DP Easter Sunday

[alanw]

Pretty slow today for me, but caught my first Leopard Shark! The bait barge had anchovies and macs, and I figured I want a big halibut so get the big bait! I talked to 4 or 5 guys out there and it seemed nobody was doing too well so I settled in for a relaxing day drifting the beach.

Late in the afternoon I hooked into something big in the surf zone. He was towing me towards the beach while some sets were coming in, so I had to risk losing whatever was on my line and grab my paddle and tow him to deeper water before I got rolled in the surf. There were some pretty big sneaker sets coming in today, had me worried for a few minutes there.

I never boated this guy, I was a bit worried about the teeth! I heard they are good eating but since I got a free Easter entry into the boat launch, this guy got a free Easter 2nd chance. I estimate he was almost 4 feet.

Any advise for safely boating these guys?

[JeffB]

Very cool leopard, I love their patterns.

[easyday]

Leopard sharks are so cool, love the colors on those things. Ive caught a few drifting the beach there. And you dont habe to worry so mich about the teeth they are so tiny, they are tasty yes, but I only keep one a year.

[blitzburgh]

Nice work. Those are fun to pull on

[AirborneYak]

How long did it take you to reel that guy in. I think I would've shat myself had I caught that!

[PapaDave]

Nice Leopard! Lots of fun they are, zip one way, turn and go the other.

Not hard to land, just grab the tail and pull into the yak. They will twist and turn on you so be aware of that. Not much to worry about regarding the teeth, small mouth, small teeth, unless you put your fingers in it's mouth. Or you can gaff it, go for the underbelly right behind the head.

Tasty, but more effort to clean em up. I like to eat them but don't keep very many, maybe two a year or so (not on my 'A' list).

[alanw]

Originally Posted by AirborneYak

How long did it take you to reel that guy in. I think I would've shat myself had I caught that!

It seemed longer when it was happening but by time I got him out of the surf zone and finally up by the yak it was probably 15 minutes.


And PapaDave you're right, he didn't seem to know which way to go.. peeling drag one way, turn and peel the other. My line took some major abuse from this guy, about a foot or so of my 30lb mono looked like it went through a garbage disposal.

[PapaDave]

Try fishing them with straight braid, they're not picky. I usually use 20lb on a stradic 1000 mounted on an ultra lite rod. Don't land too many that way but the ride is a real test of skill, not to mention loads of fun.

[socal_matt]

Those things are fun to catch in the surf. During the summer time at Bolsa Chica, I get 5 footers all the time off the beach. I use 50 lb braid with 100 lb leader with a big chunk of mackerel to catch those guys.

[jorluivil]

Those are fun to catch but trying to release them without losing your rig is like trying to thread a needle in the dark on a kayak while pulling on a hoop net.