Albion 5/31 Attack of the seal!!! 6/1 limit in 2hrs...

Well Dr H got grounded and no one else to fish with so I head out solo...  little windy probably 7:30ish  start making some drifts and picking up a few fish, I work out SW of buoy and see a seal checking me out...  got all my Sh^t in order just cking out the view reflecting on the day when this seal comes flipping up to me and does a 360 right next to me...he's eyeballing me as he's jamming around...I could reach out and touch him he was so close...dives under my yak and does it on the other side...now my heart rate has just risen a couple of notches and I'm thinkin WTF and he shoots right over my FF 2' in front of me NOW I"M REALLY THINKING wtf...than it flips around and jumps between my milk crate and my seat pushes off me and knocks me into the water.....


I go from totally relaxed to...I'm in trouble...my choice was flip all the way over or jump out...now I had my 7 mil suit/bootys no gloves fishing pole in hand and decide to jump...I twist around so I'm not tangled in my line and Immediately grab my yak...put my pole across the back of my seat and do a self rescue... and the freaking FUR BAG is still flipping all around me...harassing me......get on the vhf and call DR F and say " I just got knocked off my yak by a seal and am back on board" but the freaking seal would not let me alone and I'm thinking u f'nn bitch and start swinging for the fences slapping the water trying to scare it away!!!!!!!    and It's still freaking messing with me and Now I"m trying to hit it between the eyes!!!   If I had a Gun I would of shot it....end of story....

Well the Dr can't really hear me...and says I"m breaking up and I'm pretty shaken...and I'm thinking is SOB going to come back...I'm by myself...low tide early no PB's OTW yet and no responce from anyone...I just wonder if it was a super windy day and big swells I might not of made it back on my yak...I believe coast guard monitors the ch's and if needed pushing the red 16/9 channel doing a PON PON would get some attention...

I'm left with knowing that when u go solo...u go solo...and when everything is calm "It's NOT"   It could be u...so be aware have your safety devices, have a clean deck so when needed and things go south...your at least on top of the game...

Went out the very next day this morning thinking...hummmm, by myself...maybe I wont go as far today...went right out 3/4 of the way and started hitting my waypoints from last yr and bamb...limit in 2hrs...nothing big..nice china 3,4 gofers, bunch of big blacks, 3 underlings, a canary that was in good shape...and went back down...  60 to 90 FOW...best day since the season opened up...take downs on every drift...was glad to go out and do it again...even if it was solo...waves started breaking so I headed in...I must say though when it first started to blow...and I heard the wave I grabbed for my paddle thinking it was that freaking seal again........FUR BAGS....Now I know why u guys call them that....oh and for u guys that were @ GS4 the love taps we got out by the buoy was nothing like ALBION...so be for warned about the seals there...I know it was trying to get my fish/bait...little gangster!!!   that dude was schooled, and had done it before....BE SAFE!!!

PS finally got back home and my new camera is here...PICS from now ON!!!

glad your ok, hate those things, cameron

Damn Sledge, sounds like them furbags are goin jihad up there. I'm glad you were able to keep it together out there.

Dang, too bad about all the harassment.  Great that you hung in there solo, and were safe.  I am sure warnings from you and others will prevent heart attacks from those such as myself, now that I know what to expect and can prepare. 

I have been thinking about that lhr 80 vhf from lowrance, as a safety, what if you couldnt get back in touch with your yak?  That lowrance unit can send gps coordinates. 

Thank you

Dang, too bad about all the harassment.  Great that you hung in there solo, and were safe.  I am sure warnings from you and others will prevent heart attacks from those such as myself, now that I know what to expect and can prepare. 

I have been thinking about that lhr 80 vhf from lowrance, as a safety, what if you couldnt get back in touch with your yak?  That lowrance unit can send gps coordinates. 

Thank you

I'll trade my new standard horzion hx750 for one of those sweet hobbies....j/k...but having a vhf is way important in my book...lucky I had my vhf @ albion...and that i didn't need to use it....but "What If"...good thing to have when things go south...

pleasure to meet u and your family @ elk...U caught the most fish in case u didn't know....

Sounds like you had a battle out there. Good job staying focused out there!
Let's give em a wasabi bomb next time.

HOLY SH#T!!!!!

DUDE!!!!!

Really glad you are Ok...f'ing FURBAGS!!!!!!!

Hate them!!!

At least you got back on the horse next day and brought home a sweet mess of fish!!!

Be careful out there!!

Congrats on the catch, and thanks for sharing!

Sincerely,

Jim

Albion furbags.....all part of the fun boyz! 

Glad you handled the situation like a pro Sledge.....those little fish bonkers do come in handy.....at close range. 

Thanks for sharing your experience with the furbag Mike.

Albion furbags.....all part of the fun boyz! 

Glad you handled the situation like a pro Sledge.....those little fish bonkers do come in handy.....at close range. 

U were in my mind when that feaking seal was leaping all around me, but when it used me for a backboard...all thoughts went off the side of the yak....LOL...

whats funny is there was a PB'er camped nxt to me and I was telling him bout NCKA...and he ask's have you ever fallen in...and I knock on my wooden handle of my fi :smt002shing pole and say "NO" and sure as u talk about it...what happens the very same day...   but I was not pissing in a bottle...just my wetsuit...

And I forgot my "Sledge Hammer"  but that seal was so quick...only a gun would've put it off...quick....

There's something in the air...  I had seals chasing me at the Cape yesterday and one hit my boat today at Trinidad, and I've never before had any problems with them up close.  This year is really weird so far...

Glad you survived to tell the tale!   

Glad you made it out safely.
Those heavy wooden fish bats work wonders. They are only $5-$7. They float and pack one helluva whollup.
I have thrown mine on several occassions at furbags, pelicans and seagulls. They have amazing accuracy and with the yellow rope handle are easy to spot and recover.
Not sure if pepper spray might have helped but I may start carrying one for when they get too close.

A couple of years ago Papa Bill and I were guiding a few newbies for scallen (Monterey) when the identical thing happened to Bill. Seal acting very erratic trying to get out of the water then just like that the seal jumps right on Bill's lap and gives him a lap dance.
The landlord may have been trying to collect rent!
I was also fishing with  Dan the day the Landlord chomped on his Hobie while drifting the Bean. So when I see a seal acting like that I take it as an alarm that their maybe a bigger issue then the seal trying to get my bait. Just a thought.....

Damn Sledge , I couldn't here you too good with 2 boys crying O ver leaving camp. I did get enough out of it to feel that you were ok and didn't feel you were in a y trouble. I Learned a lesson out there this weekend also and you definetely need to be prepared for anything. Great fishing and diving with you this weeke d just too bad the wind stunk while I was there. At least you got on some fish Monday and Tuesday . we'll have to hook up soon in the delta
later
jimbo
Ps- it might have been thAt aftershave you put before you went fishing that could have aroused thAt big fur bag

Man! glad your allright.. Stupid fur bag