September Report - A lot of reading - not much to look at

This summer was much slower down by my local beach. It was a busy month for me but I did find some time to get on the sand. I didn't get to the WPB area at all this month. Dropped some nice baits and had a couple very nice runs. My only catches were a couple fish I got solo when I just ran out to the beach real quick with some spinning gear.

9/8: This was the next super moon and although I never have luck on the full moon, I just get out there anyway. My buddy Jon met on the sand. I dropped two baits through the night and they got tore up by some fish. I did not get any clicks from the reel. Jon's long drop bait was tore up as well. He dropped a small chunk about 50-60 yards out (on a surf rod with a Penn SSV 8500) and the bait was picked up 2 hours into the outgoing tide. It was a small tipper but it gave this guy a really good fight. At one point, his arms got tired and he figured he would just walk back up sand. I told him to get his butt back to the shore line and fight that fish! The water was a little rough and I looked like a rookie trying to bring this shark up on the sand. One second I was on dry sand, and then next second the shark was at my feet in a foot and a half of water so I was jumping out of the way. Between avoiding the braided line on my legs and the shark at my feet, I think I got the equivalent of a Cross Fit session.

9/14: Took the yaks out with my Buddy Jeff (reel lax). We went out in the afternoon, after some storms went by. He lost a tiny tuna and threw back a baby mack but we each got a bonita on the way back in.

9/20: Woke up early and went out in the yaks again with Jeff. The Blue Runners were thick about 300 - 400 yds out. We got a couple small ones for live bait and I kept a few 1 lb runners for shark bait. We were not really thinking when we left and we both forgot wire leaders LOL. I got cut off by something in 100 ft of water and he got cut off by something in 40 ft of water. We'll get 'em next time.

9/20 (night): Since the runners were so thick close to shore, I figured I had to get out on the sand. Last year when I was getting runners for bait on spoons, we were getting good fish on chunks close to shore. It was late when I decided to go so I just ran out by myself with some spinning gear. Spent all my bar money on a kayak so it was a nice solo Saturday night on the sand instead of on the couch or at the bar. I did have enough cash for some tall boys and Taco Bell. My first bait hit and gone rather quickly. I still hadn't finished my Frito Burrito! Crabs got the next bait. The low tide arrived and I got a tipper. I always love these guys on the spinning gear! One of the police officers that came by gave me his number and asked me to call him if I got anything. He was a minute away so I held the tipper in the water for a minute. The officer thought it was the coolest thing to catch sharks from the beach on casted baits. If the cops are happy, I am happy. (especially since I am technically not supposed to be there) He took a pic for me too.
I casted out another bait and got an eagle ray. At this point I was extremely happy to have bought that Cush it for $20 b/c my thighs were killing me from the butt of the surf rod from the tipper fight. Once again, not a shark, but a good fight!
Weather was perfect, I was dry, two good fights, no big gear to lunk around. Taco Bell, Beer, Beach; doesn't get better than that.

9/21: Decided to hit the sand again for the low tide. Jeff came with me and dropped a bait on his spinning gear. He had a tipper on there for a few jumps but it spit the hook. Couple more runs but no hook ups on that rod. I had a large bait about 120 yards out. At 12:23AM I said, "I'll take the bait in at 12:27 so we can leave here at 12:30" ( I had work at 8:30AM) At 12:27AM the reel went off with a solid run. I let him take a few more yards. He sped up a bit and I let him take a few more yards before I set up on him. The fight was on, he was pulling some tight drag. I got him turned around and he was thrashing, big head shaker! Six minutes later and he spits the hooks about 50 yards from shore. I was devastated b/c I have not had a big fish since June. I had to remove 40 yards of 250 LB mono b/c that fish took me over the rocks. Glad I had the 250 LB b/c that fight would not have lasted 30 seconds with the 130LB. As JD Hammer says "I went home sick."

9/23: Hit the sand solo with the spinning gear. My bonita chunks were getting hit fast and getting tore up. Nothin was taking off with the 4oz sinker. I just left early.

