LJ 8/17 Emotional Roller-coaster

[SorryCharlie]

I was planning to hit LJ on Saturday, but a flat tire (wasn't to annoyed, I needed new tires anyway) after work meant Saturday morning was now for getting new tires.

Hit the water at 6:30 on Sunday to small surf, but my brilliant timing resulted in me charging out right at the start of a set . Aside from getting wet the conditions were awesome, bait everywhere (but I somehow still manage to take a while to fill the tank with greenies.....), nice southerly current, 73 degrees water, sunny, and a nice calm wind.

With a full bait tank I head to the zone that has been working for me lately. Dogs were nice enough to leave bait alone for a little while, but eventually they would nab it. After about 2 hours of trolling, the bait gets nervous.... then line starts peeling off the reel. I won't explain what happens next, I believe the picture below explains it quite well..... I have video of the fight, but all it is is me screaming choice words at sea life, so not much use.


Needless to say I am gutted, but determined not to go home fishless. New bait on and it is off to trolling again. The wind picked up in the afternoon, and combined with the big swell resulted in some fun conditions, but the fish were there.

As the day goes on my hope is dropping until, on the last 1 mile run I was making down-current BAMM! The line starts screaming, engage the reel and it doesn't even slow the fish down. Takes about 2/3 of my line in less then 10 seconds, so I start chasing it. I can feel the headshakes and know it’s the right kind, but it has gone through a lot of kelp and gets caught up. After 20 minutes of busting through the kelp I pull up an empty hook...

Missed my second chance.... Quickly get a bait out and start around the same area, 10 minutes later and once again it’s on. The fish runs deep, and after a 10 minute back and forth I land it. Not a big guy (just shy of 13lbs), but I'm stoked!


Get back to the launch right at 6pm.