ARW 3-27

Inspired by Ariel, me and a buddy went to the rockwall yesterday for ascouting mission.  It was his first time in the bay so we took it easy.  I took only my bass rods, thinking we might get some schoolie stripers or something...  a decision that will haunt me for a long time...

Headed out to the hole in front of the launch, nothing, but lots of baitfish around.  Trolled along the wall to the end for nothing, but as I drifted a bucktail jig along the line where the muddy water meets the less muddy water at the end, my rod goes bendo....  thinking it's a snag I grab it and feel a headshake.  I played the fish for about 30 seconds before it popped off.  My fault for not setting the hook.

After chillin there with no more action we head back to the spot near the launch, and as soon as I see the hole on my Fishfider, MAJOR bendo, I set the hook good this time and line starts peeling like crazy....  10lbs line..  spins my yak around, The fish stops, shakes head, and starts peeling line again, I can't do anything but watch line go out...  I panicked and thought he might spool me so I sealed my fate by tightening the drag just one more click....  snap!  bye bye fish.  My hands were shakin...

Would a skate or ray take a bucktail?  Seemed to fight harder than a but would?  Maybe a big striper?

I wish I would have seen it.

Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!   

 Bummer Dude!!!  I think ChuckE caught a Ray on a swm bait,

Butt, , I've caught and seen many Butts taken on swimbaits and hairraisers,

with that head shake, probably lost a "Big Butt"   


 

It was definitely a ray........definitely........... don't worry....... all lost fish are rays....... 

Actually my wife caught her first batray when throwing a bucktail for stripers near the rockwall.

Plus, if you're just drifiting/trolling the bucktail then it could easily have foul hooked a ray in the wing. When this happens you get the fight like a freight train but you also feel "headshakes" (wingbeats). This has happened to me plenty of times baitfishing from shore. The fact that it stopped also suggests a ray.

I still say it was a Butt!!!!!!!

       


  Defintely.....  DeFINitely.....

 I like the " All Lost fish are Rays "  Theory though

Maybe it's a hybrid "Butt Ray" 

Last year I snagged a 70 lb ray in the forward edge of the wing, luckily I was in a small boat that was able to follow it.  Took over 20 minutes to bring it in on 17 lb test with a medium light pole.  Caught and released.

Good to hear you got out in the nice weather & gave it a go, Eric (what a difference from a week ago...).
Sorry to hear you lost whatever it was!

Thanks, Danglin - I never pass up an op to hear that song! 

Ah, heart-breaking power hookups where you never get to see the brute...  Character builder for sure, E!    

Samething happened to me there last year. I fought the fish for quite sometime
till my line got caught in the rudder. The troubleling part of the whole experienced
was not knowing what it was. Halibut time, whoray!

Jedmo

not knowing hurts TOO!!.....a blank pic would have been nice to look at though.