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Topic: Started bad but ended good dive report - Mendo  (Read 1320 times)

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DG

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I received a call from another member who wanted to get a dive in on Friday. We discuss several locations and it was still up in the air where we were going to go.  He said he was going to go home and check the waves and weather and get back to me on where he wanted to dive.  So I received a text later naming the location and confirming it was Friday.  I said it has been a little windy but we will make it work.  So I received a call Thursday saying he was staying at a campground on the coast and that he wanted to meet at 7:30 in the morning.  No problem thinking an early start is good if the wind kicks up and it gets nasty we will at least have a few hours in the water.

So I get all set up and dressed and I am still the only one there.  I get this strange call saying where are you and I say I am ready to launch where are you.  He said I am ready to launch where are you.  Well the cell signal wasn't the best and it was cutting in and out, but I am pretty sure I was being cussed out because he was over an hour away. Without naming the flake who tried to blame me for the confusion lets just say he is a bit of a Hammerhead who is at the Simply Fishing event this weekend.   

Oh well, looks like it will be a solo dive after all.  No biggie, but when I was setting up my kayak my fish finder was not working.  I did all the trouble shooting but couldn't get it to work.  So I took it off and went without one. I wanted to try some new locations but had to do it the old fashioned way (like Rob102).  I saw lots of fish, but was really not interested in killing a bunch so I continued exploring.  I found some nice scallops and threw them on my kayak and went back for more.  I somehow pried so hard the bar slipped and pinched my finger in between a scallop and a rock. It screwed my hand up and I could not use it so scallop hunting was done.  Moved to a different spot and found what easily could have been a big brown rock in the middle of a couple other rocks. The color was just a tad off from the nearby rocks so I snuck up and took a peek.  It was a large Lingcod head.  It saw me so I backed off to get a better angle for a good shot and as soon as I did it turned around and came out the other side of the rocks and checked me out.  Oh yeah I could now see its whole body and it was big.  I extended the gun and shot it in the head as it turned away from me and it was off like a race horse.  The spear went all the way through which was a good thing except that it went f'ng crazy and was spinning and swimming into rocks and was able to pull the shaft out with a chunk of flesh left on it. 

I was heart broken as I have lost a couple really big ones.  If the flopper opens do you horse it in and not allow it slack, let it go into a hole and come back with another gun or try to rush it while it is going crazy.  These are the things that raced through my head the second I pulled the trigger.  Well before I could react it was to late. I decided I would try to find it.  I checked all the nearby holes, cracks and ledges.  When I have an epic fail like that I won't shoot any more fish that day and just try harder to retain it next time.  So I finally see a big lingcod laying on the bottom and with all the thoughts racing I jump on it and think I found it.  Except it was a different color and not as big with no hole in his head.  I toss it on the kayak and keep looking.  Normally one ling is enough for me on any given day.  Today I really didn't want to leave this wounded fish around and have to dream about going back until redeeming myself months later (ask BigJim about this).  So I spent hours looking and just couldn't imagine why it was so hard to find.  I was getting close to giving up when I spotted the fat ling head with a hole in it and knew this was it.  I shot it again and pounced on it until I was holding it tightly.  That made for a good day in the end with a 34” and 37” ling combo. 

Still waiting to hear from the other diver to see how many perch he shot at the other location. 

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/2405
-----------------------------------
NorCAL HOW Volunteer

2018 NCKA - DOTY Committee Member

2017 DOTY 2 biggest fish awards
2016 DOTY 2nd place / 4 biggest fish awards
2016 Triton X - 2nd place
2016 Triton Open - Biggest Lingcod
2014 DOTY - 1 biggest fish award


dirkbeachman

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Awesome report! I can totally relate to that "gotta find him no matter what" feeling. So great that you did. Even more impressive you did it solo. I always think having a buddy around is super helpful, doubles the number of drops you can do in a given period of time plus one guy can cover the "back door" if there's deep hole. Two sturdy lings is a great day no matter what and totally beats perch anytime! Congrats!


Tote

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I'm surprised you made out anything coming from that other guy's cell phone.
Every time he leaves a message Becky and I look at each other and say, "WTF did he just say?" I'll be polite and say it sounds like he has marbles in his mouth, but it sounds more like something else.
Glad you got your fish after all Duane. Persistence paid off big time.
<=>


DG

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I'm surprised you made out anything coming from that other guy's cell phone.
Every time he leaves a message Becky and I look at each other and say, "WTF did he just say?" I'll be polite and say it sounds like he has marbles in his mouth, but it sounds more like something else.
Glad you got your fish after all Duane. Persistence paid off big time.
You didn't even go to Simply Fishing and still knew who I was talking about. 

Found some new scallop holes for next time you come up.   Not sharing with the other guy.  He probably won't talk to me anyways. 
-----------------------------------
NorCAL HOW Volunteer

2018 NCKA - DOTY Committee Member

2017 DOTY 2 biggest fish awards
2016 DOTY 2nd place / 4 biggest fish awards
2016 Triton X - 2nd place
2016 Triton Open - Biggest Lingcod
2014 DOTY - 1 biggest fish award


DG

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Awesome report! I can totally relate to that "gotta find him no matter what" feeling. So great that you did. Even more impressive you did it solo. I always think having a buddy around is super helpful, doubles the number of drops you can do in a given period of time plus one guy can cover the "back door" if there's deep hole. Two sturdy lings is a great day no matter what and totally beats perch anytime! Congrats!
Didn't expect anyone to actually read it.  Need to get out with you soon.  I am sure you would actually meet up at the location we talked a about. 
-----------------------------------
NorCAL HOW Volunteer

2018 NCKA - DOTY Committee Member

2017 DOTY 2 biggest fish awards
2016 DOTY 2nd place / 4 biggest fish awards
2016 Triton X - 2nd place
2016 Triton Open - Biggest Lingcod
2014 DOTY - 1 biggest fish award


dirkbeachman

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Doing some home duties this wknd Duane, but ready in future. Looks like today is going to be a nice one for whoever is getting out there!


ulisesv2013

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Awesome fish sir, great fishing story.


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Fishcomb

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I'm surprised you made out anything coming from that other guy's cell phone.
Every time he leaves a message Becky and I look at each other and say, "WTF did he just say?" I'll be polite and say it sounds like he has marbles in his mouth, but it sounds more like something else.
Glad you got your fish after all Duane. Persistence paid off big time.
Yup sounds like my Holme boy

Thanks for the report Duane! Big ass ling!


ex-kayaker

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Still waiting to hear from the other diver to see how many perch he shot at the other location. 



 :smt044 :smt044 :smt044
..........agarcia is just an ex-kayaker


BigJim

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Yeah Duane!!

 :smt007 :smt007

Stoked for you dude!!

Great job and beautiful fish!!

Melon Head missed out!  :smt002 :smt005 :smt044 :smt005

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim

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bobbyang1

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All I can say is awesome report and lol cabeza


Sailfish

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Your effort paid off.  Thanks for the report Duane.
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning how to dance in the rain."


 

anything