Fun at Bat Ray City (OAP) 1/31 with NCKA brothers

Showed up around 9am this morning at OAP launch after dropping off the wifey and in laws for their day in the city.  Met up with Ariel Sea, PeteB, FishFarmer and evoo (?) who decided to stay off the water.

THe 4 of us made the long paddle out to the armada, with around 30 other PBers already out there.  While on the water we found two other yakkers, who had reported nothing but Bat Rays.

Of course we're targeting sturgeon, right?  Or so we thought...

First up was Ariel, with a little batty, then Pete with a little batty, and so on and so on.

Eventually I got one, then we saw the PBer about 100 yards to the south of me hook up and land a legal sturgy, so me and Ariel got excited.

Of course Ariel didn't help much when he said he had some HUGE marks underneath the boat....so I put on my focusing glasses and went to work.

About 10 minutes later, I felt a telltale *pump* and set the hook HARD.  fish on!! the fish immediately stripped off around 25 yards of line and I threw my anchor to chase him down, hooting and hollering all the way since I was sure it was a big fat dino.

the fish turned me around a couple of times and just wouldn't come up.  Ariel came over for the assist..the fish fought hard but just didn't want to come up.  Eventually I worked him up to within leader range...and....frickin BAT RAY again - he must have thought he was a sturgey because EVERYTHING he did made me think he was a sturgey.  Of course FishFarmer had also hooked up at the same time and we thought it was a sturgey too - nope. Same thing.

So final count for the day was
Me - 3 bat rays and the largest bullhead i've ever seen (around 11 inches and FAT)
Ariel - 4 rays
PeteB - 5 rays
Fishfarmer - 1 or 2 rays and a small perch.

well at least the weather was gorgeous and flat calm.  I did hear some radio reports of some guys getting into the sturgeon at the "san bruno shoals" near SFO.

hope you all had as great day as I did.  lots of fun even without mr. dino showing up for a visit.  had a lot of fun with the guys and hope to take another shot at my first sturgeon soon.

A day out in the bay in this weather is a perfect day with or without any fish.   Thanks for the report.

Thanks for the report. We need some rain to really get it going again.Next weekends tides are better for sturgeon.

Hey BMB, glad you made it to OAP. These batrays may be considered pests of the bay but I enjoy playing with them. They fight HARD! Good luck on your next hunt.

A day of action is better than a day of none, even if the targeted species didn't show.   

Thank God for bat rays.  The provided some great action.  You know what?  I love lure fishing and fly fishing as much as the next guy, but there is something so peaceful about dunking bait.  I basically sat on my ass for 6 hours and had the time of my life.  Something is kind of therapeutic in this day and age about just kicking it and watching your rod tip.  Seriously, thanks a lot Ariel for taking us out there.  Here is a pic of Bassman whipping a pugnacious bat ray (should we now call you Batman? sorry).  The weather was awesome. 

Has anyone on this thread actually EATEN bat ray like scallop?  I keep hearing you can eat them.

(By the way, Fishfarmer actually caught a bright, 1 lb+ barred surfperch, and there ain't nothing wrong with that.  I explained that the barred surfperch is the Chilean Seabass of the perch family... OK maybe I exaggerated but they are much better eating than those mushy rubberlips!  I suggested baking it in foil with some spices etc)
 

It's always better when the bite is on, but with great weather, nice folk and a new (to me) place to fish, who can complain? It was a great day.

My thanks to Ariel for acting as our informal guide, and great to meet Pete and BMB.

Has anyone on this thread actually EATEN bat ray like scallop?  I keep hearing you can eat them.

Good question. I've read it both ways -- "tastes like Crap" and "Scallops" -- But the "like crap" guys had actually tried it. Maybe skate is good?

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The Other Ben

Thanks for the report BMB. Next Saturday maybe a better chance for Mr. sturgy.
Nice tide. Anyhow, at least you guys did not get skunk. Bay rays provide some
nice fight to them. Perhaps on your next fishing trip, always think you caught
another ray. Then it will be a surprise when you do see the fish and it is actually
a sturgeon. BTW, how is your new ride compare to the cobra?

Jedmo

jed, i like my new ride for its features for sure.  easier to access the hatch than the old marauder.  i weighed that thing down like a mofo and still no water in my footwells.  although once the wind kicked up i tended to get pushed around a little on the paddle home (even though it was a very light breeze).

seems very stable, most of the day i was paddling slow and just chilling out and enjoying the outdoors.  i am anxious to get that puppy on my local lakes to chase some trout.  i've nearly got it where I want it now - just need to get a fishfinder but am waiting for a sale on the 565.