I love fishing with my kids!
When I got home from work yesterday my middle son came running up asking if I'd take him fishing. He even said he'd finished all of his mac-n-cheese already so we would have time to go! How do you say no to that? :D
We grabbed some bait and gear and headed to the harbor. Hudson has a pretty short attention span (what 4 year old doesn't?) so I didn't think we'd be there long. We got to the water and put some fresh mussel out on his pole and waited for a bite.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/xjchad/IMG_9962_zpsl1jlv7un.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/xjchad/media/IMG_9962_zpsl1jlv7un.jpg.html)
A few minutes and about a thousand questions later he said, "Dad, something's pulling on it! I hope it's a hammer head shark!" Well it turned out to be a little white croaker, but he was just as excited!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/xjchad/IMG_2811_zpscnaokvof.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/xjchad/media/IMG_2811_zpscnaokvof.jpg.html)
When we threw it back a seagull instantly slammed it and gulped it down, he loved that even more LOL!
When I got his next bait out I decided to soak a mac chunk on my heavy gear while I was helping him. The next hour or so he caught a few more croaker and fed the seagulls while I threw out a few fresh chunks of mac for no love.
It was pretty windy evening and once the sun went down he was ready to head home. I started packing up when the clicker on my Squall 40 went crazy. I grabbed the rod, flipped it into gear, and set the hook. The drag was screaming and what I'm sure was a huge bat took off across the harbor. I kept adding drag until it was buttoned down and it was still going like it didn't know it was hooked. Finally got it stopped after over 100 yards were gone and my thumb was burning. I started working on gaining some line back but it must have found something sharp to wrap around because right then I felt a pop and it went slack. I was so bummed, but at the same time so stoked and full of adrenaline to finally hook up to a monster! This just keeps getting more addicting!
Hudson thought it was cool I was fighting a monster!
Any way, we had a great evening together and I'm looking forward to the next one :)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/xjchad/IMG_39641_zpsb8tjefyh.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/xjchad/media/IMG_39641_zpsb8tjefyh.jpg.html)
Awesome pictures and time with your kid!
8) 8) 8)
I already told my daughter that I was going to get her out more this winter for some Bay Slayage! The stupid ass wahoo have me chasing them every chance I could right now though. :-[
Priceless. Way cool chad 8)
That's great.
Did you tell him it could have been that hammerhead?
Cool times and I'll bet he got real excited as that drag screamed.
Nasty thing about harbors is all the anchorage point and other "wrap up" points to break you off.
Jim
Fishing with your boy... what could be better?!!!
Very cool indeed................ 8)
That is too awesome. Great way to spend an afternoon/evening.
Chad, you read my "harbor monster story". I cant tell you how many times ive been schooled by a Bat from that same spot! The trick was for me, finally, using the 3m coban so I could heavily thumb the spool! Good luck next time! Hopefully we can get out next week sometime..
Right on! Great report. Fishing with kids is the best.