Ground and Pound

[Deamon]

Plowed through the surf late in the afternoon and got to the spot to make bait and settle in for an overnighter. It's a bit lumpy and breezy but what can I do about it? At dusk I hook up a monsta and I'm thinking BIG tail and also wondering if I just might be going home early. After a long arse fight and tow around with a double bendo rod, up floats my first Black Sea Bass (5' 100#?). A real beauty but it was struggling. I'm bummed I didn't take a picture but I really wanted to get this baby back down. After several attempts, the one moment I pointed him in the right direction, he gave a big tail swoosh and swam down making me gratefully relieved for the experience. With that battle, I lost almost an hour of quality bait making time but I was committed to give up the night to get this thing back home. After that, I had nothing to lose.

Before I really even settle in, I've got a wsb on board and tied up. 8:30pmish. I then hook a decent fish thinking here comes #2...for not. It was a large bat ray. I've got solid squid marks on the meter and it's just feeling fishy. #2 and 3 show up an hour apart and it's all good. I'm tied up and making my way back home. I get this sick feeling when I hear the bigger sets pounding shore long before I come close. I was also still in the dark. I went for shore and totally pearled it hard. The fish were between my legs and tied down but the weight up front was a bad combo for even a decent wave.

Not doing anything special, just luckily finding the time to fish, making some bait and sitting on the spot. I think the 40# leader has eliminated breakoffs and hasn't hurt on the hookups at all. These weren't the trophies I've dreamed about but the family and friends have been fed. 18, 21 & 24#.