Countin'Down w/da'FatLady&My Real_BestBuddies@ChinaCamp Sat/27

Last night I went out. I drank and partied(which I don't do) til the wee hours of 10pm...clubing in the FilmoreDistrict with my wife, on a pre-birthday celebration(it actually on Sat-27) but I already had plans to fish!... so I took her to see the greatest Salsa pianist of all time!
....click on the shortcut....just to get you into the mood....it starts slow, then speeds up.....there are a couple of solos in the clip that get down.
I think we need more COWBELL!




Sitting, freezing and trying to have fun while, sitting&freezing is NOT FUN!....but doing it with your fellow "BrothersOfMadness" somehow makes the time fly right by. We had the pesky varmits on our bait all day. Allen&Patrick were the first to launch, followed by myself and then Ben. Grass-shrimp was the only live stuff they had. I bought some of that eel earlier this spring, so it was gonna get combo'd and flung out.
Ben got one on and dropped his anchor after fighting it under his yak for a while.It was pulling drag and him, off into the horizon, bendo in hand and towards the GG! We wished him well as he disappeared and we never saw him again.....naaaw!, we would never do THAT!
Allen quickly threw his and followed behind for assist&documentation,now thats' Real_Friendship! 
After a sprited battle and a 2" too short measurment(&some choice words) it was released to grow some more and the hunt was continued.

...to be con't

pic1~ Ben and Partick on the anchor, waiting to pounce.
pic2&3~ Ben saying his good-byes to Allen

pics4&5~We tuffed it out, landing things not wanted nor desired.

I talked, sang, bugged and even bitched a bit throughout the day, cuz I just hate this type of sit-around-and-wait fishing. The sun was setting, my frozen stubbs are begining to refreeze and all I'm thinking of, is that HEATER switch in my car. The current was in full swing, Allen had just missed a pump and was trying to pull himself back together when I announced "last cast" and said my preyers!
......and then guess what happened!?

pic6~theeMightyJasonLee has once again!, put me over target and all I had to do was set the hook!...yeah BOY!

pic7~ 47 inches of pure joy and happiness!! can you tell by the look in my eyes?

I almost let it go without a Real_measurment.....that would have been smart huh?
It looked short, I had it noosed and on deck, took out hook and was about to roll it back into the drink, then I said to myself, "self, let's see how many more inches it needed" and it was close, VERY close. My GoodUncleAllen came to my aid, helping me remeasure&confirming with a photo that it was indeed....1 inch over the minimum!!
 

My second biggest catch of the day, and the cutest too...
Allen got the $ shot of the 44"er... Thought for sure it was going to be a keeper, oh well...  I caught a nasty bug this weekend so Im throwing the towel in, #12 is still pretty good with the likes of NCKA, especially my first year at AOTY, next year is going to be even tougher with a few more veteran fish-slayers on the bill, so I have a plan.... Congrats to all that went for it, from Sean to Janis! And you top-10ers, watch out for next year!!! Happy new year folks! Ben

That's about the cutest shot of a shark I've ever seen!  Watch out, mADmAnM, Mama might not like you making such eyes at another species!   

Great dedication and reporting, Guys.   

Way to get her done Adam.

FH gets it on the hail mary again!! Next time you go you should anchor up and right away be like "ok, first / last of the day".. 

The madness runs strong in you young FH. Congrats.

Z

Nice tunes BTW

Nice job hittin' the slot (sounds kinda dirty!?)  WTG...you had definitely paid your dues.  That fish is gonna push Moochy off of the board...I guess the love is OVER!    Where is that Kokanee???

YEAH!!!  Way to go Adam!   Happy for you... your persistence has paid off!  Good to see some action coming out of San Pablo!

EK

Congrats Adam - way to nail those late year fish for AOTY!

thanks for the warming words and the year long encouragement as well fellas!

Moochy doesn't know it yet..it's his day off today, but I'll still love him, even when he's Mad.

Abbey~ she already knows i have no xtra time, what-so-ever, to be "eF'n" around  ....she tries it all the time.

Ben~ it's even smiling at you, how darling!....mine just looked at me, with a  request I release it stare back.

Z~ I'm gonna relax til' years end(2 more days to go) then I'm off on another YearLongRun......maybe that first/last cast attitude will get me more time to actually hunt the fish.....as opposed to them hunting me (my bait) it gets so boresome sitting&waiting.

side note: i used to think i was one of them thar Salsa Band percussionists back in the day.....then I had to get a Real_job that paid Real_money!
but i still like to fantasize every now&awhile by pulling out the ol'Timbale set and Bongos.....that's when my Real_neighbors love me the most.

I'm gonna relax til' years end(2 more days to go)

I just can't picture it.  I don't think I've ever seen you sit still for a minute... 

I got two tranquilizers and I'MgonnaUSEthem!!    
thanks for the compliment Eric  i try to keep going all day, then crash when I get on that couch and in front of that T.V. 

Rest up, because you worked hard this year...  from your first Cab, to a Top 10 finish...  taking us along for the journey and recapping in report threads that went on for DAYS, sometimes a full week...

taking us along for the journey and recapping in report threads that went on for DAYS, sometimes a full week...

DIDiDOthat?(in your best Steve Urkel voice)     

Adam-  You earned that fish, bro.  All that whistlin' and bitchin' out on the water has paid off!  Well done... 

Ben-  Thats gotta be the most photogenic shark ever!

Good fishin', fellas...

that is a very lucky sturgeon caught in the slot and then released!