Ringing the Dinner Bell (11/23)

[Latimeria]

I packed my truck for a surf session as the surf was supposed to be non-existent, like maybe even a negative tide!  lol.

I texted Squatch, but unfortunately got the reply that he couldn't make it.  The truck was packed and conditions were unbelievable, so I was going to go after work.  I drove a few beached and saw minimal salad in the water or on the beach.  Actually barely saw a bump in the water from any type of wave or swell!

My plan was to hit the bar and come back down, but there were no people on the beach and even better, no surfers in the water!  I decided to save my bar money and just try a daylight session and call it early.  My work has sucked balls as of late and I needed to have a clear head the next morning anyway.

The conditions were epic!



Literally, the waves and swell reminded me when a kayak would make a wake in Mission Bay at night and slap the shores with the tiny curlers.

It was deader than dead... Then all the people came out of nowhere!  I guess having to be Thanksgiving week had something to do about it, but JEEZUS!  This is why we hit the bar and wait until dark...

So, Not a nibble, so I hiked back to my truck in the parking lot to get my  hoodie.  I wasn't worried that I couldn't see the rod, but felt safe leaving all my stuff because there was a huge family gathering next to me.

As I was walking back, everything looked status quo, then I thought I saw a bounce from 100 yards away.  Then I saw people all running up to my rod, so I bolted as fast as my old ass could run to the rod.  I had about 100 yards left on my spool from a screamer, and in the daytime!  I had him hooked up and and started to fight him when everything just went limp.  I guess there was too much line out that their was too much stretch with 300+ yards of line out and the hook never sunk in?  I have no idea, but everyone was disappointed, but none more than me.  The head came back with what looked like Soupie Teeth, and it ran like a soupie.  Ugh



New bait out and nothing for the next few hours.  It was finally dark and everyone finally left the beach.  I put on a new big bait.  It was a huge mack head with a huge chunk of the body.  I bait threaded it on and cast it out, but it went way short from where I was trying to go.  Only probably got it out 40 yards at best, so I just left it.

I was a little depressed with the lack of action and my missed opportunity when I thought I saw the lightstick give a big wobble.  I grabbed the rod just as the line tightened up and started screaming out!  This thing had a lot of weight to it.  One second I thought it was a Great White because of the unusual fight, until the next second where I was sure it was a 100"+ Sevengill because of the sheer weight and the slaps in the distance.  Once again, solo landing a shark for this old guy is not easy.  I finally get it into my headlamp and see it was not a Tax Man or a Sevengill, but a huge Soupie!  It was long and on the skinny side, but trailing a kelp stringer which would explain the weird fight and weight.

f@cking thing would keep twisting out of my hand and it was a bitch to land.  Finally got it on the sand and went into action.  I kept trying to take a normal picture, but my camera's AI kept automatically putting it into night mode, which is good for landscape pics, but sucks for shark pics.  Finally turned everything off and tried to do it the old fashioned way.



It seemed as tired as I was, so I went in for a selfie.  Damn thing took a swipe at me and realized to just be happy with whatever picture I got.  LOL



The good thing with him being tired, is I got a great and easy tape measurement!  The bad thing was I had to spend 5 minutes reviving her in the water before she finally got her wits about her and took off.  She was pretty beat up with bite marks and other wounds that I couldn't tell what they were from.

Low tide.  Mackerel.  Waning Gibbous.  0-1' surf.  77" Female



Thanks for reading and "PLINK"!

[Tim524]

 Bummer on the 1st shark, but you redeemed yourself with a nice Soupie The camera angle on your glasses is classic

[sasquatch]

A much better Tuesday than mine. I got hit by a dump truck. Figuratively speaking.

[lightline21]

I packed my truck for a surf session as the surf was supposed to be non-existent, like maybe even a negative tide!  lol.

I texted Squatch, but unfortunately got the reply that he couldn't make it.  The truck was packed and conditions were unbelievable, so I was going to go after work.  I drove a few beached and saw minimal salad in the water or on the beach.  Actually barely saw a bump in the water from any type of wave or swell!

