11/6 It's a long way to the top, if you want to rock 'n roll

[madscientist]

An iron man day. Launched around 5:45 to a beautiful La Jolla fall morning. Red sky and fog tendrils creeping down the canyons. Decent sets but big windows. Slight offshore had me to the buoy in no time, even as I played with the new FF. Figured to let the offshore breeze do the work and make some bait on the way out. NOT. No bait at the buoy, no bait inside, no bait at the hump, no bait around the corner, no bait in the bull kelp, not bait in the far kelp, NO FRICKIN BAIT! Offshore picked up, fog rolled in thicker, and the day began to seriously suck.

After three hours I started to head back in, trolling lures since I had no bait. Hit all the spots in reverse, and still NO FRICKIN BAIT. Went out to my rockfish spot to teach the new GPS and maybe find some squid, but just caught one little wormaccio that probably could have been bait, but went back down. Thought about throwing in the towel but had one spot left, so I motored back to the reserve line to a spot that has always held spanish for me. Sure enough, as I cross the canyon I mark some bottom clouds. First three drops, lizardfish. I have never been so happy to catch lizards, at least I can drag bottom.

Next drop a pair of small spanish, then I'm into greenies three at a time. 5.5 hours after launching and 10 miles covered, I finally have bait. Load on a dozen and head back out. Ran into Razorback and donated a pair of the green ones since he'd had the same luck outside with bait. We chatted a bit then I went out a little to drag for ling/hali while a flylined greenie was out.

Drop the bottom bait and was just trying to figure out if there was a drift (the offshore died around 10:00, dead calm till 1:00), when the flyline goes off. I was half stunned and a little slow on the uptake after the long morning and the six pack that had gotten me through it, so I engaged the drag before I pulled the rod out. Damn, now the rod is pinned in the holder. Wrestled it out, cleared the other line, and away we go. Long first run towards a buoy but the fish runs out of steam well short, and after that it was pretty much short pumps to color. Gaffed this bad boy about 7 hours after launch.



Razorback came over and kindly took pics. Amusingly, I was demonstrating the noodly tip of the rod I was using and broke it in half. Lucky it didn't snap while the fish was on. Fish went 25lb even. Really felt llike I earned this one. No other action on the way in, and no other signs of activity.



Mike Knott was at the landing and got to watch me roll it after some indecision as to whether I should surf or pull out. Fortunately, I just got wet, nothing lost.

A long tough day that ended well, and with points in hand I guess I can focus on the tasty critters this week since I've got nice bug bait. Ken, you hooping this week?