Santa Cruz 7/22

As a self employed guy, its hard to lie to my boss.  Today I decided to say the hell with work, going fishing.  Thought about capitola, but decided to launch at the harbor...feeling lazy.  Caught so many sardines my bait tube was maxed out.  Drifted around by Blacks Point for nada, though I did hear a sailboat screaming about their butt.

Headed off towards pleasure point, trooching along.  My sardine does the "oh crap" dance and my line goes crazy.  Unfortunately its a seal.  My drag worked beautifully and the line broke off near the hook.  I move on and start again.  This time I get a little hit, a pull.  I feed line like Ive been told.  I count to 10.  I start to load up the rod, it plunges I swing, it sticks!  For about 20 seconds I was on.  Then not... 

made a few more passes and 2 brown rockfish get the adrenaline pumping for bit.  Started my hail mary troll and finally get my first keeper kayak butt.  He just nailed the bait, no finesse required.  I missed the first gaff pass, and he dove down, but my drag was working great. Finally got him in the boat just 25 inches, but to me, its a trophy.  I have struck out on halibut and was 0-11 going into this trip.

tried a few more drifts and as I reeled in for my last time the line is far behind me hung up on some kelp so the sardine is on the surface.   I see a seal make a dash to my sardine.  I am reeling him as fast as I can, dont want a seal.  The sardine is like a topwater plug.  The seal makes one move, and misses.  He makes another and its seal on!  The line separates above the hook.
 
So I ditch work (rare) catch a seal (first) kayak butt (1st).  Maybe I should slack off more often

One happy smilethere.

WTG Eugene!!

where did you finally end up hooking him?

I'll be back out there on Saturday.

Good job amigo.
Allen

Halibut can be an elusive target, no doubt about it.

Congrats on flaking work & instead feeding your soul (& body) with a great table fish!

Nice work Eugene! SC has been showing the love.

Congrats Eugene!   

Great job!  Those seals are everywhere this year.

What a great report, nice read! Congratulations are definitely in order. Skipping work but you still made the day a productive one, good job! You're going to have a superb,fresh dinner tonight

Congrat on your 1st Hali and the seal    Thank you for the report and picture Eugene.

Everyone should take a mental health day from time to time.

Congrats on the 'but, you earned it.
Great post it had my blood pumping as well.

Stoggie

good job dude.. 12 is the lucky number..lol.. congrats on the 1st butt/1st seal not so much.. i lost a few rigs to them before i got my 1st butt..its a beautiful sight. maybe ill see u out there again on Coral st.
soulhigh831..aka patt

Very BIG Congrats Eugene!!!

Fun read, very cool. To bad we can't keep seals ... 

Ben

What a great report thanx,and congrats,I have the bigest smile on my face  right now.

Who hOo!!!! Nice I wish i was there to watch you Use your basher for the first time He...Heee..

Big, Big Congratulation to you Eugene

Alex

A "pause for the cause" is a good thing and needed so you can get through work .... Congrats on the Hali...!!!

Gue