Newport Harbor 9/19

[Bendo]

This was a “redo” as I came down on Wednesday, got the Yak into the water, paddled out far enough to slip in the pedals. Snap! I had a chain malfunction, one of the pins had slipped out. Got the Paddle back out and back home I went. So I replaced the chain on one side, lubed it up with a squirt of Lithium Grease and here we are 2 days later. Back to the Harbor for a little fishing. The Tide was a nice outgoing, it had rained the day before so there was debris all over, but a definite demarcation between clean and dirty water. The Bass weren’t cooperating in my first zone, a usually productive area. I drifted on down to the mouth of the Harbor where I was surprised by a big rolling South Swell that was breaking over the jetty. It brought back memories of Surfing inside the Harbor when I was a young Pup. I stumbled onto a giant Meter Mark and it was on. Straight up and down, it was Bass after Bass! Calicos, Sandies, Spotties, all were on the bait as well as some quality Halibut. Nothing like setting the hook and a big grumpy Halibut takes off on a nice smooth, no head shaking run, towing the Kayak like a Bat Ray. As well as landing 67 Assorted Bass, I put 5 keeper Halibut into various Boaters nets, and receiving a Gatoraid, a Turkey Sandwich and a bunch of Pacificos in trade. My ZMan Razor Shad on a 1/4 ounce Jighead with the barb piched down, in “The Deal” color was taking a beating and already had over a hundred fish to its credit on several trips. As I was lifting it out of the water for another drop, a large Barracuda came out of the water, completely swallowed my jig and bit it off. It was like loosing a friend! After four solid hours of Nonstop action, a group of Dolphin showed up and completely shut down the bite. My huge Meter Marks quickly scattered, my thumb was sore, those beers were screaming at me to get back to the Coast Guard Dock and find relief. Great trip, my Yak floor was covered in spit up Baby Lizardfish, a chewed up Octopus, and several plastic Baits, choked up by the Bass. Proof catch and release works. The drive home was a slow grind thru Friday afternoon traffic, made a little worse as I had to open the windows and eat the heat, due to a pretty rank smell permeating from my clothes. Those Halibut stink! My thumb hurts….

[Midnightpass]

Sounds like a fantastic day of fishing/catching… I feel sorry for you about the clothes smelling like fish. ….. Must be rough… I don’t usually catch enough fish to make my clothes smell like them. ….
Butch