Fish Chris Posted March 9, 2011 Posted March 9, 2011 ...besides the wind Geeez ! I thought that would all be blown out by today, but it was anywhere from very breezy, to downright windy all day Anyway, as I pulled into the parking lot, a little Asian guy was launching right behind me. I asked what he was fishing for, and he said Sturgeon and Stripers. So, I asked if he had caught any Sturgeon lately, and he said, yes, two this year already. Man, that's a lot better than me... I can't find them to save my life. He actually told me where he caught them, and it really doesn't surprise me... farther out toward the bay. So he heads West, and I head East. After catching my bait (Split Tails.... about 9"... a little smaller than I prefer, but....) I started fishing at my spot. After about 30 minutes, I get blasted, and my bait runner starts singing. I let it take it for about 8 or 10 seconds (30 feet ?) then engaged the reel, and let the fish clothesline itself... and when it did, it instantly came to the surface, and made the biggest explosion, like somebody dropped a bath tub in the water ! Once it got back under the surface, it started a freight train run, just burning drag, at a high rate of speed ! This fish felt bigger, and stronger, than any of the 20+ fish I've caught this year ! I mean, it really wasn't slowing down, and I was looking at my anchor line, thinking about throwing the slack and float buoy over.... when "thunk" it comes unbuttoned :'( :'( :'( When I reeled it in to inspect my bait, I found that the hook had gotten turned around, and hooked back into the Split Tail The Striper never felt a hook After regrouping for minute, I straighten out that rig, and go set it out again. Didn't take long, and I stuck a scrappy little 10 lb'er. The next fish was nice, strong, 20.4 lb'er After that, I ended up catching 3 more, from 12 to 16 lb's lbs or so. Oh, and I missed 1 other while fishing a Split Tail under a bobber, on my micro-light. I think it must have felt the bobber dragging, and dropped it. Split Tail was ripped up though. No doubt what happened to it. Oh, so just out of pure coincidence, as I arrive back to the ramp, the same little Asian guy pulls up behind me. He asks how I did, so I told him I whacked them pretty good.... 5 fish from 10 to 20.4 lb's. {thinking I was kind of cool } ......and he says, "That's awesome ! Well I got 1"..... "Striper or Sturgeon", I ask ? Sturgeon ! I got it right here.... check it out.... and darnit... if that guy hadn't stuck the fish I've been wanting SOOO bad ! A thick, solid 62" keeper ! I told him, "Well, I'll never complain about catching 5 nice Stripers.... But I'd trade every one of them for a 62" Sturgeon ! He just laughed, and agreed with me Oh, so here's the 20.4.... photographed big, didn't it ? All in all, another fun day on the water Peace, Fish Quote
BASSINATORBIGJOE Posted March 9, 2011 Posted March 9, 2011 Another great day on the Delta. I'd like to fish there one day. It sounds alot like our South Louisiana marshs, instead of stripers we have our Redfish. Thanks for the report and great pictures..............Mike 8-) Quote
GrundleLove Posted March 9, 2011 Posted March 9, 2011 Chris, I think the logical next step (since you clearly master the area) is to try and catch one of those on an ultralight with 4lb mono. What a challenge. Dooo eeeettt Quote
hookingem Posted March 9, 2011 Posted March 9, 2011 Now that sounds like a fun day! Don't worry about the stuergon it'll just be bigger the next time you hook it. Quote
Fish Chris Posted March 9, 2011 Author Posted March 9, 2011 Thanks guys Hey Grundle, how funny you should mention that.... I actually caught an IGFA World record Striper (at the time) of 16lb 12 oz on 4 lb test mono. Got my name in the IGFA record book, and a nice certificate... and that was WAAAY back in 1981. Nowadays, I don't / won't use mono for anything ! I have grown to absolutely despise the stuff. I'm just a braid guy all the way. I do still do a ton of micro-light gear fishing, however, I use a micro-braided line, which tests at about 10 or 12 lbs, but is about 2 or 3 lb test mono equivalent diameter. Now, on that gear, I have caught 4 Sturgeon in the 100 lb range. That is a total challenge, and I love it ! As for Stripers, the hardest part is just connecting with a really big one in the first place. Once I do however, I feel like I can (without much trouble) land any Striper that swims, on the micro-light. Heck, once you land a 100 lb Sturgeon on a setup, it kind of makes you feel invincible .....oh, not to mention, big old Sturgeon, will often try to get lazy on you during a fight, and try to lay down on the bottom. Their are ways to get them going again, but that can be a PITA. Whereas, a big Striper will just flat turn itself into butter, and let you drift it right in. Don't get me wrong, they can be really strong, and are a blast to catch..... but compared to Sturgeon, they are relatively easy to land. Peace, Fish Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted March 9, 2011 Posted March 9, 2011 Nice dink. ;D I'd love to catch a striper like that. Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted March 9, 2011 Super User Posted March 9, 2011 Beautiful fish !! Good photography, it looks like it's 50#, my latest cuda was bigger and looks much smaller.....I had a bad photographer. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted March 9, 2011 Super User Posted March 9, 2011 I agree, it looks 50+ to me, too! Nice fish, beautiful pic! Quote
The Bassinator Posted March 9, 2011 Posted March 9, 2011 I just wish I could fish right now! Anything like that would be an enormous bonus! Nice Fish! Quote
edbassmaster Posted March 9, 2011 Posted March 9, 2011 Hey Chris, I think you should write for a fishing mag. I find your posts better than most I have read in any magazine, plus you get the pics too. Why not try it? You know its a good story if you get butterflies while reading it. Quote
Fish Chris Posted March 10, 2011 Author Posted March 10, 2011 Much thanks again guys Yea, that fish looked a lot bigger than 20 lbs in person too. It was just one of those fish with the big, but empty belly, so it sagged down quite a bit giving the apearance of being a fat one. I've caught Largemoughts like that to, and they always make for impressive photos. What's really cool though, is when you can catch a big, fat pre-spawn fish (Largemouth's, Striper's or whatever) who's bellies not only bulge downward, but also, out on the sides ! You know, the ones with the stretched tight bellies Peace, Fish Quote
paul. Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 another great fish. you are just smokin' those stripers. Quote
Big-O Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 You're on'em strong Chris and terrific photo's too! Big O www.ragetail.com Quote
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