Paradise sled ride 5/23

  Thought I would give Paradise a go this morning stop and got 1\2 dozen shiners and off I went. This was my first time at Paradise the launch is a bet weird but doable, first two hours nothing then a good take down but flub it , about am hour later another take down so I wait for it then set the hook and fish on and it’s a big one pealing out line like I have never experienced before, what a great sled ride I got and fast I knew right off it was not a halibut I thought it might be a big bat ray, well was I wrong about 20 mines later I saw this thing surface it was a seal a sea-dog this will be my very first time I have every hear of a seal eat your bait. Well I felt sorry for it so I tried to get it as close as possible so I could cut the line or something. Cranked down on the drag an gave it a quick jerk and broke the hook off so he should be fine he just got a pierced lip now but what a fighter . Winds shifted and got nasty so headed home about 1 o’clock with no halibut .

Pat R     

Wow! Ive always wondered how one of them would fight! But you did the best you could for your safety. I don't think it would be fun to lip like a bass. Haha.

Jeff

Pat - That is a great story. I hooked a seal night fishing on the RP and he made rediculous runs and I was fishing 80# test with 25# of drag. The deck hand had to hand line him in because he was kicking my butt.  Do you think the seals are after us? First Bill and now you. I am wearing my "I support 2XA" t-shirt next time I go out on the bay.  Let's hook up soon.

scott

I had a nearly identical experience last year... also at Paradise.  I hooked up big with a live shiner and hung on for a fast spinning ride.  I was thinking 40+ halibut or huge bat ray, so I cranked and cranked for at least 10-15 minutes.  What a rush.  When I got it close to the yak, up popped a surprised full grown harbor seal.  Luckly, the hooked straighted out and suddenly the dog was free, tired with a sore lip, and hopefully, a little wiser.

It was great practice for the day I do hook into a record monster fish.  It's amazing what you can crank in on 20 lb test.

for some reason, seeing a mammal hooked like that really turns my stomach,  .

I would be so bummed to hook a seal. They are going to feel pain and fear much more like a person.

Once, I hooked my brother. but that's a whole nother story..

I've hooked sea lions on a few occasions.  the worst was in La Jolla, where a big male popped up and stared straight at me, pised!  I sorta paniciked and reared back then had to dodge the lure as it whipped past my head.  I was a little nervous worrying about pinniped revenge as I paddled in that day.

Brian G has a good sea lion story, bu† I think Papa Bill gets the all-time trophy.

Allen

I had a great seal sleigh ride off Pt Lobos a couple of years ago.  Circles and eight turns all thought the kelp and everything until he broke off.  He did get me fish though.

"WHITE SEA BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!"