My plan was to hit the bar and come back down, but there were no people on the beach and even better, no surfers in the water!  I decided to save my bar money and just try a daylight session and call it early.  My work has sucked balls as of late and I needed to have a clear head the next morning anyway.

The conditions were epic!



Literally, the waves and swell reminded me when a kayak would make a wake in Mission Bay at night and slap the shores with the tiny curlers.

It was deader than dead... Then all the people came out of nowhere!  I guess having to be Thanksgiving week had something to do about it, but JEEZUS!  This is why we hit the bar and wait until dark...

So, Not a nibble, so I hiked back to my truck in the parking lot to get my  hoodie.  I wasn't worried that I couldn't see the rod, but felt safe leaving all my stuff because there was a huge family gathering next to me.

As I was walking back, everything looked status quo, then I thought I saw a bounce from 100 yards away.  Then I saw people all running up to my rod, so I bolted as fast as my old as could run to the rod.  I had about 100 yards left on my spool from a screamer, and in the daytime!  I had him hooked up and and started to fight him when everything just went limp.  I guess there was too much line out that their was too much stretch with 300+ yards of line out and the hook never sunk in?  I have no idea, but everyone was disappointed, but none more than me.  The head came back with what looked like Soupie Teeth, and it ran like a soupie.  Ugh



New bait out and nothing for the next few hours.  It was finally dark and everyone finally left the beach.  I put on a new big bait.  It was a huge mack head with a huge chunk of the body.  I bait threaded it on and cast it out, but it went way short from where I was trying to go.  Only probably got it out 40 yards at best, so I just left it.

I was a little depressed with the lack of action and my missed opportunity when I thought I saw the lightstick give a big wobble.  I grabbed the rod just as the line tightened up and started screaming out!  This thing had a lot of weight to it.  One second I thought it was a Great White because of the unusual fight, until the next second where I was sure it was a 100"+ Sevengill because of the sheer weight and the slaps in the distance.  Once again, solo landing a shark for this old guy is not easy.  I finally get it into my headlamp and see it was not a Tax Man or a Sevengill, but a huge Soupie!  It was long and on the skinny side, but trailing a kelp stringer which would explain the weird fight and weight.

f@cking thing would keep twisting out of my hand and it was a bitch to land.  Finally got it on the sand and went into action.  I kept trying to take a normal picture, but my camera's AI kept automatically putting it into night mode, which is good for landscape pics, but sucks for shark pics.  Finally turned everything off and tried to do it the old fashioned way.



It seemed as tired as I was, so I went in for a selfie.  Damn thing took a swipe at me and realized to just be happy with whatever picture I got.  LOL



The good thing with him being tired, is I got a great and easy tape measurement!  The bad thing was I had to spend 5 minutes reviving her in the water before she finally got her wits about her and took off.  She was pretty beat up with bite marks and other wounds that I couldn't tell what they were from.

Low tide.  Mackerel.  Waning Gibbous.  0-1' surf.  77" Female



Thanks for reading and "PLINK"!

Congrats on a great solo catch. I did find one line in your post hilarious: "Then I saw people all running up to my rod, so I bolted as fast as my old ass could run to the rod." Hahaha

[vdisney]

Once again Tom, totally stoked for you.  Nice solo catch

[Pinoyfisher]

77" is pretty damn solid! Tail rope??

[Latimeria]

77" is pretty damn solid! Tail rope??

I wish. The entire process always catches me off guard and it's only me one hand wrestling the bitch. I need to find an easier method for solo trips.

[Pinoyfisher]

Take it from someone who's probably done more solo trips than most, there is no easy or easier way.

I ready the tail rope by sticking in the waist belt on my waders. After I've beached the grinner, I quickly bust out the rope and slide it over the tail.

[jrodda]

Real nice soup! And solo. Them twisting is always a bitch, I really go into full grunting caveman mode to get through that process the winner.

[SevengillTheVC]

Legendary! Happy thanksgiving all you fisherpeeps!

[Latimeria]

Thanks guys!  Man, I'm hoping to see more surf sharks here on the boards soon!

[itsyaboysears]

Good Stuff