halibut mayhem

[slobslayer]

We launched our boat around 1030pm monday to fish through the night into the next day. Night was slow due to the tide, ended up falling asleep and waking up soaking wet. The bait we got that night rolled within 1 hour so we had to make bait in the morning. Tried a few spots for nothing and finally stuck what we came for. All went according to plan from fighting the fish to gaffing and landing the fish, then this is where it goes wrong. I get ready to walk it up to the fish hold when the fish goes crazy and comes off the gaff and hits the deck bouncing almost over the rail. As were trying to grab the dang thing it kicks my favorite combo right into the water(calcutta 400 on a fenwick rod). I immediately pull my phone and wallet out and jump in! I almost had it i touched the butt of the rod, but couldnt grab it...its gone im pissed. I dive down a few times for nothing. Swim back to the boat to find that some how during the struggle my brand new spinning combo went into the drink too. Needless to say I'm not happy so i take a little anger out on the fish with a rubber mallet. My buddy casts out to drag the bottom in hopes of finding my rods. He somehow catches my line on his swivel and ever so gently brings it in. Yesss! My calcutta comes up from the depths as i wind it in by hand. Never found my spinning combo though. Great day ended up with one legal, several shorts, 10 calicos, 2 beans, juvi wsb, few sharks, and a couple rays.. All from SD bay on sardines and gulps.