Big 'un at Monte's 3/22/08

Well... today I found out just how much power there is in that sturgeon rod of mine. 

I fished from about 8 till 3.  At around noon, just when the incoming tide started moving I finally felt some magic on the other end of the line.  Set the hook... solid!  Whoa... really solid... whoa... can't budge it. 

Big dino swam around playing me out for about an hour.  Something felt odd about this one because I just couldn't pull 'er off the bottom... she was completely having her way with me.  She'd make a little run and then just casually swim into the hole that she preferred, just putting enough effort into the fight to keep me from moving her.  I figured either I had an absolutely mongo sturgie or I had it tail hooked.  As I confirmed torward the end of the battle, it was both.  VERY big fish (judging by the 747 sized tail) and tail hooked. 

After nearly an hour of not being able to get the fish to come up, and having drifted quite a long ways, I figured I had about 15 minutes before I was going to go under the bridge.  I did not want to go under the bridge with that crocodile on the other end.  So I put some muscle into it.  It took everything I had, pushing my rod to it's very limit, to pump her to the surface and as soon as the tail would come into sight, she'd give a couple strokes and head straight for the bottom as if I wasn't even there.  Up and down... up and down... more times than I could count.  Arms burning... hands numb... this is fun right?

As I was nearing the bridge I decided that the next time up, I'd cut the leader with my knife... so that's what I did.  There was no way I was going to subdue that fish any time soon.  See ya later sister.

If anyone catches a huge dino with a 5/0 owner kahle hook in the tail, let me know how big she is, would ya?

Paddled back and fished for another couple hours for nada... just one bump.  Frank and Sailfish showed later... hope they had some luck.

Oh yeah... Grass shrimp, single hook rig, with Pro Cure Sturgeon Frenzy sauce... about 40 feet of water.  Weather was perfect... sunny and a light breeze.

Here's the only pic I got... the bendo pic.  You can see the fish mark entering the right side of my fishfinder.

I would imagine it being a thrill to fight it, regardless of whether you landed it. Congrats, Erik. Biggest dino I've ever landed was 150 pounds but 6 inches over size limit, on 14 pound test from a PB. The skipper said I did an excellent job of fighting the fish. My very next act was to cast out a rebaited hook and end up with the mother of all bird's nest...the skipper was shaking his head for the rest of the day.

Howard
 

Truly Spectacular KZ

 If anyone was to do Battle with a Oversized Dino,

 Glad it was you. Kool to hear the Details....

 SOooooooo wanted to be there today, Family needed me on Deck today,

 I'll let you know about that Dino

I'm glad you got to test your tackle Erik! Monte really seems to have quite a few oversize behemoths lurking below. That scenario reminds me of Seans tussle last year which also put the test to a Kunz rod..

Indeed...Deja Vu!!!  Too bad it was too big but still super fun.

great report, Erik!
& good to hear you finally find the time to get out there!
sounds like they're at there right now, huh!?
full moon too... so gotta be good!

 ...............The Ole good news/bad news report. Sounds like an epic battle Eric.  Hope you get out there again soon.   

right on EK I hate that feelling that it is just hopeless that sudden realizesation
that you won't be bringing it in way to give it a shot

YOU THE MAN

great report!!!! definately got my heart pumping.

WTG Eric! That would have been a fun one to watch. Nice report!

CHEERS!

That’s some good stuff you are the dino king

Pat R

To consider that your report would be pretty unbelievable from almost anyone else, that was a great report.  Thanks, EK.  Duane has it right

I hate that feelling that it is just hopeless that sudden realizesation
that you won't be bringing it in

You did what you had to, and your experience and description of the moment is solid.  Way to go!

 

Holy moly.  It's Easter Sunday morning.  I check the reports for the first time this weekend and I discover that Mahi lands a full length keeper dino at Monty Friday, Bungle scored a nice butt at the wall Saturday,and Erik tussles with an oversize dino.  That must have been a big rush!

I hope my wife appreciates the fact that I stayed home this gorgeous weekend to nurse her cold and clean around the house. 

I hope my wife appreciates the fact that I stayed home this gorgeous weekend to nurse her cold and clean around the house. 

Tis the season for WAF building!  It'll come in handy in a couple months.

By the look of the bend in that rod it is definitely a snag..
Surprised you had enough juice to paddle back after that battle.
I too prefer the single hook over the double hook rig. You don't have to worry about hooking yourself with a flailing hook when only one is sunk into the dino and when the hook is inhaled the second hook wil not prevent the first from going in all the way.