Santa Cruz 4 Mile Crab and Blue Rock Fish

It was pretty nasty on the water today, but I was sick and tired of waiting for the perfect weather window. The wind was a bitch. I cussed out every Hobie owner I know today, as I now see the genius in owning the fancy foot drive thingy. I had spots where the Blues were so thick, the fish finder was completely red and screaming, but by the time I threw the line over the side, I have drifted 50 yards. Hit a school of Canary, and I really like the fight they put up, but they all went back. After the third one, I left the spot. I caught a couple of quick Blues, so I decided to feed one to the crabs. (Yes, I always count that one as a take). I dropped my ring at 126' and quickly realized my 150' of line was going to be close. THe crappy white buoy that comes with the ring ended up floating 3' from the surface. I marked the spot with the fish finder, and came back an hour later. You would be amazed at how hard it is to find a little white buoy that is 3' below the surface. Finally found it, and I had to catch it with my rock rig to get it to the kayak. I thought my arms were going to fall off pulling it all up, but alas it was worth it as I got my first Dungy. I didn't even need to pull out the measuring device to confirm it a keeper, but I did due to the fact that DFG was about 100 yards away. Overall was a good day, but I am sore from all of the paddling.

I am impressed, I have a trouble finding my white buoy ON the water much less under it!

Wow, I have no idea how far out you went to find 126' fow, but it must have been far!!!   Congrads on being the first i've heard of catching a dungie out of SC too!  Out by the Red buoy those blacks were so thick I couldn't drop my line without hooking one up on the way down. 

I went 2 miles straight off 4 Mile beach, then meandered about a mile south. Boats were getting their limits there with only a couple of quick soaks. The local commercial boats are on strike due to the price of crab at the dock. They are there!

That's quite a workout you did there.  Thanks for the report and pictures HereFishyFishy.

Damn!  .. Strong work! I bet thats  gonna be the tastiest crab ever!

Do you think a modified crab hawk would be easier to pull up?

Talk about earning that crab! Strong work indeed! Thanks for the report.

Do you think a modified crab hawk would be easier to pull up?

I have a hard enough time with all of the rules to start with, now you want me to be able to explain to DFG about a modified Crab Hawk!! Ha! No way! I did read that thread with a lot of interest. Does seem a lot easier, but I would have never been able to hold the spot with a crab hawk in those conditions. I am kind of waiting for a report where someone used a modified rig, and DFG said..."Oh, OK." 

Dude you get the He Man award for that pull!   126 feet off a kayak is a lot of rope to pull.  I bitch about 50.

if you want a good buoy go grab a three liter soda from the dollar tree. dump it out or drink it tie a rope around the neck with a loop and duct tape it and the bottle with a bright colored tape.

if you want a good buoy go grab a three liter soda from the dollar tree. dump it out or drink it tie a rope around the neck with a loop and duct tape it and the bottle with a bright colored tape.

I didn't know they had a three liter! I might just do that.

This is complete torture watching the deadline for rock season quickly approaching and every time it looks like I have a window to get out, Mother Nature slams it shut!

Hell yeah! Looks like some good grub.