That looks very tasty, the season is almost here

The 7 Gill looks like he is smiling

Everything but the target, the Hali was a nice prize

Man, we had a pretty much wide-open spot to fish down south at the flats and decided to try for glory or nothing.  Only one boat was near us and we happened to know him so we so it was all good. We saw him catch back to back yellows and we had nothing at this point.

Then my dropper goes screaming out!  I start to crank and for some reason the circle hook pulled.  Not sure how that happened.

We continued to fish and saw our buddy boat pick up a few BSB also he released.  Now we were deciding what to do.  Then I get a bite on the big C-Rig!  It wasn't big, but what the hell!  Another Fantail Sole and it swallowed my big ass circle hook!



At least the skunk is off the board.  Then it was Scott's turn at a flatty and at least got a decent one!



Scott then had a screamer that we were sure was a big Yellow.  About 10 minutes into the fight and he started to bring it in... then the circle hook pulls!  Ugh....  Not a fantastic start even though there was a lot of action.

Not soon later, I was sure I had a small yellow... then it started to feel different.  Well, back to my roots I guess...



I then get a scream,er that takes me around the boat a few times.  I only had my star drag reel, so couldn't use the power of the two speed, but it had blistering runs.  I had 50# yellow in my head the whole time and even Scott was convinced, although it took way to long to get a yellow up.  Then we started to fear it was something else, and then that fear became a reality.  Not a yellow but a +100# BSB.  Thing was spewing jizz all over the place.... I think that's what it was at least but it doesn't seem like breeding season.



We just popped the hook and gave its head a push down with the gaff handle and off it went. 



I was already late getting in but we really wanted something else to throw in the cooler.  Then Scott gets slammed and we were sure it was a halibut.  I can't believe how many times we were wrong today.  Next time and I'll be better at guessing since the fights will be fresh in my head...

Scott hasn't caught a leopard shark in years and now he reset the clock.



Well, we left IB and ran to the barn.  The ramp was packed as expected, but we got out and back rather quickly considering the traffic. 

Well, that was it and until next tide!

"I brought a sledge hammer handle to use as a billy club"

I've heard of wood shampoo and aluminum shampoo as billy clubs, but a sledge hammer is another level!

Nice season boss!

9/13 Took a last trip to Elsinore before the water cools down and things start getting busy at home.
Got to the lake about 45 minutes before sunrise. Grey light started around 6:00 AM.
Didn't see slot of activity on the surface to start with, but did see a couple torpedo away as I walked along the shoreline. Seemed promising.
Right around 6:00, I started seeing the carp along the shore with there backs out of the water. It was game on. Started taking shots at fish and my average 1 in 15, or so, wasn't improving. Luckily it's more the thrill of the hunt that keeps me going.
The carp were showing up about every 50 yards this time between 6:00 and 7:30.
I managed my first one about 6:15. Took a good shot and the line started peeling off to the side so I knew I was on. Good size one right thru the underbelly.
A little further down, I setup on another group. I saw some people watching so I wanted to make sure to hit it so they could see I wasn't just shooting at shadows. I took careful aim, remembered not to shoot low to avoid the stumps, and let it go. The arrow hit the water, there was an explosive splash, and the line started peeling straght out. Started pulling it back and saw I had a good size one but the arrow had gone all the way thru just under the dorsal fin. There wasn't a lot of meat there and the string could easily cut thru. I played it slowly and worked it around the stumps to keep the arrow, which was dangling behind it, from getting caught. Finally got it on shore and used my new tool on it. I brought a sledge hammer handle to use as a billy club to keep the carp from trying to flop back into the water. One good rap on the back if the head quickly immobilized it.
I found new ways to loose arrow this trip also. For whatever reason I broke two sliders, a plastic piece which the string attaches to and slides on the arrow shaft. I managed to recover the arrow on the first one but when I lost the second arrow I had to walk back to my truck to get another one. I decided to leave the two fish at my truck instead of lugging them to the lake again. It was then I noticed my billy club wasn't in the bucket. I figured I had left it where I got the last fish. But it would be like finding a needle in a haystack amongst all the debris on the shoreline. I figured I'd try to backtrack the last half mile I walked.
I mostly kept my eye out for fish as I looked for the club. I figured it would be almost impossible to see. I stopped a couple places to shoot at fish along the way. Then I stopped and put down my bucket to target another fish which ended up being a stick. Went to grab my bucket and the club was right there next to it. What are the odds! I need to buy a lottery ticket. So that made my day.
Then I had a couple more firsts while bowfishing. One was skipping an arrow off the back of a fish like skipping a rock on the water. The other was hitting a fish and having it immediately float to the surface. Hit it straight thru the skull, backbone and likely the heart. Luckily I was using a $20 arrow which someone lost and I had found. The tip was very sharp and had a long taper to penitrate better. It was stuck in about 6 inches and didn't even poke thru.

Was a good day to end the season with. The biggest fish was 25 inches and 5 lbs. Followed by 3 and 2 pounders.


- Keith

Nice to break the skunk. Look forward to more cats from you as it cools off.

Nice redemption!

That's a super cool day! The T is gorgeous.

I'm a little surprised we don't see more 7s caught from boats, as I'm sure they are in the kelp all the time. Cool that you got one into your boat. Although I'm sure that was as much of a trick as the thresher, since 7s are so flexible and bitey...

Enjoy that thresher meat!

I got to the lakes first thing and realized that they had the "No Fishing" signs everywhere..  WTF....  Then I realized it was because of the big catfish stocking they were doing for this weekend.  The last Cat Stocking of the year I think.

Lets just say I had to get creative...

Creativity led to a morning bass.  only a little guy around 14", but better than nothing!



I saw about 6 bass blow ups, but couldn't get them to take my offering.  I also ran into another 5-6 other bass guys that were creative like me, so spots were limited.

Well, I might have to try for cats next.  The bass thing was a cool change, but they aren't exactly strong fighters.  I want to see my drag screaming.  lol