The old man and the sea

[Whatever]

What is the strangest thing you have ever caught on rod and reel? (other than fish)

In the late 60's, I was casting for stripers with a large floating Rapala, and had a large Gull grab my plug, and proceed to hook himself. There was a brief aerial battle before I prevailed. My father was most disgusted, as the Gull would not cooperate in the release, repeatedly grabbing his fingers with his beak. I was disgusted, as I was not allowed to kill it in hopes of attracting a shark.

A few years ago, I had a similar battle with a Coot in a local lake. Again casting plugs (a diver this time). He fought to the rod tip, before being subdued and released. On light tackle, it was a spirited fight.

But the record that still stands was the immense Green Sea Turtle I hooked on bait, and fought for two hours before he broke off. (on 80# test). This was the Central Pacific, and I am guessing at his size (but I believe 40" and approx 200 pounds), as he was substantially larger than the 22 incher I had caught while diving the previous month. That one weighed 69 pounds, and as it was 2" too small to be legally kept, it was tagged, and released. Shortly after, the Feds raised the minimum length to 36", and now they are completely illegal.

A mate in Alaska one year had a hooked salmon grabbed by a large Sea Lion (400 pounds?), while being played. The Sea Lion spit out the fish, but gave a  brief, one sided battle before breaking off.

I am guessing some of you have similar tales?

[TnRiver46]

I’ve caught a couple humans, a duck, some rocks, and an onion sack full of mud that, while trying to release, I hooked my thumb 

[Ski213]

Well nothing like what you describe. I wouldn’t say “caught” on any of these since they didn’t make it in the boat but. Years ago my buddy had a gull come down and grab his soft jerk bait, believe it was a Mann’s shadow. Didn’t get hooked but she took flight with it for a period of time that felt like a minute but was probably several seconds. Had another bird, a large one, that kept diving after my spinner bait. Never connected though. I ended up catching a 3 pounder off the log I was fishing. The bird just sat in the tree looking at me like hey what are you going to do with that?  Had another friend with a squirrel that went crazy trying to get a frog. Again, never hooked but not for lack of the squirrel trying. A few years ago I had a turtle, believe called a red eared slider grab a jig. Fought it all the way to the boat. Guess it was just holding on the whole time and spit it out at the gunnel. Not hooked. A couple weeks ago I had a large alligator snapping turtle grab a creature bait and put up a pretty good fight.  I don’t know how to size up turtles but it was about the size of a 20# propane tank laid on its side. Again it wasn’t hooked. Got it to the boat and it pulled the bait off. I was glad of that. 

[Whatever]

Well, I discounted humans, though I have seen several foul hooked. Some of them fight viciously. I also left out my 100 pound Airedale terrier.

What species of duck?

[Bluebasser86]

I've got a blue heron, a grebe, an owl, a few seagulls, my dog, several snapping turtles along with various other turtles.

 

One I remember was catching a sleeping bag with a jigging spoon off the front of a small cliff you could drive up to. It was heavy, I assume full of mud and water, but I didn't want to open it to find out and just ripped my hooks loose.

[TnRiver46]

11 hours ago, Whatever said:

Well, I discounted humans, though I have seen several foul hooked. Some of them fight viciously. I also left out my 100 pound Airedale terrier.

What species of duck?

Hen mallard 

[Whatever]

One of my favorites! With sage stuffing.

[N Florida Mike]

I “hooked” a gator once when he ate a bream I had caught. I dont think he ever realized he was  “ hooked” though. Broke the line, of course.

[DitchPanda]

Hooked a beaver one time(don't even start)...hardest fight of my life...had my drag as tight as I could and it still almost spooled me before my line popped.

[Whatever]

1 hour ago, DitchPanda said:

Hooked a beaver one time(don't even start)...hardest fight of my life...had my drag as tight as I could and it still almost spooled me before my line popped.

We can only assume you were fishing a "stick" bait? (aspen?)

[greentrout]

 

caught a big bull frog with a small version of a scum frog on a neighborhood pond...

 

not strange but unusual ...

 

good fishing ... 

[schplurg]

I don't know if this works with all birds, but if you cover its head with a shirt or towel it may calm down, or at least it can't bite you. This works if you snag a bird, maybe not so well if the hook is in the mouth. I saw it in a video I think <shrug>

 

I too caught a bullfrog with a frog last year. Only thing I've caught with one so far. It was barbless which was nice for both of us.

 

I lured a huge one onto shore a few months ago with a fluke or something. I didn't let him grab it but he tried. Big ol' bullfrog. He looked at me and seemed to suddenly realize he was out of the water and in the open and bolted back into the pond.

[bigbill]

A 4’ diameter snapping turtle. My son said it’s a log as it raised its human sized head that we first thought was a limb.

[Columbia Craw]

eight foot wolf eel.