Backbreaking weekend...
Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 4:52 pm
Had an afternoon and an early morning session. North county reefs. Mostly used 13 ft rod and 40 lb mainline to cast over the reef edge. #2 and #1/0 circle hooks.
The best fish is always the one that was lost. How true! This morning I felt some smaller fish biting, some were fairly strong. Then Bam! It was like a big rock just hit the rod, and I almost could not hold it. Before I could reach down to get the reel, it was over. It broke the swivel of the "hi" hook, and straightened the "lo" hook, in a (literally) split second. Here is what's left of the rig. I suppose I could have loosened the drag to "soften" the first blow. But to be honest, I don't think I could pull it out anyway. Something way beyond the gear's capability.
This is what's left of the rig:
OK, now let's get to the fish that I actually pulled up 
Let's start by rocky regulars: kelpfish, opal eye, and black perch. They have been loyal "skunk scrappers":
The best fish is always the one that was lost. How true! This morning I felt some smaller fish biting, some were fairly strong. Then Bam! It was like a big rock just hit the rod, and I almost could not hold it. Before I could reach down to get the reel, it was over. It broke the swivel of the "hi" hook, and straightened the "lo" hook, in a (literally) split second. Here is what's left of the rig. I suppose I could have loosened the drag to "soften" the first blow. But to be honest, I don't think I could pull it out anyway. Something way beyond the gear's capability.
This is what's left of the rig:
Let's start by rocky regulars: kelpfish, opal eye, and black perch. They have been loyal "skunk scrappers":