9/24: I went back to the spot I hooked up with the bigger fish. I got my bait in just before the high tide. 29 Minutes later and the reel goes off. Another steady run. I let him eat longer this time. It was just a bonita carcass with a double hook rig and I didnt have to worry about rocks as much b/c I found a clear spot with google maps.
The run picks up speed again and I set up on him. He heads straight out, rippin some tight drag. Then he charges the beach. I could not reel fast enough to keep any tension, even in high gear. He turns around, pulls me forward a couple steps. Now he is shakin his head, and I assume starts running to the south...and spits the hooks.
I brought out another bait, untouched for the rest of the night.
I had a second rod out for my friend Crystal (Tipper Taker) loaded with 80 LB Power Pro. Several minutes after I dropped my second bait, The other reel made a few quick clicks and the line went slack. Something swam by, close to shore and cut the line. The fish had to be within 20 yards of shore. I put on a new rig and ran a short drop. That bait was also untouched. After an hour I packed up and went to Taco Bell. The storms rolled in right behind us so it was good timing.

9/26: Now I think there is a resident fish around that has evaded me twice. I want to land it! My buddies Alex (Outcast Alex) and Bryan meet me out on the sand. Alex drops two baits on his 9/0's. I drop a bait, and Bryan casts a bait out. The first 9/0 goes off. It is a solid run. Alex sets up on him and it looks like the fight is on. Fish drops the bait, then comes right back and the fight is back on and then ends abruptly. There is a curly cue in the wire and the hook has snapped. I assume it was a tipper that got spooked and spun in the wire. Maybe he got foul hooked, maybe not but the hook was snapped in half. Lazer sharp sea circle 10/0 for the record.
The next 9/0 goes off, Alex sets up on him a little too quick and the bait is gone. He dropped another bait that went untouched.

Bryan's casted rod gets a solid run but the fish stole the bait. He had a couple more hits and stolen baits.

At the high tide, I get a slow roll going. Then it stops, then starts again. I am screaming obscenities about gummy sharks at this point. The run picks up a little bit and I let him go for a while and then set up on him. It is def. not the big fish I was after. This fish is not pulling any drag. I am winching him in and I get a head shake every now and then. we get him at the shore line and it is a 7ft Lemon. Bryan has the leader and is walking south with the fish. I told him I'll bring him back up with a wave and I do so. As the water recedes, the fish is sittin there and Bryan is about to get the tail. Another wave comes up and then the fish sprints back to the ocean with the receding wave and now he is superfish, rippin the drag, pullin me forward ( I was caught off guard). I get my footing and the fish is pulling and and BAM! I am flying backwards. I think I was airborne. I land in the sand, Butt, back, and all. Flat out, only focused on the rod and reel, above me, above the sand, whew!

The fish had spit the whole bait out. Both hooks still in the bait. The whole bonita had been chewed in two with a good portion missing from the center. The fish swam off, close to shore for another minute. If I was the leader man, I would have run in and tackled his butt! No pics, not the big fish but a hand on the leader still counts!
I was done for the night and hung out with Bryan, he had hit with 30 seconds of casting his next bait. No sharks hit his bait but there were some toothy fish around. It was an active night and the time went by quick.

9/29: Had a Monday off of work so I hit the sand to drop a bait. Tried a daytime trip and stayed through the high tide. Jeff came out fishing for bait. The only thing around were lizard fish. My first chick was stolen, rod bounced but the clicker never went off. 3 minutes before I was getting ready to pack up I got a couple bounces. then a minute after that I got a slow roll and then it stopped. Then another slow steady roll and then nothin. That was the end of it. I assume a gummy but The bait didnt even look touched.
There is a hotel to the south (a good distance) that rents wave runners and the tourists feel compelled to run laps up and down the coast using my spot as a turn-around point. I do not think I will try that place in the afternoon again.

9/30: Dropped a couple baits with Jeff for the low tide. Figured 7:15 PM - 9:00 PM was good. I had rented the new transformers movie so I had to get home early. (BTW, the movie is not good, but I like transformers so I had to watch it)

He gets a couple hits but the bait was just tore up from some small fish. We are just about all packed up, I have the dropped bait still in the water and I am breaking down my surf rod...then the slow roll starts. I let this guy roll with this bonita carcass forever. I set up on him and he spit it out, then he came back, then he dropped it and never came back. Bait had scratches in it so I assume I just took the bait out of the nurse sharks mouth.

It was a crappy way to end the month and the summer but maybe October will be better.
I do not know how it became so difficult to hook a fish with a double circle hook rig, in a bonita carcass. It was so easy last year! If this craps keeps up, maybe I'll start the runnin man with the J hooks!