Report submitted by 'Oz'

PINS Mega Epic Sharking Report Padre Island National Seashore, TX May 27th-30th, 2010 Tweet

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Finally! A good opportune weather window had made its way here on our great Texas coast. The forecast was showing calm and flat seas for several days in a row. NOW was the time. The late spring run of fish with the summer transition should prove to be chaos in the surf. I was to head down for a day or two and eventually have Dwade meet up sometime Friday. My personal plan was kayak fish during the day, then shark fish at night. I spent all day Wednesday packing and come Thursday sunrise, I was on my way. I was at Stripes for my tradition breakfast tacos from the Laredo Taco Company. As irony would have it, I would meet up with Kevin, who also had planned a secret slaughter mission as well both consisting of Kayaking and Sharks. I convinced him to just tag along with me and with our combined forces, we would conquer the beach... or that was the plan anyway.

We rocked down the park road and hit the beach just after sunrise. Water was looking better than I had thought and had already cleared up a great deal.

The weed was still very present and really was my only concern. However, with the calm seas and light wind, the little current should prove not much of an issue for long distance baits ran off the truck. I continue to cruise on south and right around the 15 I see something at the water's edge... its a shark... errrr the remains of shark. It was a 5'+ Blacktip bit in half, marks that resemble a Tiger as the culprit. For average beach goers and the holiday tourists alike this may seem like disturbing news. However, for me... This is FANTASTIC news.

Driving was fair considering it was high tide. I was loaded down extra heavy this trip. With a decent stock of bait consisting of Jacks, Rays, and Drum in addition to ice and two kayaks, it made things interesting.

The high-banks were very soft in some areas, nothing you will really get stuck in, will just burn a bit of gas. Anyhow, we made it down to our planned location. We I did anyway, Kevin was back a few miles chasing Jacks, and even had one get stolen right in front of him by a big Bull Shark. Once again, FANTASTIC News!. Anyhow, I get the gear unpacked and while initially wanting to just take an easy and run baits the first day, the weather convinces me otherwise to just hop in the kayak and get to business. Kevin shows up and we head far offshore to seek the unknown.

Not long and Kevin is hooked up. He is on a King... the first King Mackerel of the trip...

My luck was a little different as I seem to just immediately attract sharks. While in the kayak..... ALMOST Fantastic News.

Right off the bat a Blacktip. It is though my first Shark of the year from the yak so I'll take it.

Since it took us a while to get down the beach and eventually hit the kayaks, we spent only a couple hours out on the water... maybe 3 max. We messed with Kings on the surface but was fairly quiet. Things should really materialize the next few days. On the way in I start throwing topwaters on the inside of the 3rd bar. I saw a couple Jacks and thought it was worth a try. As fate would have it, it was. It is also my first Jack from the yak this year.

We get back and with just a couple hours of daylight left we get our baits rigged up. Of course, my fresh Jack will likely be the fillet mignon of the night... With several big baits ready, I run mine of my truck, and Kevin runs his off his truck.

With the tide dropped out fairly low, you can see the amount of grass in the area. Now to me, this is not Fantastic, it is disturbing. However, with little current hopefully it shall not be a problem.

Here is a look at dusk from Kevin's point of view a couple hundred yards up the beach...

Here it is folks... Late May's Tiger Moon... Bad Moon Rising indeed...

From dark until about 10pm, just about every bait gets pounded. Lots of good fish being picky about the baits, but yet still interested. Of course the Blacktips would eat a whole bison if you ran it out... Kevin strikes first for the night with a quick Blacktip...

After the release we were busy at our respective locations dealing with the various runs. After a while things quieted down. Being very tired due to lack of sleep... I decide to crash early... as I do, Kevin is dealing with rods at his truck. After a while, he too gets a chance to close his eyes for a moment. I am then awakened by the Avet (with fresh 3/4 Jack) as it starts to move. Looks as if a decent fish had picked up the bait. It runs slowly for a minute then drops it. I'm guessing within 60 seconds it turns back around and finds the bait and hits it hard... then runs slowly another couple of minutes... then drops it again. Within another minute or two, the fish came back and picked it up again with quite violent shakes... this time for good. The fish continues to head offshore but the hook is set. Game On!

Since we left the walky-talkies at the house, our only sign of communication was to turn our platform lights on to alert the other person. I left mine on, knowing good ole Kevin dozed off. I was hoping he would awaken but looks like the long day finally took a toll on him. I am at this alone for now. I continue to leave the lights on just in case he did wake up.

