find it's also tangled on another rock to the left of it. I get that freed from the rock and all the surf grass that was covering my line as well Fight resumes!!



After what was literally a 15 minute fight, I'm finally able to slide it up on the beach and get some pics and a measurement of 49.5".







I finished the night with 2 more bats, one a hair over 30" and the other 41". I caught more bats that night than all of last year. The timing couldn't be more perfect, even though I wanted a grinner. I guess winning a bat fight isn't a bad consolation.

[lightline21]

It was worth it, to see you scramble out of almost neck deep water to land that baby. Congrats!

[xjchad]

Nice Mike! 
Congrats on the win, you earned it!

[WheresMyBeer]

way to accomplish the goal of getting a winning bat!! Nice Mike

[vdisney]

It was worth it, to see you scramble out of almost neck deep water to land that baby. Congrats!

That would have been the time to have a Go Pro, no doubt a "money shot"   

[Latimeria]

Wow!  I didn't realize what you went through to get that bat!  Way to take one for the Team!!!!

[cphwt]

Terrific effort - congrats on the winning Bat. 

[Pinoyfisher]

Wow!  I didn't realize what you went through to get that bat!  Way to take one for the Team!!!!

By far the hardest I've ever worked for a fish. Tougher than my PB 7gill and a 35# yellow I got on a surface iron that got tangled up in kelp then in the anchor line.

[Pinoyfisher]

Andre is having pic posting issues, so, I'll do him the honors.


60" 7gill on mackerel

[xjchad]

Nice one Andre!

[1morecast]

I wish someone had a pic of Mike in chest deep water. I would make that my avatar for sure. 

[BackBayMan]

Awesome Job Mike

[Sharkinthedark II]

Congrats Mike! Way to bring it back home! 

[sasquatch]

Good one Andre.

[Latimeria]

Excellent Andre!  I promise to get the shark list updated tomorrow!