Oyster point 05.13.08

Was going to hit Coyote Point but the entrance was sealed due to some sort of construction. Ended up going to Oyster Point and met fellow NCKA'er Gerry. He got a head start and headed off to the North while I slow trolled in front to the Pier. Got my first hook up with a big batray while trolling a 3-way rig with a 3 inch coyote spoon on the business end and an 8 ounce ball sinker to keep the spoon on the bottom. Got towed around for about 5 minutes before the hook made a big enough hole on the side of it's lip to slip off...I did get a good look at it and it's wings were about 4 feet from tip to tip.

(tip to the newbies: if you ever hook on to a BIG fish, ALWAYS fight the fish while pointing your rod to the bow and keep it there)

After the battle with the batray, I had another hit 

As I wait in "Baited Breath" for the rest of the story....

By 1:45 PM, someone turned on the switch and the wind started blowing off shore = STRONG!!! (I fear nothing more than off shore winds). I was only a quarter mile or less off my launch but it must have taken me nearly an hour to get back  

Gerry, how'd you do?

Good report Joel nice Bendo on the Trevala.

Love your scupper plug and the bling on the spoon.

Well did you use it for live bait?

thanks to the second pic of the little bullhead I now have soda spewed all over my keyboard and monitor... thanks Joel.

a batray and a bullhead on a spoon!  with luck/skill like that you better get out again soon!
the op wind can be fierce, one time i thought that colm and myself were going to end up in alameda!

Joel,

Did you flip the photo somehow, or did you break down and buy a right-handed reel ?

Scott

Good striper bait, but doesnt come close to your mandog for aoty points.

Well did you use it for live bait?

Yes, I did lip hook the bull head and trolled for a while...and that's when the wind picked up and had to release said bull head and head back to safety.

the op wind can be fierce,one time i thought that colm and myself were going to end up in alameda!

Yep, It's the 4th time I had encountered stong off shore winds in the Bay (and only once in the ocean) - I'm so glad I wasn't too far from shore...if I had been too far out I would have called for help from another boater - no joke. It's really nice to have a VHF radio - I can't imagine not having one on me especially on days like this.

a batray and a bullhead on a spoon!

I've caught a batray before using one Bill's hand poured swimbaits at OP - also caught a shark on a chin spin in Linda Mar.

Did you flip the photo somehow, or did you break down and buy a right-handed reel ?

Negative, I switched hands so I can operate my camera. I normally fight (pump the rod) with my right arm - coz it's my strong arm - and reel in with my left hand...IMO: you really don't need muscle to use the reel. Pump the rod with the right arm and reel in slack with the left hand...this makes more sense to me

so more pics of my "prized catch"...who lived to fight another day 

Cool report.  Looks like Good Times were had out there today.   

Gerry, how'd you do?

I got skunked. In fact I was pretty incompetent all day long getting backlashes and hooking my anchor line. I turned off my radio about halfway through that guys never ending story on channel 69 about his neighbor who murdered his wife and called it a day. I lucked out and got back to shore just as the wind really picked up around 1:30.

Gerry

Mooch;

That is the pacific staghorn sculpin Leptocottus armuratus. They are common benthic estuarine species that get to about 18 inches and can live to about 10 years.  I've never seen them in the bay any larger that 5 inches.  If you hold them long enough they will croak, by letting air out of the swim bladder. Useless information number 123

Jim