Anyhow, back to the fish at hand. So right when the fish picked up the bait and ran from the very first pickup, I knew exactly what it was. While actually hoping for a mega Bull or something, I knew what she was... After all, I think I can honestly say that I am after Tiger every single trip down the beach. I will never get tired of these big girls. But the fish isn't to the beach yet, still a bit of fight and I still won't have confirmation til I see her with my own eyes. The shark continued to play its 'slow moving' roll in dominating fashion, taking line at ease, but just enough to make it where I was losing line. I'd recover a fair amount and then the fish would take it back out. I LOVE THESE BATTLES!! It is the reason I journey out here on the National Seashore countless nights a year.

After about a good 30-45 minutes of tug-of-war, the fish turns, and heads STRAIGHT to the truck. The Avet 50W (which can be obtained at Roy's) and Ozinator Rod (built by Kcon from a great and equally matched Breakaway blank) has taken its toll on the beast. A slow non-stop B-line pattern straight to the truck. Odd. Maybe it is a Bull afterall. I do know there is a fish on there because my grander weights aren't holding, nor the hooks of the bait if the shark did spit it. I keep reeling and guiding the shark to the first bar. By now, the lights on the rack are getting slightly dim. Fortunately it is a full moon and the natural night vision has taken over. When I get the fish to the first bar, it stops. Does not come over, does not pass go, does not collect $200.... just sits on the other side of the bar. After a minute I finally see a tail come up and slap the surface. Yep, she's on there alright. After a couple of minutes and with some minor waves to help push her over the bar and into the deep healthy wadegut, I about have her now. Well, since Kevin is passed out in the back of his truck counting sheepshead, I'll just hop down and land her... shouldn't be too much of a problem to tail rope her. I get down and walk to the wadegut. I see the shark but still can't determine what it is... looks like a Bull. As I dance with the devil in the pale moonlight, I grab the tail and get a rope around her and pull her up to the break. I then turn around and take another look and sure enough... as fate would have it, it is the Year of the Tiger... I guess in both China and Texas.

With the shark briefly secured, I run to get Kevin so he can help with the release (and take pics)

My personal goal was to get 3 Tigers this year. I've got two in as many trips and its not even really summer yet... I'm very satisfied. This girl while not a monster, is a hefty 9' 9". She had a big body but was 'empty'. I strongly feel that she may have just pupped very recently, also perhaps why being aggressive with the bait. Regardless, a few quick pics and she will be on her way...

Give us a Rockstar Smile...

Kevin soon helps me to get her in deep enough water for me to turn her around and get her on her way...

I turn her around and guide her in the right direction and she takes off on her own. Fortunately I've had great luck with Tigers just wanting to get the hell out of there during the release.

We were able to take the Total, Fork, and Girth measurements. The formulated weight put her at 496, but as I released her I could feel how light and empty she was underneath so I give her 450 max.

Kevin is thrilled to see and touch a Tiger... and I'm even more thrilled for landing one... on the first night of our adventure. What will the rest of the trip have in store for us?? We get back to sleep and wait til sunrise.

Come morning it is glass calm. There is little surface action but we are ready and anxious to get out in the kayaks so we bring in our remaining baits. Some of the bites were impressive, some of the baits weren't even there, and some of the leaders look like so...

We get geared up again and make our way offshore. We get out aways and the action is slow, but the fish are there. Not long and I get a King on a topwater...

Kevin then nails a quick King...

We start getting into the kings here and there... I eventually get a larger, 51" mercury fillet...

We bang out a few fish while the hot dry heat was beating down on us in our plastic vessels. I decide to drop a bait down on the bottom and not long I'm hooked up... at first I figured it was another Blacktip... but this fish was came straight up to the surface and hauled ass. Hmmmm interesting. The fish started to peel line quick and I began to chase it... Kevin was right behind me following. According to his GPS, I was going 5 knots chasing the fish, while still smoking line on my Avet LX. After being lead offshore a while, the fish circles around below then comes up to the surface and I see it... It is a HAMMER... close to 9'... BIG Scalloped, possibly the same one we saw the previous day out there.

Anyhow, the fish dives back down and pulls me around for a while before the unmatched terminal tackle finally gives in. In a way it was a bummer but yet very cool to hook and fight a big Hammer from the yak.

Kevin, getting cooked by the sun and tired from lack of sleep from the previous night, decides to head in. I told him "I'll be right behind you". I get back to my anchor and decide to throw my topwater a few more times while trying to get another King or two before I went in. While I was rigging up my topwater, I dropped down another bait. Why I did it, I don't know. But within a couple minutes it gets picked up... again by a good fish. Is it a Blacktip this time? It's on the surface again... hmmm interesting. I unclip from the anchor and proceed to follow/get towed out to sea. Kevin is halfway back to the beach by now, so I am alone to duke this one out myself.

