Oakland Airport 1/13/08

Freddie and I woke up around 9 am ish to get ready for fishing at the Oakland Airport.  Freddie wanted to catch a sturgeon and I went along for the ride.  We met with Chuck at the launch site just about 11 am.  It was gorgeous out- nice and sunny, hardly any winds. Chuck paddled out while Freddie helped me with my borrowed kayak (thanks Stuart!).  Freddie and I paddled out but VERY slowly.  I felt bad; Freddie could be miles ahead with his buddies but instead he stayed by my side the whole time.  Eventually I got tired- about a mile and half out.   We decided to anchor up and wait around and see if something would come our way.  The entire time I was paddling out, Freddie kept telling me, "the slightest tap- tap means you have a bite on. As soon as you feel that, set the hook hard".  About a half hour later, I'm holding my rod firmly and yes, starting to fall asleep.  All of a sudden I felt a tap but didnt think that was "the tap".  A second later, another tap.  I just froze and started yelling.  "BABE!!!! I think I got something! I feel a tap!"  "Set the hook!" came his reply.  By now, I was certain I had something.  "Set the hook hard!"  Freddie was watching me and apparently I hadnt actually set the hook.  I guess that meant I had to put some force into my tug.  I did as he yelled.  This thing, whatever it was, was taking some line.  "Dont reel!  Let it go...!"  Ok... so I let it go.  "You got some slack! Reel in!!!"  I reeled in.  Whatever this thing was, it was tiring me out!   All of a sudden it stopped!  Oh, man!  I yelled to Freddie as he's radio-ing to Chuck, "I lost it!"    "Reel it in", he said... so I started reeling it in.... bite was still on!!!  Based on how this thing was acting, Freddie determined that it must have been a ray.  At this point I didnt care what was at the end of that fishing line I just wanted it off!!!  I was scared!  It was pulling me left and right and kept going under my yak... It kept stopping too which allowed me to rest a bit and reel in.  I'm screaming at Freddie but he says I have to do it all on my own if I want the points.     Fine!  I sucked it up.  About 40 minutes and a mile later, I'm pretty close.  This ray was killing me!  I pulled it up some more and I see the head.  A STURGEON!!!! Holy cow!  "You have to land it yourself"  Are you kidding me?  This thing was a monster and weighs a ton!  I managed anyways, almost tilting my yak and falling in!  Woohoo!!!! I did it!!!! OMG!  I couldnt believe it! 

I thought my mahi-mahi I caught in Mexico was tough... oh no, I was wrong. The sturgeon gets the trophy.  I do not want to catch another one of these suckers until next year! 

I sat around waiting for Freddie and Chuck's turn at one. After another hour and half, nothing.  We paddled in.  We measured my catch.... 59"  long!!!!   I'm on the board!!!

Melissa

Oops!  I'm on Chuck's computer.... that last post was by me, Melissa

Job well done Melissa.  That thing is a beast!

Michael

Well, I WAS wondering why Chuck was talking about himself in the third person sense. Congratulations, Melissa. Great write-up too.

Howard

Well, I WAS wondering why Chuck was talking about himself in the third person sense. Congratulations, Melissa. Great write-up too.

That thought crossed my mind and then I thought, maybe he is just fishing with another Chuck.

Michael

Great play by play Chuck.    I mean Melissa!!!!!

WTG!!!!

Stuart

That is AWESOME!!!  Way to go Melissa! 

You are officially the first female kayak dino slayer!  (that's a huge honor by the way).

Congratulations!

Here are some of the pics I took.  Frickin' unbelievable.  WTG Melissa!!!!

 Way to go Melissa.

Too cool for words! Congratulations, Melissa!

Janice aka "Big J"

OMG that's is the coolest thing i have seen in
a long time, way to go Melissa  

  WOW AND CONRATES!!!

Unbelievable!!!! That is simply amazing.    So many of us have logged in alot of hours out there and never even landed a shaker.  Great Job Melissa!

How's it going y'all... I just finished dinner here and am typing on Chucke's computer... So, what can I say... Friday night I get into town and Melissa tells me that she wants in on the AOTY thing and she wants to go on a dino hunt. We go out and get her a license and a new rod and reel and all that good stuff. Saturday comes and she's feeling really sick... the hunt is a no go. Saturday night comes around and she's feeling up to the hunt. Give Chucke a call and it's on. Sunday morning we get some bait and get out there. Chucke isn't waiting for anybody... he on the water and gone. I wait around for Melissa and we paddle out. She gets tired about a mile and a half out so, I look around for a good place to drop anchor and we're on. 30 minutes later.... Melissa is yelling... "I'm feeling a tap... what do I do now..." SET THE HOOK!!! NO!!! NOT LIKE THAT... HARDER...!!!" She's fumbling around and next thing I know... I see line peeling off the water... game on. You know how chicks are fellas... she's all screaming.... what do I do, what do I do... HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP...! Let it go and I'll be right there... I unclip the anchor from her yak and she's off. I couldn't believe that she hooked into one, let alone still have it on. But, she did and she went for a ride. 35 minutes later... the snare was on and the fish was secured. I think I was way more excited than she was at that point. She was scared to have that thing on her lap. How great was that... and before she casted out... I was telling her how great it would be if she hooked into one... and what do you know... she got one. Great fish, great girl, great day... by the way... I didn't get anything. But, I get to take both the girl and the fish home... I guess I'm pretty lucky that way.

Freddie

Wow!  Great score, Melissa!  Excellent report too.