Starting to feel a bit torn... What would you do?

[Fish Chris]

Okay, those Bat Rays and Leopard Sharks were a lot of fun, but also a lot of gas, and wear and tear on the truck..... Plus, I did put a pretty good hurtin' on em' in the 7 or 8 trips I made for them. Only thing I didn't accomplish with those, was to get a good, beside the boat photo of one of the big Rays, for my photo album. Oh well.

So anyway, I found out a couple days ago, that even now, in late Summer, I actually still have a shot at a big ol' trophy Largemouth, at the ol' mud hole :-) Hate that place, but love those big bass !

And then just a little bit ago, I got off of the phone with a buddy who is already (successfully) doing the "Split Tails for trophy Striped Bass" trick, basically right here in my back yard (the launch is only 6 miles from my driveway). He and a buddy caught a 15 and and an 18 lb'er a couple days ago, plus had several runs and drops. Another buddy caught a 25. So no giants yet.... but you stick a 40 plus, the same way you stick a 15 ! It's just like trophy Largemouth fishing.... Patience, Persistence, and Perseverence will make it happen !

What would you shoot for ?

I'm thinking bass.... like maybe alternating between the Striped ones, and the big mouthed ones..... Until the Sturgies come in in 8 more weeks....

So many fish, so little time ! Don't you guys think a guy should be able to fish Monday through Friday, then maybe work a couple six hour shifts on the weekends ?

Urggg....

At least I was able to shift my schedule to allow me to work on Monday (holidays are a waste for me anyway... too many people in my way) and to get Tues through Thurs off :-)

Yea' buddies ! Can't wait until Tuesday !

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ :-)

Fish

[CJ]

Well that's a hard call.I am exclusively a LM and SM angler now.Though I have fished for stripers a little(man they fight).I would say just go with your insticts and hopefully your mojo will folllow!

[Doghouse.]

Go for the big fish brother i have been on a striped bass and hybrid kick since i hurt my shoulder . landed a 15.3 striped bass on 8lb line last week  ;D got to love big hard fighting fish

[0119]

What a rough situation to be in, California has so many fishing possibilities.  Are you bored with standard trophy bass fishing?  I live a couple of miles from Boca Grande Pass which is tauted as Tarpon capital of the world.   Saltwater fishing got boring for me.  Having to deal with extra care for the boat, gear reels and such was tedious.  Calculating tides since saltwater fishing revolves around a good tide.  Heavier gear than I like to use.  Leaders which I hate.  Redtide being unplesant.  I gave it all up for the most part to stick with bass.  Less of a crowd, prettier surroundings.  Comfortable gear.  Less worries of corrosion.

[jomatty]

i say go stick a big large mouth, although i am biased because thats what i want to see a big picture of.  if given a reasonable choice with fair chance of doing well ill always go with the bass.  if the question was between large and small mouth then the decision would be closer for me.

matt

[dodgeguy]

stick with the largies!!!

[Fish Chris]

Don't worry.... I think I will have to go back and beat myself up for the trophy Largemouths a little more too. (how could a guy catch a couple of good ones, and then "not" go back ?) I actually have a few more spots and a couple other ideas to add to those trips too. Plus, in between running my bass rout, I can always fish for a lake record Channel cat :-)

However, just to keep myself from going completely crazy at that mud hole, I will also have to spend some time in my backyard, shooting for that trophy Striper. Still a bass, right ? ;-)

In any case, I'd rather do "ANY" kind of fishing today, instead of going to work :-( Oh well. Only a few more days.

Peace,

Fish

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Chris- No desire for those Pacific Tuna ?

[George Welcome]

I think bicycle long line trolling for leopard sharks - get to work and stop busting on the fish.

[Fish Chris]

Hey Low Budget, well sure... someday maybe. I hear they fight REALLY hard... plus they taste awesome fresh on a B-B-Q grill ;-) But up here in Nor Cal, there is a pretty small window when they come in close enough....

I would certainly do a lot more saltwater fishing (other than just inside of the bay) if I had the appropriate boat for it.

Well George, it wouldn't have been quite so bad, except that everybody seems to be out of town for the holiday weekend. This made my 6 hour day seem like 14, plus cut my $ by 70% :-( But that's fine.... I won't need much gas money this week. Just 1 1/2 more days of spinning my wheels, then I'm back on the water :-)

Fish

[earthworm77]

Chris, don't remember if I already asked you but....what kind of G3 are you running? I have a 2006 Eagle 175 60HP Yamaha 4 stroke. Love the boat!

[Vyron]

Have u thought of bluegill fishing?  

ahahahahahahahaahaha

[Fish Chris]

Hey Earthworm, that sounds like a sweet, bass catchin' machine you have there yourself ! Glad to hear your loving it :-)

Mine is a G3 V143T, with a 25hp four stroker, with p-trim, and electric start, and I can honestly say, regardless of how much I were to spend on a trophy bass boat, my boat really is "my dream boat" ! Nothing against glitter, and 200hp motors (for other guys) but those are just totally NOT me. If I had that kind of money, I'd much sooner buy a brand new truck to pull my V143T :-)

Anyway, my G3 has quickly become my new little "baby" :-) ....oh, and yes, I do talk to it too ! ;-)

Oh, hey Vyron, I love fishing for Bluegill ! Beautiful, and ounce for ounce, some of the strongest fish that swim ! :-)

Peace,

Fish

[tennsopher]

Fish,

 Enjoy the opportunities you have while you can.When I lived in Tennessee,I fished a lot for stripers,musky,walleye, sauger, trout,catfish,and of course lagemouth ,smallmouth,and spotted bass.

When I moved to Florida, the big bass addiction took over even though saltwater here is fantastic.Im personally glad so many of this states better anglers are saltwater addicts.There are more lakes in this state with big bass in them than any where else.If I could only live long enough to fish them all!

                                                                                                                  Good Luck,

                                                                                                                        Tennsopher

[LunkerLust]

I just found out from a friend that his brother gets paid by the state to fish for bass!!! The Department of Enviriomental Protection here in Ct wants the fish to examine.

Maybe your state has a similar program. Of course, once it becomes a job...

[BD]

I say try out some more stripers. You have already amassed a huge group of teens, try a new species and do the same thing

[roadwarrior]

Well, big bass are special and come along with bragging rights that just aren't attached to even monster striper.

But, you're already there!

I think stripers are more fun to catch and if you can get into some size, hold on. If they jumped I would consider a striper the perfect fish, especially on freshwater equipment. I still rate them a  solid 9.

[K_Mac]

I have only caught the hybrids (up to 8 #), but an 8# hybrid striper on light line, in open water is a VERY good time. I have not had the pleasure of catching a monster bass, but suspect that would be a good time as well. Good luck.