China camp 12/16 NCKA double- header!

Just a quick start, we're off to the san rafeal small craft parade of lights. Eric, the dino- master and Joel/ MOoch conquered the day.
Mooch says he's retiring the sturg hunt, I say he'll be back when he finishes eating his.

Ben... more details please!

Go ahead and torture me.  I really wanted to go, but had to work overtime plus attend a family function today. 

Guess we will have plenty of pics come Monday!!!

Good going guys. Can't wait to see the pictures.

Alright... here's some details.

Weather:  PERFECT... well... a little on the chilly side but calm as a koi pond ALL DAY LONG!!!! 

Cast of Characters:  Mooch, myself, Backslider, Guitarzan, and Bungle.

We fished up in the honey hole area.  Mooch and I arrived first, then Backslider joined us and Guitarzan and Bungle finally found us out there after taking the scenic route, paddling half way to Martinez on the way. 

Fishing was pretty slow... a few small leppies were caught and quite a few bullhead-type bait stealing nibbles.

All the bait shops were out of ghost shrimp, so grass shrimp it was. 

About 1:00 or so I moved out about a quarter mile farther toward the pumphouse and a little before 2:00 had a nice hookup.  It slammed the bait and I could feel that it wasn't another leppie.  After a some rollling and writhing under the surface, the thing shot straight out of the water and there was no question what I had on.  Turned out to be a hot little dino that ran me in circles and made it pretty exciting for a while.  I had it in the boat and dispatched with "the punisher" within about 10 minutes.  Measured out at 49 1/2 inches and about 25#.   Booyah! 

I went over to visit Joel and give him the rest of my shrimp and get a photo op before paddling back toward China Camp.  About half way back I hear this yelling coming from across the bay.  Sure enough, the Mooch had one hooked up.  Wound up being a keeper at approx. 46 inches. 

I made it back to CC at around 3:00 and skidded across the mud, making it to the beach in the nick of time.

Danglin was there to meet me on the beach.  He came down to live vicariously since he didn't have time to get out today.  We BS'd while Joel made his way back.  He too made it across the mud just barely.  Then came Guitarzan and Bungle who had to hump it across about 50 feet of mud flat... wasn't too bad though.

Funniest thing of the day was Mooch passing the torch to Danglin.  To quote Mooch:

"Erik... I'm done!  After 4 years of trying, I finally caught my sturgeon and I'm done sturgeon fishing.  I don't know how you guys can sit there all day long, quiet, not moving... I'm done... I can't do it any more.  I was actually quiet today too!  Here Danglin... you can have my snare.  I'm done!". 

My bet is that he'll be back out there by February when the last of his dino is eaten and he's sick of fishing for trout.  Too funny!

A great day all in all.  Couldn't ask for a nicer day on the bay. 

Also, I re-rigged my rear anchor setup before this trip to copy what Tote had done.  Worked like a charm.  I think this is the best rear anchor rig yet.  Very simple and works awesome. 

Here's some pics.

Guess we will have plenty of pics come Monday!!!

Mooch's camera battery was dead, so I snapped a couple pics for him.
 


Didn't get a shot of Eriks fish, but I'm pretty sure someone got one.  I know Erik got a couple good ones of me trudging through the mud.  And sitting in the mud.  And digging through the mud for my sandals.  Good times.

Thanks guys for letting sponge some of that Dino energy today, really wanted to make it today. You guys looked picture perfect out there, and dino's to boot...

Thank you Mooch for passing me your lucky snare, but you " Will BE BacK " ,

I can't take your lucky snare....I'll be making my own, and get it back to ya,

Congrats to all out there today, it was a winner................danglin

Funny, while Becky and I were out for an early dinner I actually said to her I hope Mooch gets a sturgeon. I might have wished otherwise had I known he would " call it quits" ( yea right! ).
I very much enjoy mixing in all the different varieties of kayak fishing. Sometimes all I want to do is sit on my kayak and wait for a bite. At least while I am sturgeon fishing I never know what I might hook into.
Big KUDOS to you guys today. I was with you in spirit.
Glad the anchor system worked for you Eric.

Yeah right Mooch. I believe you'll quit dino hunting about as much as you'll quit eating rice.Great hunt guys so the grass shrimp are the ticket. Will keep trying in the south bay probably this next wednesday.
Eric next you'll be posting the proper way to clean a dino :} Nice!!!!!!

Frank... I would have photographed it tonight but I was doing it in the dark.  Next time.

EK

Come on now Mooch, , I.ve seen you with bigger trout, are you going to end your sturg career on a 46 and a 1/2 incher?!

Kudos, Thanks for reports. I will go out sometimes. It reminds me of last season of sturgeon fishing - fun.

By the way Mooch, how did the Trevala hold up bringing that fish in?  I imagine it makes holding the rod all day a little easier.

Trevala????

http://tackledirect.com/shimano-trevala-rods.html