eelgrass
Long Time Member
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- 31,505
I broke my own rule this morning and fished near the mouth of the bay on an outgoing tide. If something happens the last thing you want is to be taken out to the ocean. Plus, the entrance is always rougher on the outgoing tide. The water is moving one way and the swells just the opposite, causing the potential for breakers, or waves that crest. But the tide was low at 7:26am so I figured I'd tough it out for the first hour or so.
I wanted to take some photos to make a story, but I got so busy I only took a few. I'm ready to launch in this photo. Note that my net has not been extended.
I started fishing right there and within about 10 minutes I hooked a big halibut. I worked him to the surface and remembered I needed to open my net. I put the rod between my legs and by the time I was ready to net it he had come unhooked.
A stupid rookie mistake.
By the time I had drifted down to Coast Guard Station Humboldt Bay the fog had come in. There is good fishing for rock fish and Lingcod up against those rocks and I fished it once but got ran out because they want to keep their boat launch unobstructed in case they have an emergency. I understand.
Right after I took those photos I hooked something. It laid on the bottom for a few seconds and I couldn't budge it. I thought giant halibut but then it took off down the bay. Before I could even gather my thoughts it had peeled a hundred feet of line. I cranked the drag down but that didn't even slow it down. I cranked it down farther to the point of breaking the 25 pound leader and it quit taking line but it was still heading out with me being towed. By now I know it's not a halibut and I just want to see what it was so I thumbed it and started gaining a little. I did that for about 10 minutes then it decided it didn't want to play anymore and took off again. I had a hard time just trying to hang on to the rod. We were getting too close to the entrance slot so I turned the kayak around and pedaled as hard as I could and the line broke at the swivel. Thank you, Jesus
I licked my wounds and headed back up the bay. Talk about an adrenaline rush. The tide turned and I hooked what I thought was a good halibut but it turned out to be a 4' Leopard shark. I was able to play it out and release it. At that point I was just glad to be alive so I headed back at the truck.
I wanted to take some photos to make a story, but I got so busy I only took a few. I'm ready to launch in this photo. Note that my net has not been extended.
I started fishing right there and within about 10 minutes I hooked a big halibut. I worked him to the surface and remembered I needed to open my net. I put the rod between my legs and by the time I was ready to net it he had come unhooked.
A stupid rookie mistake.By the time I had drifted down to Coast Guard Station Humboldt Bay the fog had come in. There is good fishing for rock fish and Lingcod up against those rocks and I fished it once but got ran out because they want to keep their boat launch unobstructed in case they have an emergency. I understand.
Right after I took those photos I hooked something. It laid on the bottom for a few seconds and I couldn't budge it. I thought giant halibut but then it took off down the bay. Before I could even gather my thoughts it had peeled a hundred feet of line. I cranked the drag down but that didn't even slow it down. I cranked it down farther to the point of breaking the 25 pound leader and it quit taking line but it was still heading out with me being towed. By now I know it's not a halibut and I just want to see what it was so I thumbed it and started gaining a little. I did that for about 10 minutes then it decided it didn't want to play anymore and took off again. I had a hard time just trying to hang on to the rod. We were getting too close to the entrance slot so I turned the kayak around and pedaled as hard as I could and the line broke at the swivel. Thank you, Jesus
I licked my wounds and headed back up the bay. Talk about an adrenaline rush. The tide turned and I hooked what I thought was a good halibut but it turned out to be a 4' Leopard shark. I was able to play it out and release it. At that point I was just glad to be alive so I headed back at the truck.
