Bodega Leopard Sleigh Ride

 Wanted to hit Tomales, but could not abandon family all morning during our mini vaca in Bodega...

 So out the front door and meet up with " Back in the Yak ", O dark early,  really, it doesn't get light

till about 6;30 now, times a wasting and the tide is getting lower by the second.....

 Have to take my Red Hobie Sport per both my Fish Finder's are on the blink with the OutBacks...

 Snack Size for Mr. Whitey,  guess Back in the Yak has a free pass today ..

 1st thing, can't make bait ... Low tide I guess, screw it!!!  head out with one smelt.....


  Cut to the Chase...

 Major bendo with a HuGe Leopard , just before I have to call it quits !!!!!

 Usually don't get excited about a leopard,  but this guy was Huge!!!!!


 Got a Great Ride using the Hobie Sport and got to Play around with the Avet Drag,

 Good Day,

 Got to meet another Member of our Force...

  And Big fish on Small Boat.....

  All Good... ......... Danglin

Also,

 Talked to a Commercial guy who picked up a Nice 20+ lb Hali yesterday right outside of the Jaws....

 Quick shot of Back in the Yak,  just before going for a ride Himself, lost to the Deep...???

 

Hey BSteve's...

 Do I Still need a new Knife??????     ........ Danglin

Nice underwater shot! Those leopards sure are fun!

nice work danglin. that looked like a huge leopard. i guess it must have decided to release you.

Nice!

Were you fishing in the "bay" or inside the "harbor"?

Thanks for the report and good to see that the commercial guys that the Bodega Crew reported about last summer didn't wipe out all of the sharks. 

Just outside the jaws in the Bay

Danglin,

Nice leopard shark photos. I've caught a few of those from my kayak and they are a lot of fun.  If you really want a sleigh ride you should try a nice 4-5ft wide bat ray.

To clarify Dustin's remarks.  Bodega harbor is the small body of water with the channel running down the middle and the jetty at it's mouth (most people think this is the bay).  Bodega Bay on the other hand is the larger area outside of Doran Beach that runs between Tomales Point and Bodega Head.  It's easy to confuse the two, and I'm not really sure that you are, it's just that it is more common to catch leopard sharks in the harbor than the bay.

Hey BSteve's...

 Do I Still need a new Knife??????     ........ Danglin

Not if you plan on killing some large mammal with your bare hands.   Hey, is that the same knife as the rusty old knife in your lingcod gutting photo?  If so, I'm glad you managed to do a nice job with the rust removal.  Personally I'm still a fan of flexible fillet knives.

Brian

Ya, same knife, I've been polishing up that boy as long as I can remember ....

 Still not done, I like to get it like a mirror  ..

 I was outside, in Bodega Bay,   Ocean that is........... Danglin

Are the "jaws" out by the seal rock and the rocky point? I've heard it can get nasty out there when there's a swell.

"jaws"

   Generic term were the ocean/bay water meets the harbor water usually right at the end of the jetty or breakwater.

Thanks Mick for the last second pointers ........

 Would like to try that Reef sometime ,,,,,,,,, Danglin

Nice UWS Don! and thats a BIG LEOPARD too!  one bait=one fish?!

can't make bait

Don next time when you are on your drift just lower your Sabaki 1/2 way to bottom and stick it in a holder and forget it, it will start bouncing soon enough. Same thing happened to me last time out.

Nice UWS Don! and thats a BIG LEOPARD too!  one bait=one fish?!

 Now I know your Pain!!!!

 I think I took 10 shots to get that one!!!!!

  One Bait.... One Fish.....


 And your right about the Bait in the Bay, Picked up a few out there along with my " Baited " line, DOH!!

  What a Mess.... Baited smelt line with a Sabiki rig wrap....Ug.....  Danglin