Vito was just launching as I pulled on to the beach, his plan was like mine, head north. Brad's guide service pulled up next. Headed to the pier, through easy "dry" one footers. My toe meter was reading low to maybe mid sixties at best. greenbacks were on the big side (for halibut) under the pier light, but out front when it got a little lighter, I got a nice mix of smaller ones, but no magic sardine. Clear sky and next to no wind, beautiful start to the day. Started power drifting, slower than bounce balling, looking for some life on the meter. The screen getting fainter and fainter, guess I won't get another outing out of that battery after all. Very little life and no meter to find any, I bailed on the halibut for today. Brad called with a report of a big ol sumtin sumtin on the line, his story.
I headed around the NW reserve buoy and heading toward the hotel, saw a puddler's fin and tail. Grabbed the iron and chucked it right where I like it, beyond and to the right. As I wound it by the puddler, the water blew up about the size of a garage door as a dozen YT charged the wiggling metal thingee. EAT IT!
EAT IT! There are not many things better than winding in, feeling the line get heavy and having it start going in the opposite direction.
BENDO! I yelled to Brad and co. I was able to to take my time, as I was well off the kelp, as Brad later said I was in 135 feet of water. Stuck the fish and Brad graciously offer to be my B...photographer. 8:15 S.O.B. Hook up numero dos was on the kelp edge, as line was going out I could see it rising to the surface, a harbor seal had inhaled my mackeral. Got him as close as I could and cut him loose, I hate when I hook those little guys. A knothead, I would not mind some payback. Nothing more, got lucky with the one shot. Halibut 101 rescheduled for Wednesday