Fuzz makes a killing @ stillwater south / April 2010 / MO

I love how you started the report Mooch. Fuzz is a big boy, he can post for himself haha...just givin ya sh!t,

Haha....lets see if fuzz goes kickfish on him 

Im not even worthy to carry Fuzz' guns. WOW! Thats some real diving. Your bitch, Craig

I'm still hung up on seeing a perch on Fuzzy's stringer and it's not a comp dive.

216 point perch.

Ya, I was gonna say - "Screw the other fish....nice PERCH!"

Is that a pile perch?

Haha we joked about how many pts that rubberlip was worth...it measured 18.5" lol

Fuzz, I envy you!!!

  Wow, that is a sweet haul! 
How does he do it? Spinach or kelp?

wishing I could swim like Fuzz...

~d

How does he do it? Spinach or kelp?

...from what I've heard (from his other spearo buddies)..it's all about the spam musubi and women's underwear 

....guess what took a bite out this poor ling.....while it was helplessly attached to Fuzz's stringer 

The conditions Friday could best be described as "snotty".  I tried working out of the cove, but got turned back by the wind, rain, & swell.  The wind & rain were manageable, but the faces of the swells were so steep, my kayak bow continuously pearled under.  Instead of fighting open waters, I decided to go for planB & check some shallower inside reefs.  On the first dive, a 6# cab bolted as I landed.  Slowly following and scanning, I found it settled in an arch between two boulders, and put it to sleep.  With a promising start, I was stoked... but an hour into the dive, I began to feel a bit discouraged.  I had made some progress with my RCG stringer, but no big lings.


Checking a far inside spot I hadn't been to in years, my luck began to change.  As I dropped, I could see a smattering of rockfish hovering outside a ledge.  Instead of the typical meandering in & out, they slowly sulked away down the ridge.  I knew a nice ling had taken residence here.  Tucking my head & flashlight under the ledge, I could see what appeared to be a molted-brown log.  Wedging in further, I found myself face to face with a solid 35-36" ling.  Since it wasn't giving me the angle I wanted (didn't want to shoot head-on, messes up fillets), I backed out and headed to the surface.  Took a few seconds to regroup, a few slow deep breaths, then dropped back down.  The ling turned in the surge and I carefully placed a shot right behind its eye.

After letting the ling thrash, I slipped my left hand into the gills and calmly headed up.  Next thing I knew, I was blindsided.  Something hit me and my first thought was shark... "oh $%#&@, I'm a goner!" 

As I surfaced, my left arm got almost jerked out of its socket.  A sea lion had grabbed my ling and we were now engaged in a bitter game of tug-of-war!



Since my left hand was pretty much stuck in the ling's gill rakers, I drew the sea lion closer & threw some jabs with the right.   
Thought I got some good shots in, but couldn't get any power underwater, so I'm sure the sea lion thought I was playing with it. 

As the furbag tried to torque the ling out of my hand, it ripped a chunk off and swam away.  I kept (most of) the fish... so it's going on my record as a Win. 

(After careful post-fight analysis, I'm throwing elbows next time!)   




I continued to reef hop, picking up assorted pieces.  Another cab betrayed its natural camo by shifting position & quickly joined the tankwell crew.  Passed up a few mid-sized lings, hoping for something more substantial.  At a reef's edge, I happened upon a lunker of a calico.  Gorgeous fish, round and fat like a football, my new PB for Norcal!

Checking a ledge system, I found not one, but two big lings sitting next to each other in the same hole!  This was an oddity as larger lings are typically solitary creatures.  Perhaps they were temporarily sharing a place of refuge from the swell.  A very awkward entrance made this hole relatively secure.  I had to invert & tuck myself upside down to take the shot.  Quietly stoned the closer ling & its bunker-buddy decided it was time to find a new hiding spot.  Dove for about a half hour more, just enjoying being in the water & the surprising amount of marine life.



Before heading in, I took some time to conduct my normal ritual - cleaning the fish; removing the gills/guts/bloodline/viscera.  It makes for better fish quality, cleaner filleting process, and some peaceful time to wind-down before the paddle in.  A flock of seagulls quickly showed up, jockeying for position & not-so-patiently clamoring for handouts.  As I sat there in the rain, being pitched back & forth by the choppy seas, & getting pooped on... I had to smile.  Despite the gloomy day, bad conditions, & rabid furbag... the challenges made the day all the more fun and I felt content.  After all, isn't that what it's all about?   

(After careful post-fight analysis, I'm throwing elbows next time!)

...take some lessons from Fishmaster 



*On a side note.....If I were Fuzz, I'd write a book (and include photos of course) of all my diving trips and make $$$$. The guys is not only skilled in killing fish but he can also write. Fuzz, hope you take my advise...believe me brother, I'd buy the first book you write...but only if you give me an an NCKA "bro-deal" discount (yes, I'm a "CAF"...Cheap-Ass-Filipino)

Wow! What a dive. Congrats on beating the furbag back.....on his own turf no less. Fuzz 1/ Furbags 0! 

Fuzz...you should tell 'em your golf ball story 

Here's a similar report from John at Still Water South - April "08


http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,12481.0.html

WTG on a nice haul Fuzz.