CC out of Bullhead Flats 3/8/09

Woke up at 4am today to plan my day. Didn't know wether to head over to Montys or China Camp. Around 6am I decided on CC. First stop Castro Valley bait waited in the parking lot for an hour the owner forgot to set his clock ahead. The dude line before me bought all the ghost shrimp all 4 dozen they had left. Off to Mike's bait passed up Kingfisher on his way to CC. Bought soe grassshrimp at Mike's just in case they didn't have anything at Loch Lomond.

I stopped by Loch Lomond and scored some of these huge mud shrimp. Checkout this photo of the 2 Mudshrimp on the left and a regular size Ghost shrimp on the right.

Arrived @ Bullhead around 730 met with Kingfisher & Collum. They headed out first and I met them over by the far duckblinds. Hooked my first China Camp Sturgeon @ 830am. I was shooting the shit with the guys then all of a sudden felt the *tap tap* set the hook, slight pump then line went slack. Reeled in my line in all the way back to the yak with no resistance, pulled the sinker out of the water then ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzz rod tip shoots straight down. Fish starts peeling drag and heading for my anchor. I pull my anchor and go for a little ride. Fish pretty much pulled me around in circles. Let the fish swim and fight cuz I knew he was full of energy.

Fought the fish for a total of 7 minutes or so before bringing him to the surface. Fish was in the 50" range rolling and rolling at the surface. I grabbed his gill plate started to pull the fish onto my lap and it decided to go for another crazy roll. Let go of the fish it went for another quick run. Back to the surface for grab attempt number 2. Same thing fish does another roll around next to my yak THEN SNAP.........BREAKS MY HOOK IN HALF.

My sturgeon bit the hook with the big tasty looking Mudshrimp. Fished the rest of the day at the same spot. Felt 3 more taps swung on 2 of them with nothing at the end. Caught a starry flounder also.

Yakattack Russ showed up around 9am. We fished all day or shall I say shot the shit all day. Kingfisher and I  were last man standing. Current and wind picked up and kinda got rough out there. So we decided to head back in around 4pm.

I got to experience the China Camp mud I've been hearing about and dreading for quite some time. IT SUCKED ASSS! It made me appreciate and love OAP even more. Kingfisher will post up the funny pics. I ate it in the mud while pulling my kayak in. Nasty nasty nasty, Oh Oakland Airport I LOVE YOU sorry I cheated on you by going to  China Camp.

Can't complain that much I caught another sturgeon so it didn't suck as bad.

Ariel-

Nice job on hooking into something out there at least. Sucks that the hook broke on you but, what the hell... it happens.

Take it easy,

Freddie

Hi Ariel,

Congrat on the hook-ups.  It was my first time at CC too and I was up to my knee in mud, had to dig out my shoes with my hands so I was coverred in mud.  Maybe I'll fish from high tide to hide tide to avoid the mud there next time.

Sonny

Ariel. That is just not right. When a hook breaks like that your heart goes the way of the hook. When I first talked to Chris and I heard you were just north of us I thought, Crap, I want to be up there with those guys too. By the time we were on the hook it had been almost two hours since you hooked your fish. Congrats. We stopped at Keiths to get some grass shrimp. Nothing there. WE did see those monster mud shrimp. Allen bought 10 and we left. I was somewhat pissed as Keith wanted 14 bucks for a tray of frozen herring. Earlier this year I saw a guy in a small boat anchored fishing where Sonny hooked the Dragon. Adam had talked to him and he said he had caught 3 legals in the last two days all released.How deep was the water where you guys were fishing? Ariel, the mud is all part of the beauty of the whole experience. A return to mother earth by mud baptism.

A return to mother earth by mud baptism.

You can say that again. I didn't mind the mud as much as having to drag my yak over the exposed rocks. That part sucked. Oh my poor scratched up yak.

Craig
When I hooked my fish we were in 7ft depth. I'm pretty sure I will be back at CC for another mud bath. I did love the location very beautiful out there.
Hope to fish with you next time brother.

Russ
Yup hearing the sound of a yak dragging over the shell covered rocks made me cringe.

Congrats on the keeper sturgeon Ariel. So how was the fight of the sturgeon in
CC compare to OAP because of the current difference? And how much anchor
line do you need out there? Do you need to add more weights on the anchor?
Newbs question just trying to get ready incase an invite comes along.

Thanks in advance,
Jedmo

Ariel-

I got a question for you. Was the leader a store-bought rig, or you tie your own?
I tie my own with #7 Mustad Octopus. I hope they're strong enough!
As for mud, just come in before the 1 foot mark. Maybed the China Camp launch is better too.
Thanks for the report.

Jed
Fished it the same way 3 fish OAP. I don't think I let out more than 15feet of anchor line. I used the same 5lb grappling hook anchor I normally used. Once your anchor sinks into the mud you aren't going anywhere. Dude the scenery is a whole lot more beautiful out there.

I dont like sturgeon fishing any more.

Mako1
I tie my own. I've been using the same kind of hooks since January. I tie up a set the day before i go out. I'm up to 8 sturgeon since January 4th '09. Caught a 74" at Sherman using the same hooks. This is the first time ice ever broken these hooks.

What kind are you using bro? I will try the China Camp launch next time.Let's hook up and fish soon bro.

Mako1
Mustad Octopus #7's I will give those a try next time. They look a whole lot beefier than the gama's I use.

congrats on the hook up, sorry about the hook breaking. it was a beutiful day out there, glad the winds didnt come up like they were predicting. cameron

Cameron
Saw you put there 3 was wondering who that was. It started howling around 3 and the current started to get choppy. I think you had left way before all that madness.