SD Bay (SI) 6/8

[DarthFisherman]

Here is how my solo mission today went down.

Launched from SI at 6am. Headed out to the green bouy heading towards the mouth of the bay. I had intended on making bait via chumming cat food and sabiki, but ended up with several pulls of macs without the kitty food. Set-up one pole for squid and one for live macs to troll to get me my first butt. Hooked up with a couple nice sand bass on both set ups with one being a straight toad of a sandy! But of course, while playing with my new lip gripper while the toad was thrashing at the surface the hook popped and off he went. Oh well.

Shortly thereafter I set up another mac and start my drift again. The bait clicker gives a good zinggg and I reel to set the hook...game on! I felt a really good fish on the end and knew I had my first butt. After a 5 minute fight or so I get the gaff ready and bring the fish to surface and wouldn't you know it....a brown smoothhound shark at least 2 1/2 feet (I really want to say a little over 3 feet)! Never caught a shark before so it was a littly sketchy getting the hook out, but after I realized this guy wasn't jaws I put him in the yak for a photo op.

After the shark the bite slowed down and the wind picked up. Called it a day and headed home.