Paradise Pays Practically all Participants

Beautiful day at Paradise...if you were into wind surfing. I can't help but to imagine how much of a STELLAR day it would have been if not for the wind.

I'll let everyone tell their own stories.

I pulled into the parking lot a little after 8:00AM and did a mic check. Word comes back that a halibut has already been landed. Word. I launch and paddle out to meet Bird, who graciously picked me up some shiners. Met up and got my shiners and dropped one down. While I was getting everything in order my rod started gettin' jiggy. Set the hook and the fish started swimming all over the place. I mentioned to Bird that I was bummed 'cause I thought it was a striper when lo and behold up swims a 28" hali! Went for the swoop with the net and it was in and out and back to the bottom for the hali. Battled it back up and got 'em without incident on the second attempt. The wind started picking up shortly after 9:00. I got snagged and broke off and then my other leader got all tangled so I landed and re-rigged and by the time I laaunched again the wind was howling from the NW. Made a few tough drifts near the little power generator then called it a day around noon I think.

Pretty much everyone else caught fish and quite a few were missed, too. Most of the action was just South of the pier. Awesome day. If not for the wind I'd still be out there.

I have a few pics I'll post later.

Tahnaks for the report Dustin. Congrats brother and have a kickass time in Mexico.

WTG! You guys make it seem so easy. I'm 0-8 at ARW. I think I have to stop being stubborn and try somewhere else. I took a look at Paradise from Google Maps. I wasn't sure if I could walk my yak up that slope. Seems long and steep. There also seems to be rocks at the ramp, which I thought may require two people to carry the yak to the water safely. Hope to catch you guys next time.

ernest

Rockhopper's description of the conditions is perfect.  If only the wind wasn't blowing.  Conditions early in the morning were OK.  I was also the recipient of B1rd's kind act of getting the shiners.  Thanks B1rd!  I hooked 3 "Butts" but only got one in the yak.  The loss of the second was is a story too long to tell but I lost him while removing the hook.  This should have never happened!  The NCKA fleet was well represented by Rockhopper, Vjohobiedave, B1rd, Jonesee, and myself (bennettdanville) and one other who's name I didn't get.  Everyone went home with a "Butt".  These are the only 2 pictures I got.  One of the butt, I managed to get into the yak.  It was caught immediately after I launched in the morning.  As you can see, it was just south of the pier and really close in.  The other pic is B1rd's striper.  They're cell phone pics so it's a little tough to make out the details.

By the looked of your face there Martin, I can tell it was a big fish. WTG on the
halibut. Congrats to Dustin, John(Bird), and Dave(vjohobie) on their catches too.
I can't wait to get back from my vacation so I can catch that big enormous
halibut that has been waiting for me to find.

Jedmo

I'm new to all of this but it sure looks fun . Where is paradise ? And next time you guys go maybe take along a newbe ? Thanks David

Congrats! and I hate that place.

Great fishing with you guys!

As the other guys said, there was a nice bite going until the wind started blowing and making things difficult. Landed a 26 3/4" butt, a 19" shaker butt, and a 25-26" striper.  Thought I had a real nice butt on fighting the striper.  I'd raise it and it would just head shake and swim straight for the bottom - no runs, just vertical.  One of those days that just leaves you wanting more......

Jed - I had another solid takedown that just buried the rod tip in the water, felt a heavy head shake and then it sliced my 20# flouro leader...........might have been your fish.  

Good fish. I told him to wait for me until I got back. They do listen sometimes. Congrats on the halibut and striper John.

Jedmo

Congrat to the NCKA's crew.  Jobs well done!

Congrats on all the Hali's. Rock Hopper, i know how it feels to see the fish come out of the net and go back to the bottom, good job getting it in the second time. note: I did get a bigger net.