Another good fish, more than likely another Hammer... let's just see how long this battle will go on for...

The fish drags me further and further offshore. By now, I am close to 3 miles off the National Seashore in about 50'+ of water. It is a constant battle and I endure it for a while. I then gain line and get the fish close to the yak and to the surface to confirm that it is indeed another Hammer... quality 8-8 1/2' Scalloped... very healthy, not very tired.

It doesn't like the yak so takes off running... dragging me offshore yet again. This continued for upwards of an hour until I finally get the fish just about conquered. Being alone it was hard to fight the fish, control the yak, and take photos all at the same time. However I did snap away and this is about the best I was able to get. This photo is essentially the best I can do to put you in the driver seat of the kayak during this experience...

This Hammer was an amazing fish, and one of the most respectable and cherished of all shark species. I get her tired and not quite sure what to do, I didn't want to leader her straight to the yak risking the fish ramming the boat. While thinking of how to release her, she fortunately decided to take the matters in her on hands (or fins) and tail-wack the already abused braided line. In doing this, she set herself free while obtaining a gamakatsu octopus hook as a souvenir. And me... well I got a couple of pics along with the vivid battle etched within which ever is the adventure lobe of my brain... well that and a required workout of kayaking 3 1/2 miles back to the beach.

After picking up my anchor on the way in, it takes me just over an hour to get to the beach. I am beat down tired but very happy. I rest for a bit, make some P B & J sandwiches and plan the evening's bait deployment.

No rest for the wicked as Dwade shows up. I get my baits rigged and ready, and Dwade waste no time getting a couple of his own ready... Steven from Catchsharks.com stops by on his way out to chat. He was nice enough to trade me a fresh Jack for one of my cownose. Also, I was able get a quick leader from him. I will say the effort and quality he puts into making his gear is nothing short of excellence. He takes pride in his work and to make the best possible product for people to use. I highly suggest getting any type of leader material or leaders in general from him. For me while I make all my own stuff, I was in a quick bind and didn't have time to remake a couple drops before sunset and he happened to be there on cue with some pre-made material. Way to go bud!

With the sun going down quick, I get the gear and lines organized...

It is now dark and Kevin, Dwade, and I have some more killer baits out... will the sharks cooperate? I'm at the truck cooking up some good ole beach chicken for Dwade and I. Kevin comes over to hang out and talk a bit. Excited about the trip thus far, we are distracted in various conversations. Then all of a sudden we see a light that appears to be coming from Kevin's truck... on the platform to be exact. It was a person shining a light... but who the hell was it?????? Was turtle patrol? Was it an illegal? We run over only to find out someone calling Kevin's name... upon further inspection we find out it's his buddy Mike who decided to roll down the beach to join us. He had came across Kevin's camp and got out... no one was around, yet there were 3 rods all going off at the same time... WILD.

We get the mess sorted out and one of the baits were dropped, but there are fish on the other two... and they are tangled. Anyway, we get the fish to the beach... first one to come in is a Blacktip of course, the other is a.... Hammer? Not only a Hammer, it's a small Greater! Very cool.

Kevin is certainly all smiles...

I let Kevin walk the fish out as I head back to the truck... not wondering if any of my rods are going off...

Things were all quiet on my end. I tried to get to sleep but I had one rod get cut off... then another. Arrrggghh... oh well, its life on the beach. I go back to sleep. This night there is a moderate breeze, and I have no trouble sleeping like a baby. Come morning I retrieve my baits, all but one that was not there. Damn. Anyway, a few of our baits had more bite marks... oh well, we'll certainly settle for the Hammer we got the night before.

Dwade and I are already prepping to go offshore in the yaks. For me it is the 3rd day in a row. The weather has picked up a hair, the surf might actually be a sarcastic 1' already. Kevin is looking around. He is beat down by the sun and is pondering the thought of going home. I look at him and ask him... really? He takes one look at the water and then "alright... dammit, too good to pass up". HA. I knew it! We all head offshore, including his buddy Mike. Kevin's commitment pays off as he lands a large 53" King that engulfed a Tuna Popper...

Great fish bro!

I soon strike back with a beefy King...

Dwade soon gets into the action...

Not long and I get my big King of the trip... 54"

After a couple days these toothy guys are finally starting to show up everywhere...

I bang out another, this time on topwater...

We duke it out for a few hours out there having our fill of the action. Kevin and Mike are ready to pack up and head home and Dwade and I are ready to get baits rigged up. When we beach, Dwade gets a pic of the two Kings he kept...

Kevin also gets a pic of two smokers he got...

