04-26-2008 Berkeley - Shaker & Mud Marlin

Several of us launched from Berkeley around 7 to terrorize the bay.  It was our first time using the launch facility.  No complications with the launch.  We headed over to the area to purchase live bait.  Very nice bait, I tasted a couple of them on the water.  It's a tradition for us to bite into the live bait before the harvest.  Anyways, I digress.

The water was very calm without any wind except for the breath coming from my overweight body.  We paddle west, past the pier and began our drift.  Within several minutes Shicken hooks up with a shaker halibut.  Way to go live bait!  I've skunked for the past month, so that shaker was starting to look like a flounder.  JUST KIDDING!

Ten minutes pass and we're just enjoying the weather.  BAM!  Shicken's rod dips and it's game time.  "FISH ON", cries Shicken.  The rest of us can hear the drag working as line begins to run away.  He's running light tackle for this trip, a 7'6" St. Croix mated to a dinky Shimano reel(I forget the model).  Shicken is in jeopardy of getting spooled and calls for assistance.  "Push my boat, push my boat", exclaims Shicken. 

Kent being the closest to Shicken, begins to ram his boat to keep up with the beast.  I am at least 50 ft away by now and trying to gain on the two.  The mud marlin is working hard to avoid capture.  It is pulling that little boat all over the place.  Several minutes later I finally catch up and begin adding to the push. 

The mud marlin has taken us from just west of the Berkeley Pier to well past the pier ruins.  This is over several hundred feet.  By this time, both Shicken and his new found companion are exhausted.  The ray is just anchored at the bottom.  This became an opportune time to pass the rod to me.  YES!!! Finally some action. 

I'm well rested.  The mud marlin is at a huge disadvantage, or so I thought.  As I begin to horse the beast up it gets a second wind.  Here we go again.  The drag is on tight and it's ripping line again.  It's no match for this well seasoned(I'm wearing gear that heavily crusted with salt water residue) angler.  The ray finally surrenders.

Shicken pulls up to release our opponent.  Kent takes pictures of the beast.  We do our best to keep it underwater.  The line is cut to avoid traumatizing the fish.  It skates away and gives us a nice 'thank you' splash.  We've spent more than 30 minutes on this battle.  That's the highlight of our day on the water.

Action is action.

Below are some pictures.  Courtesy of our deckhand, Kent.

Nice colorfull report. Thanks for sharing. I'm looking for a 200+ ray from PB, yak or shore. This is inspiration.

Goutless Angler:  I loved your report.  The humor, the action, the pleasure derived from hooking and carefully releasing a non-target fish - it was all spot-on.  Excellent work.  Thanks for sharing the Good Times.   

Eric

That was the biggest ray I've ever seen.  It probably pushed that rod/reel combo to the limit.  The Daiwa CV-X 253 w/ upgraded carbontex drags, and mix of braid/mono helped to tame this beast.  I'm sure I would have gotten spooled if I didnt have the tugboat style assistance from GA and Kent.

BTW, the line was cut at the hook.

Another addition to this post.

Name:     Kent
Position:  Kayak Deckhand
Kayak:    Scupper Pro

Skills:    Net your fish.  Gaff your fish.  Gut your fish.  Photograph your fish . Eat your fish.

PM him for details on his hourly or daily rate.

That's a Monster!!!!

  Nice Report

Loved the blow by blow report, and that looks like a biggee. 

Good Job.

Goutless Angler what did the choves cost you, did you guys have to buy a half scoop or is there something smaller. Thanks for the report looks like a real nice day on the bay .

Pat R

$15.00 for pier scoop.  The amount of bait was at the limit that can be sustained in a 5 gallon bucket.  Plenty of bait for a few yakers to fish with.

The bait was very good sized.  Very few pinheads.