March 2015 Report - Black tips and Lemons

Between the weather and the lack of fish when I did hit the sand, Jan and Feb were a tough couple months. I did not hustle as much in those months so I could save some bait and some pride.

I got Skunked a couple times in the beginning of March. My buddies got some sharpnoses while I reeled in shredded baits. A couple times I went out with a spinning rod just to have a bit in the water. No luck.

Sunday 3/15/2015: I met my buddy up north. I yakked of bonita on the Tiagra, BAM, Tipper! I Yakked out another chunk, BAM, Tipper. I realized what kind of night it was going to be so I casted out a chunk of Jack and BAM, Tipper!
My buddy had a big bonita head out and he was picked up by a big fish. That rod was bent and that drag was pullin, but he was cut off on the 500 LB shock leader. This fish was not a tipper. No more action for the rest of the night. I got home early and made it to work the next day even though I had the day off.

Friday 3/20/2015: SKUNKED - Headed up north again to meet my buddies after work. The shore break was nuts. It was the super new moon. I yakked out a couple baits for him, then yakked out my own and casted one out to let my other buddy to fish. We had short runs on all rods but my own dropped bait. Didn't land anything. My buddies took off at 1130 and 1215. I decided to stick it out until the low tide since I had already made the drive and it was the new moon. That bait was hit by a cookie cutter shark. Second time I have seen that. Tuff day, gas, miles, energy, and nothing to show for it!

Saturday 3/21/2015: Decided to hit my stomping grounds (SOLO) only to find someone in my spot, like my exact spot LOL. Chatted with a couple guys. The one dude said he'd been fishing there for 10 years! But I ain't seen him there in the last 2 years. They were informing me about the reef and rocks and cops kickin everyone off at 11PM and I was just sittin there like "Yup, uh huh, I know." It was all good, they were friendly and they were there first that day so I got to walkin more south. I yakked out a chunk and casted a small chunk. I got a good Jack, not a palm beach monster but my personal best. The guys came over to see what was up and snapped a pic for me.

I was going to put the jack out as fresh bait but I decided that I would wait for the outgoing to do that. At the end of the slack high the reel goes off! I got a 7'9" lemon. I was lucky the fish was cooperative once she was close to shore and there was a little swell that I could ease her on to the sand with. Being the angler and the leader man can be a pain in the butt. Some tourists came over when that reel went off to watch the event. Then they snapped a pic for me and said they will never go in the ocean again LOL.

Monday 3/23/2015: Ran out to my stomping grounds which I will now call "The Lemonade Stand." My buddy met me out there and got a fun spinner shark on the spinning gear right after I reeled in my dropped bait to change up. I wondered if the fish trailed in my bait and then hit his in the shallow? High tide was at midnight and he got hit at 1140. He packed up at 1230. I decided to hang out and relax for a bit since it was so nice out and I wanted a little time with the outgoing tide. At 120AM I told myself I would pack up at 130AM. At 125AM I had a short run, I decided I would stay a little longer and start to pack up SLOWY at 130AM to keep the bait in for a little while longer. I was cleaning off a bucket in the water at 135AM when the reel went off. This was a good fish, not my biggest but bigger than the lemon from Saturday. After a little while I get her to the shore but the water is glass and there is a little shelf, I can not get her on the sand. She has some size to her. I got the rod in one hand and the leader in the other and she is green enough to turn around and leave when I get close. I did not want to drag her onto the sand by the hook b/c that is just not right. Finally a little swell rolls in and I can get her close enough to tail roper her with one hand. Now it's the easy part. I put the rod in the spike, grab the tape, and go to remove my hook. My hook is tangled in a ton of braid (not mine). I grab the bolt cutters, chop an old hook, remove mine, cut some braid, and get it off from around her fin. She tapes out at 97" I cross that 8' mark so I am stoked. For once, there are no tourists around to snap a pic (probably b/c it is 150AM on a Monday night). I get a pic and remove the tail rope. As I contemplate a selfie, she walks back into the ocean, like a giant walking catfish!

Four trips out, 5 sharks and a good piece of bait, "I'll take it !"