It is getting dark quick, and once again Jack is on the menu...

We get baits rigged and deployed right on time...

The wind is blowing and has been blowing since about 2pm. It is coming out of the south at a consistent 10-15kts. Weed is stacking up on the lines and has me worried for the first time this trip. We'll just have to take it in stride and see if the everything holds. I begin to cook up and Dwade and I have a visitor for dinner. Its a local Kangaroo Rat. He joined us from beyond and I can't neglect the lil guy of some food now can I? I happily give him a tortilla...

Thanks for the food guys!!!

We leave baits out all night. During the wee hours of the morning I have a couple of my big baits get hit, but leave them. Weed is still a nuisance and have to clear them randomly throughout the night. Anyhow, I get back to sleep.

Come sunrise the wind and seas picked up slightly. I had already determined that my kayaking for this trip was done, therefore no reason to wake up early. I see the sunrise and go back to sleep. Around 9am my super-6/0 goes off. It is a tail section of Jack... previously frozen bait that has been thawed out for a couple days already... but yet something decided to pick it up.

The fish comes in with it. Once again I think it is a Bull. Then when it reached the 2nd bar it turned around and swam off. Now I knew it was a decent fish. Dwade wakes up and thinks I'm shaking off weed or something, and I see him thinking he sees me hooked up. Anyhow, he takes his time waking up, going to the dunes... and so on. I fight the fish for a while and it is slow and stubborn. Not super huge but a quality fish. Dwade gets back and realizes I am actually hooked up.

After about a 25min fight I get the fish to the first bar. Man, I thought the Tiger didn't want to come over... this fish just parked and setup camp on the other side of the bar. I locked the drag down and tried and tried and tried until I finally budged the fish and the weight. Got it over the bar and saw the dorsal... Bull.... then saw its 2nd dorsal... of equal size... LEMON! Wild. Dwade tailropes the fish and we get him beached...

It is a fat healthy Lemon... big 8' 5" male.

I get my 2nd Texas Lemon in 3 years...

A nice healthy Lemon ready for release...

I walk the fish out and he swam off into the current like nothing happened. Man, what a trip!

The wind is picking up and the weed is racking up everywhere. Both Dwade and I both bring in our lines ready to pack it up to get off the beach. But wait, we're not done yet... Dwade is hooked up... It is the most epic struggle he's had to battle yet. After a while, Dwade gets his shark of the trip... it is the most dangerous of all sharks... it is the Jager Shark. It is a relentless species responsible of many vicious attacks on rockstars and fishermen alike...

Dwade Rocking out a heroic pose...

After Dwades encounter with the sea-beast, we pack up and head off the beach...

Another epic journey has concluded, this one ranking among the best for me. Without a doubt, the beach will give-ith and the beach will take-ith from you. The conditions are always changing, the dynamics of the beach itself and her marine inhabitants are always adjusting to uncertain variables. It is up to you to notice and understand these variables if you ever want to become an efficient sharkfisherman. I am very fortunate to have great mentors like Billy Sandifer and Chris Sessions who have taught me so much about this beach. One of the greatest advices I've received is that to truly learn and discover this beach, you have to spend time on it. For me, I have spent hundreds, even into the thousands of hours soaking baits on this stretch of coast over the past 10 years. The more you are down there, the more you see stuff... the more you observe things and notice the mechanics behind the natural element whether its migration or the food chain in general. As Capt. Sandifer always said, Mother Ocean can give you so much, but can also be a cruel bltch without notice. With her, it is these wicked games we play... We always come back for more... we deal with red tide, freezes, weed, hurricanes, and soon to be oil. Regardless the outcome, we all venture back to take part in interacting with the aquatic world in our own way.

However, with the exceptional chaos that is reigning down the beach right now, maybe it is nature's way of just giving us a dose of goodness before it all goes to hell, only time will tell.

This trip Kevin was able to experience first hand and witness raw nature at its finest. He also got surprised with a Hammer of his own. Dwade... well Dwade got his Jagershark. And for me personally, I was able to encounter 4 big sharks this trip... my 5th Texas Tiger (2nd back to back), my 2nd Texas Lemon, and then my first offshore sleigh ride(s) with Hammerhead sharks from the kayak. If that is not reckless abandon, than I don't know what is.

The beach is on fire... get down there!I know fellow Rockstars James and Todd have some killer fish to report in too so I'm quite anxious for their reports. But for you others out there, IF you can cope with the weed, you will likely be rewarded. Have fun, be safe, and respect the water so she can respect you in return.

See on on the sand...errr chunk of plastic in the middle of the sea.... errr wherever I may roam

-Oz

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