Black Point 2/3/07 - Dino Love Story Continues

Well, I was planning to launch at Sonoma Creek, but I just couldn't pass up Black Point.  Since it was a very foggy launch at 7:30 AM, I was comfortable paddling out into it at Black Point since I know the area. 

Got bait at Port Sonoma... very nice lively ghost shrimp... yum!

I took a right toward the Bel Marin Keys and kept going in pretty much a straight line from the channel markers out into the flats.  A couple other boats in the area.  Slight wind opposite the current in the early morning, then it flattened out like glass. 

Started fishing the incoming tide in ~ 6 ft of water and at about 10:00, I moved over toward Hamilton into 4 feet of water, just north of the dolphin (big telephone pole thing) that is located out there.

About 10:30 I feel the tiniest "nibble nibble"...felt like a crab or a bullhead but I swung for the fences anyway... SOLID hookup... yahoo... now what is it?  After a couple minutes I saw the tail... DINO... booyah! 

Once I brought it closer to the boat it must have realized what was going on and it went friggin' ballistic.  In 4 feet of water there ain't many options other then to go ape... I dumped the anchor and got towed sideways, backwards, you name it.  Very fiesty fish. 

Got er to the boat... looked 50-ish inches so I decieded to keep it.  Then I realized I didn't have my club... doh!  No camera either... doh! 

Snared it and stuck it in the gills with my knife to bleed it.  Then went back for the anchor and used my anchor to club it... didn't work real good but it eventually did the job.  One of my three "nuts" went flying, so I'm down to a two nut anchor once again... just slightly less manly than before. 

Paddled back and loaded up. Met a guy named Gabriel at the launch who was just headed out in a T-140.  His handle is Fishingfool... just bought the yak and knew of the board.  We exchanged pleasantries and off I went. 

No good pics this time, only the official "on the lawn with a tape measure" kind.  I also took a series of photos that I'll use to put together a "how to clean a sturgeon" article. 

Official measurement is 51 1/2 inches.  Didn't weight it but would estimate 25 to 30 pounds. 

You the Man " KzReelRods " ........Danglin

The "DINOSSASSIN" scores again!   

Way to go Erik!

Nice job on the sturgeon  , where there a pile of boats out today it was the first day of the sturgeon derby.

Pat R

Nice! I'm looking forward to seeing the "how to clean a Dino" article.

CHEERS!

Nice!     Goin out tomorrow now.  JTF..

Nice fish KZ, but the tape measurer looks cute "Pink & Purple"? does Paige know you stole it from her?  Just messin, When is your next trip to the Dino hideout?  Maybe I could learn some tips from the master.

KB

Another nice one Eric!

Thanks... yep, the tape measure sure is purdy... I'll have to get Paige another one. 

There were only 3 or 4 boats in the vicinity and nobody really all that close by. 

I heard of a 60 incher caught outside of sonoma creek this morning as well.

Bait stealers were minimal... only had a couple small pecks all day long.  This fish literally bit like a flounder or something... almost undetectable little pecks.  Unreal. 

Will be out of action for the next couple weeks... probably looking at the 27th for another outing.  Sounds like March 1st will be D-day for the new regulations and smaller slot limit.  Only a few more chances to bag a legal fish over 66 inches. 

I was fishing this general area... (Red X)
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=38.10045&lon=-122.47371&s=100&size=l&u=4&datum=nad83&layer=DRG

one thing missing from these great photo essays is a pic of the bait.

I've never seen ghost or grass shrimmp before. love to see that part of the equation.

Best,

J

I supplicate at the alter of your dino mojo. You gotta get that 66 for all of us

Ghostshrimp:

WTG, Erik.

Had to work this week-end, but I might just have to give BP a shot next week-end. Thanks for the recon.

Awesome job Erik... as usual. You are the dino-man.

Freddie

Way to go Erik! Looking forward to the autopsy photo's. By the way better to have two nuts then no nuts....