Sturgeon 12/10/05

Launched from Buck's launching with Bill, Joel, John, and Eric around 8:20.
Zero wind and flat water with tons of sunshine.
Paddled what looked to be a little more than half way to the pumphouse where we all anchored and wet our lines.
I was lucky to get the 1st fish. A small leopard shark.
Joel hooked a nice leopard that he boated.
Wind came in light, but the waves were decent size so most of us headed in towards shallower water. Things were calmer so we all anchored and started fishing again.
Joel hooks into a toad..all I can say is I think he was warned to use heavier leader...enuf said there..I am sure others will chime in.
Eric paddled back out and got bit by a hog. I would post a pic but I can't figure it out on the new page yet.
All in all I boated 3 leopards and 1 kingfish..Not bad for my 1st time on San Pablo.
Great company. I can't wait to do it again.
The only bummer was getting 2 tickets on my way home. 70 with a trailer and in the wrong lane. ( Whatever ) MERRY Xmas!

Was a great day on the bay.  I'm sore and tired and my freezer is full.  That pretty much sums it up.

We paddled about 2.5 miles out and dropped anchor at about 9:00.  Started out calm, then got really rough... was looking like we were going to get blown off with white caps rolling all the way across the bay east to west.  We paddled about 1/2 mile back toward the duck blinds and we no sooner got there and the wind started to lay down.  Chuck was the only one that stayed way out in the rough stuff and after a little while I paddled back out closer to him... the same basic area where Josh got into that big'un last year. 

By about 1:00 or so I had only caught one leppie and a 21" striper.  Then it felt like something rubbed up against my line and I set the hook... SOLID.  The fish came right to the surface and thrashed and rolled so I knew I had a BIG sturgon on.  I tossed my anchor and went for a ride.  My GPS said I topped out at 5.8 miles per hour... weeeeee!  About 25 minutes later I was working on landing the beast.  Got my snare around the head, whacked it a few times, then pulled it on board.  Then continued pummeling it until my hands cramped up.  Just over 71 inches... never weighed it but I wouldn't be surpised if it went 100#... lots of girth.  I think Bill and Tote got some action shots and Sean and Mooch got some good shots as well so I'll let them post the pics when the get the chance.

With the fish on board and gills slit to bleed it out, Bill accompanied me back toward Bucks.  I'll say that there wasn't a whole lot of freeboard left on my kayak with that dino on top.  Elric, JTF, and Chuck stayed out there and Joel, Sean, Bill, Tote and I made our way back... I think Chuck may have nabbed a nice striper about the time we were paddling up Gallinas creek.  Hopefully someone else hooked into another gangsta!

I just got done butchering that beast... had every little boy in the neighborhood over here looking at it and watching me clean it.  My inlaws got into town about the time I was getting ready to clean so they were glad to be here to see it. 

Thanks to all you guys for giving me a hand with things... hopefully I'll have some smoked sturgeon to share next time we meet. 
Caught on Ghost shrimp.

Gear:  7' 15-30# composite rod.  Shimano TR100 with 65# Spectra and 80# mono leader.  Double gamagatsu 7/0 octopus hooks and 6 oz of lead. 

Put over 7 miles on the kayak today... I think I'll go fall over and crash now...

Erik

I caught nothing today but got to witness an amazing event.

First Joel with a nice 5# striper...



I was laying down trying to catch a nap and I hear Erik call fish on over the radio. He says it is pretty big, then he calls out that he has thrown the anchor so I knew it was serious. Since all I had done was lose bait I decided to head out and watch the show. About 5 minutes later I paddle up on this scene...



Now I know something big is on cause Erik is huffing and puffing. Then I see the head of the beast!!



After about 10 minutes more of fighting the beast and several good whacks with the paddle and club, Erik gets the noose around it and proceeds to bang it some more.



After some thinking, resting and adjusting Erik hauls it on board, what a monster!





Erik and I decide we should head back in since he is now carrying an extra 100#, we meet up with Joel, Tote and Sean for a nice calm ride back.



Joel mooching some sturgeon time



ChuckE also had a nice striper that went about 9#. Great day on the water even though I did not catch anything. I think everyone did catch something except for Sean and I.

Awesome catch. What about the sturgeon pot with no wieght?

I am jealous of a beast like that one.

Just remember that gaffs are illegal in the bay from my understanding. "5th picture".


Joel has got to stop looking so serious when he poses.

-Brian G

Congrats Erik.... You're the undisputed sturgeon king of the kayak fishing world 

Although my first legal sturgeon eluded me once again, I still had the best time fishing with a great group of guys which even included the 4 current leaders of the sturgeon, striper, salmon, and rockcod jackpots.  It was also good to finally meet Mike "Tote" from Placerville.

My tally for the day was 3 leopards and 4 legal stripers.  The largest shark went about 5 foot and the biggest striper was this one at 9 llbs/29 inches.

Awesome catch. What about the sturgeon pot with no wieght?

I am jealous of a beast like that one.

Just remember that gaffs are illegal in the bay from my understanding. "5th picture".


Joel has got to stop looking so serious when he poses.

-Brian G

Thanks Brian... Gaffs aren't illegal in the bay... but it is illegal to gaff a sturgeon.   Fortunately I think the other photos show pretty clearly that I didn't use the gaff to land the fish... just the club side of it.

The one crazy thing that the guys forgot to mention is that when Erik was trying to subdue his monster dino, we all could hear him clubbing it over half-a-mile away.  Whack... whack.... whack....whack... whack....whack... whack!!!!

By the way... I'm selling the GPS coordinates to Erik and Josh's sturgeon honey hole. 
I now have seen two huge dinos taken out of there in my last two trips.  Coincidence????

Another great day with the NCKA crew.  Erik is the undisputed sturgeon master.  This thing was freaking gigantic!!!!  Eriks boat was low-riding with that hog in the bow...thank god the wind laid down.  You know a fish is HEAVY when a huge dude like Erik can't even really smile while holding it up.  Awesome catch, and well earned.

Wow, looks like a sweet trip and reports. Kind of jeolous    as it's too cold here    (hasn't been above freezing for a week or two) for river fishing and hasn't been cold long enough for ice-fishing. 

Oh well, no sense to  . Guess I'll just have to console myself with skiing, tomorrow.

Hey, fishing guru:

what a catch! what a day!

This would not be believable until pictures show. Erik is pretty tall. The dino has the same height as his. When I am reading this thread, the report is thrilling. I know, reading is no comparison with real witnessing and experience. Others like stripes look big and neat too. I feel honored that you are guru and I knew all of you,  except Chuck. . Thanks for the great report.

The only bummer was getting 2 tickets on my way home. 70 with a trailer and in the wrong lane. ( Whatever ) MERRY Xmas!

I also got a speeding ticket last week during a fishing trip.  you are not alone. Looking at what a day you had, you should have tossed the ticket away. At least, for a month. 

Awesome report!

Woooo-Hoooo-That is one big fish!  Your setup was ready for him.   65# Spectra, 80lb mono- wow!
I wish I was there.

Hey, you need to post this link on BigWatersEdge.  Show those guys in SouthernCal that you too can catch some really BIG FISH!

"CONGRATULATIONS

Wow! Nice Pic's. of the monster. I'm totally excited and convinced to get  the Alien Yak out of storage for a chance of experiencing a battle with one of those Dinasours. Sounds like a lot of action was going on. The buy catch doesn't look to bad nither.

Again, CONGRATULATIONS to you guys.

  Heck, I'd be scared to hook something that big! Hahahaha.  Good job!