3 times the fun at oak 1-7-09 update

Friggen awesome! 

Nice work by the Three Sturgiteers.   

Holy guacamole!!!!!!I think Im going to try some of tha south bay  action ,did you leave leave us any?

WTG....guys! 



Kiel

So I gather the hook protectors were removed before fishing??..

   LOL!


WTG fellas! Thanks for the great pics.

When we launched, the tide was just about all in.  Ten feet off shore, in 6 feet of water I marked a sturgeon in feeding position.  From then it was paddle, paddle, paddle, as it takes about 1.5 - 2 miles to get into 18-20 feet of water out there.  We anchored in a nice area, with all of us more or less equally facing North. we spaced our yacks about 30 feet from one another, yours truly in the middle slot. we liked this spot due in part, because it seemed to be an area that began the underwater slope from  18 feet into 20 feet, with Duane on the 20, and Areal in the 18s. This zone became a Sturgeon freeway, and they were not shy about biting.  If we had more fishermen, I am positive that all would of been able to limit / catch and release, or what ever you could want to do. None of our fish broke water, "tail slaps, jumping etc", but the all took us for long, pounding, shaking, mussel packed slay rides. Duane's slay ride may have been the longest, but,  with the then ripping outgoing tide, none was shorter than 300 yards. As I am sure Duane and Area will attest, the feeling of setting those hooks on such strong, pumping, feeling the weight, bend, shaking and power, of those fish, when they decide to kick it in gear, is world class fishing.  Reaching down and releasing anchor and float, being dragged, and dragged and dragged really gets fun when one is able to finally first see the fish, confirming its Dinoness.  Although we all, as per DFG, regs have nooses on board, simply grabbing the tired fish from under a gill plate, and pulling them into the boat, is by far the best way to go. I just mailed in my tags from 08, and all ready it looks like 09 will soon become a brabless single hook catch and release winter, as bringing home my remaining 2 slot sturgies appears immanent.  Sunday, I may have to go pop another, then do some C&R, as these fish are in big pods, when they make there shrimp sucking ways through our bay. My basic tips include, making sure your bait is on the bottom, I E 8-10 Oz of lead, a short leader, no need to go more than 20 inches from weight to hooks, a rubber core sinker 1 oz 8-10 inches above the bait, never fish ghost shrimp with the big claws on, you will cry for longer than you can imagine when you come unbuttoned only to find your hooks embedded in the claw or claws, and no Dino to show for doing just about everything else right.

Relentless- thanks for the additional report. Catching one solo was great but being out there with all 3 hooking up is awesome (I've never had a 3 way!).

One question - could you clarify why you remove the big claw off the shrimp? I think I get but not sure - can it block the hook set so the hook point just hits the claw instead of penetrating the fish's mouth?

-Aaron