Launched 0630. Misting on me when I got out of the car. Not 10 minutes to set up this first time, nice change from the kaboat. Also brought a new (refurbished) combo, Calcutta 100b and a GCX inshore (absolute noodle).
(https://i.imgur.com/dQSq09dh.jpeg)
Walked the boat about 100 yards to the beach, put on my neoprene socks and fins, shoved off. Easy!
10 minutes in and I get my first bite, missed. 0fer1. I see Jake and Omar+brother launching.
Jake gets first skunk off. I split to the opposite side of the channel of them. Went 0/4 on bites pretty quick with a 5" fluke before shifting way down in size to a 2" fluke/minnow dropshot. A couple more missed bites and I was properly aggravated as everyone but me had broken the skunk.
Finally I popped a dink spotty, lifted it out of the water next to me and it shook off. I count it! One cast later and all three of the other guys are hooked up and asking why I'm not hooked up. I love fishing with friends! I got one to the boat a couple minutes later, similar dink size.
(https://i.imgur.com/fFGw79ih.jpeg)
Everyone starts piling and I fall behind on the numbers quick. Then a pancake decides to entertain me.
(https://i.imgur.com/S01x6TTh.jpeg)
At this point it's something like my 3 to Jake's 8 to Omar's 6, then the bite dies down. I decide to wander off a different direction than them, either find my own fish or at least separate myself from the competitive voice in my head for a bit.
Popped one on my own, then decided I had hit the apex of the route and I needed to fight the wind back. Made my way over to docks out of the wind and started getting short bites.
Took a while, but once I started getting close to my landing spot, I got slammed while reeling up my fluke to cast again and it took me for some drag pulls and good dogging. Turned out to be a 16" turd roller. Not a bad sandie and certainly an excellent harbor fish.
(https://i.imgur.com/DObDPuyh.jpeg)
Only a few docks from my landing spot and I get slammed again, calling it a last cast fish. I was totally dry all day until this cranky spotty pushed a ton of water with its tail into my crotch.
(https://i.imgur.com/qd9mLJ9h.jpeg)
Landed around 1130.
Jake ended up with 18, Omar with 12, Omar's brother with 10, me with 6. I would have called 6 a successful day on my own but their numbers have me quite salty. But, I'll bring some 3" and 4" flukes next time, finally get my side compartments in the mail for the tube, dial in my tackle trays, and I'll be primed to make someone else salty next time.
The tube was dry, turned well (made a good choice on my fins), didn't get blown around (although the wind wasn't as bad as expected), slow but probably a hair faster than conventional tubes. I realize the main action of my leg muscles is basically a forward kick, so when I go to the gym I should do slow, high intensity bike exercises with my feet strapped in, and pull up on the pedals more than push down to increase endurance. 1.5 miles today has me sore.
At least did you catch the biggest? Damn, last place.... Lol
Super cool stuff Jeremy. I would think your rig was at least 2x as fast as a regular tube.
Thanks for posting Jeremy. I wonder if that AZ old coot still lurks on the forum anymore...
Forgot to add, there was a juvenile grebe swimming around me at one point, then it chased a tiny smelt along the surface right at me, between my legs and under my seat. It was a hella of a squeeze for it to go through my legs but it somehow did it without touching me and slipped right through to the other side.
I had a paranoia for the longest time about sea lions and float tubes, never would I have dreamt that my crotch would become an ambush point for the diving birds.