TB 8/17 Windy

Have been making it to TB about once a week for the last few months with nothing to show for it other than a few shakers and scratch baits.  Yesterday I got to Miller's around 6am with one PB launching and other than that no one around.  The wind was pushing hard and the water was looking choppy but I felt safe enough and was determined to get a few hours in.  Hit the water by 6:20 and started heading towards the south side of Hog working for some bait on a sabiki.  Was getting no love and having trouble finding bait but persisted for about an hour hitting the edges of the eel grass.  Boom suddenly something bigger than bait hit my rig and ran for maybe 20feet before snapping the fly off the rig.  Perhaps a ray or stripper?  I was getting popped around in the wind waves and not getting bait so headed to the middle of the channel.  Thankfully I was able to drum up 3 of the smallest anchovies I have ever seen.
Taking my little baits I switched up to a live bait rig and dropped down.  Still getting popped around like a cork I did my best to drift slowly and focus on the rod tip.  Trying to stay North of the Yellow Can my line suddenly went wild!  I let the line go for all of about 5seconds that felt like eternity and then set the hook.  Fish on!  The fight was fun and interesting as I was working to keep facing the wind and waves while fighting the fish.  I was able to get the fish up and to the side of the kayak, a quick gaff, bonk and bleed.  29+"
Decided not to push my luck and energy as the wind was continuing to pickup and I wasn't interested in getting stuck out on the bay.  Off the water by 8:30am, halibut fish tacos for staff meal at work and a satisfied angler.   

Thanks for the report and stoked you scored a nice keeper 

Thanks for the report.  Good looking fish.

Sweeet halibut score, and great report!   

Love the play by play on the actual bite to gaff.  Good stuff!  Congrats!

  I let the line go for all of about 5seconds that felt like eternity ....

Seriously, there is like some kind of matrix-like time distortion that happens when a live bait gets picked up!
congratulations on a successful session.

  I let the line go for all of about 5seconds that felt like eternity ....

Seriously, there is like some kind of matrix-like time distortion that happens when a live bait gets picked up!
congratulations on a successful session.

That’s a perfect description of that interval of hope and anxiety.  Love it when the line starts going sideways and or down then stick and bendo, pump pump zzzzz...