Heartbreak At Crystal Pier

[Midnightpass]

Day 5… Heartbreak! …After catching 8-10 decent BSP, I cast B2B sand crabs next to the pier, and I hooked a huge SFC... Of course it headed straight under it... I followed trying to keep it from wrapping the pilings... I followed into chest deep water with breaking waves under the pier.... I fought it for 15-20 minutes, wondering how I didn't get broke off.. It was finally starting to tire... I was getting good line back in, when it made a last run and my 4# leader broke.... Only thing that didn't get wet was my hat and reel... I've never been so frustrated from fishing... I'm still shaking... I thought I was past the worst and was about to get it between the pilings, and land it... Had to call it a day, I couldn’t retie the leader, because I was shaking so bad..
Butch

[Everydog]

Bummed for you. There's another one around there for you.

[Midnightpass]

Bummed for you. There's another one around there for you.

Thank you… I don’t know about fishing that location again.. I’m afraid that anything of size would do the same thing…

I forgot to mention.. Be sure to do your “sting ray shuffle”.. I must have kicked up a dozen this morning especially close to the pier… One even bumped into my calf rushing a way.. No sting though..
Butch

[Everydog]

Thanks, never been hit by a stingray and don't want to be.
Do you think the low tide favored you in getting a big bite?

[Perch killer]

Sorry to hear that Butch, hope you're OK. A real bummer for sure. I've fished close to that pier but not directly adjacent to. Often the current would start moving my line too close to the pilings so would reel in quickly. Don't want to go through your experience !

You going to be around a few more days or heading home soon ?

[William Ritchie]

@Midnightpass , Feels good to know those Adrenal glands still work doesn't it . Fight or Flight , buck fever , call it what you will we all need a shot of it once in a while . Good story and report even if it was a long distance release . Thanks for the fun post ! WR

[Midnightpass]

Thanks, never been hit by a stingray and don't want to be.
Do you think the low tide favored you in getting a big bite?

Yep, you don’t wanna get tagged by one of them… I have a couple of times.. No fun.. The tide may have helped get the hookup.. There was a ton of veggies everywhere, and that was a pain.. So I moved over by the pier,and made the cast… If the tide had been any higher, I wouldn’t have been able to follow the fish under the pier… Probably just a quick break off on the pilings…

Sorry to hear that Butch, hope you're OK. A real bummer for sure. I've fished close to that pier but not directly adjacent to. Often the current would start moving my line too close to the pilings so would reel in quickly. Don't want to go through your experience !

You going to be around a few more days or heading home soon ?

I’ll be here until Thursday.. So 2 more mornings of fishing…

@Midnightpass , Feels good to know those Adrenal glands still work doesn't it . Fight or Flight , buck fever , call it what you will we all need a shot of it once in a while . Good story and report even if it was a long distance release . Thanks for the fun post ! WR

Great fun if the old ticker doesn’t give out, or I don’t drown, or I get my head bashed in on a piling. ….. I only hope my IPhone will work after it dries out. … It got a salt water bath this morning..
Butch

[William Ritchie]

Did not mean to make lite of the potential hazards . Sorry to hear about the phone , I double ziplock mine but don't know if it actually would do any good in a full on dunking . Good luck on the next couple outings , sure beats yard work and Costco trip Etc. that took up my day . Stay safe , good luck . WR

[Midnightpass]

Did not mean to make lite of the potential hazards . Sorry to hear about the phone , I double ziplock mine but don't know if it actually would do any good in a full on dunking . Good luck on the next couple outings , sure beats yard work and Costco trip Etc. that took up my day . Stay safe , good luck . WR

No problem, Bill… No offense taken…It was a blast…. You were only stating what I was already thinking.. This is some fun sh!t.. And it ain’t yard work… …
Butch

[Mike M]

Wow, nice hook up, Butch! Bummed the spotfin sawed you off, but glad to hear your balance held out and you didn't tumble into the surf!

[Midnightpass]

Thanks Mike... I'm gonna have to keep one of you younger guys around to pull me out of the messes I get myself into...
Butch

[Midnightpass]

Those of you that don't know Crystal Pier... This is where I was trying to pull the spot fin out of while standing chest deep in there...
Butch

[Perch killer]

Know it well Butch, can get real knarly in that wash. Glad you're OK bud.

[Midnightpass]

Know it well Butch, can get real knarly in that wash. Glad you're OK bud.

Thank you…
Butch