Love at San Pablo Bay 12-9-06

Met Ed ( Sudmucker ) before the gates opened at China Camp at 8. Expecting bad weather, this was what awaited us:



Launched from China Camp Village and paddled straight out to 13 feet of water. A total of 0.6 miles and a little south so the wind would be at our backs on the way in.
This is how far off shore we were:



And this was how far we paddled:



Ed had already caught a leopard.
After not too long I hooked up. Felt like a leopard. I got it to the boat pretty quick. It made one hard pull, so I thought it was a little bigger than I had expected. Up it comes. No sooner do I get the word STURGEON out of my mouth it makes a leap and lands on my kayak, bounces back in the water and then runs. I knew it wasn't a huge one, but it was still a sturgeon.
I didn't want to release the anchor, really didn't need to. I had a hard time steering him clear of the anchor rope though.
Finally get the noose around him. As I cinch down he takes off again. Right through the noose and makes another run.
I finally tire him out and noose him. After a few rolls on the deck while trying to get the hook out I release him.
Fourty-seven inches which could have been stretched to 48"".
Here he is before I got the noose around him:



Hook damage as I was trying to get it out when he rolled:



Caught one Sandy after that then the current combined with the wind started RIPPIN' big time!!!



I don't think I could have paddled from the Honey Hole against the wind and current combined. It was brutal.

Here is Ed with one of his 2 or 3 flounders:



Great day, weather cooperated.I am sure Ed will have more pics to post on Monday.
Great fishiing with you too Ed.

Nice job Tote!  There are lots of Sturgies landed from shore in that area, so you don't HAVE to get out to the honey hole to find them.  Good strategy with the anticipated weather.  Since that is right in my back yard, I need to finally get on my anchor project and join you guys some day.

Right On!!!     Thats a great spot where you guys were, anywhere in that vicinity will produce if your doin all the right things with a little luck.  You had both goin on.  jtf..

Very Cool!!!  Way to get out there and make things happen.

--
Angel

it makes a leap and lands on my kayak

Way to go Mike! That must have been fun. Thanks for a great report.

Al

congrats! is that you first sturgeon?

J

Big congrats Tote!  Way to go!!!

Here's looking forward to a bigger one next time!!!! 

RIGHT ON.... and CONGRATS Tote!

Is that our first dino of the season?

Right on Tote!  The sturg season has officialy started for ncka, hats off to you!

My first kayak sturgeon and only my second sturgeon ever. My first one was all of 18 inches 20 years ago.

Way to go Tote. Great report and congrats on the sturg.

WTG tote!!  I'm astounded the bay looked so nice this morning with the storm we've had.

Wish it was that nice for me and Steve last week

We'll hit it again.

Allen

  AWESOME   You are the Man!!!!   .....................Danglin

Congrats!  Hopefully i will break my surgy curse this year.

Congrats!  Hopefully i will break my sturgy curse this year.

Ditto!