Report submitted by 'James'
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PINS Crazy 8's Surf Report
Padre Island National Seashore, TX
May 29th-31st, 2009
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Got out of work early friday so Lindsey and I hit the sand around
4pm. Around the 15mm there was a bunch of birds working just over the 2nd
bar. Debated chasing them in the yak but past on it hoping there would be
more action futher south. Finally found a little fishy looking spot. I got
a skipjack and Lindsey some whiting and we started paddling baits out. Had
some runs here and there after dark with teeth marks in them. So I decided
to paddle a couple baits out after dark (which I rarely do).
About 9pm I go to paddle the second bait out when Lindsey starts yelling.
So I drag the yak back to shore to here my 9/0 getting lit up. So after a
decent 30 or so minute fight that stayed straight out. Gave Lindsey the rod
grabbed the light and ran out to the bar. Thats when I got my first look
at what appears to be a large very pissed off Lemon shark. It was shaking
its head out of the water and going nuts. It took a little longer then I
wanted to get him to shore and I should have tailroped him but didn't. This
is our first shark over 8ft and my second lemon. This male taped off at 8'8".
This has to be the most ill tempered shark I've dealt with so far.
After pics and getting the hook out he swims back off into the deep.
After that it slows down and we crash for the night. I wake up around
5am to clear some weeded out lines. First light I see flat seas with only
a breath of wind. I run out a jack on my 12/0 and a chunk of jack on my 9/0.
While in the yak I see birds working and bonita jumping so set up the kayak
so Lindsey can chase the birds. After a bit she paddles in with her first
bonita.
I run the bonita out on the other 9/0 hoping that sharks would get
it before the crabs would. It was slow in the midmorning/early afternoon.
I got this little 16" trout on a soft plastic (released).
Around 2pm my 12/0 did a quick spin. I run up grab my rod set the
hook but don't feel anything. Look for my float and see it way north. Crank
in a little bit more and still feel nothing. So put it back on the rack to
see if the float moves. I think it's maybe a pick-up and drop. We decide
I should paddle out and check it. Get out to my float and started pulling
in my leader. Get to the cable section and it feels heavier than my jackfish
bait. I see some color coming up and then bam the leader gets yanked from
my hand. I rip the weight off the leader and hauled butt back to shore. Yell
to Lindsey "fish on" but I still don't know how big it is. So I belt and
harness up and start cranking away. The fight was for the most part
unspectacular. Little bit of drag was pulled at the sandbars but that was
it. Got my float to the 1st bar, handed the rod to Lindsey and grabbed the
tailrope. See the shark in the break looks to be a very good sized bull.
Got the tailrope on and drug her to shallows.
She measured 8'4" with a bunch of fresh mating scars on her.
After pics and the hook out I drug her back to deeper water. She was
very tried so I had walk her in the 1st gut for about 10 minutes or so. The
bull goes to swim off and I tell Lindsey "Now that just sexy" and she pops
me in the arm. But it's true a shark swiming off looks a hell of lot better
than a one hanging and rotting.
I got fresh baits out early for the evening while the wind was picking
up. Had a couple runs after dark on smaller baits but no hook ups. Lindsey
chased birds Sunday morning coming back in with some skippys and a spanish.
Around noon my 9/0 with a chunk of jack takes off. Fight it for a
good 20 minutes and get it to the first bar when it lets go. Bummer! After
looking at the chunk of jack the shark just had it in it's mouth. Guess it
was hungry. Lindsey got a decent size ray (released) before we rolled north.
As most of yall know Lindsey's my good luck charm and she loves the beach
(and fishing) as much as I do. So Saturday at sunset I gave her an engagement
ring.
Her first trip was six days long and she paddles her own baits because
if not she didn't catch it herself. Anyways this trip might be hard for us
to top but life is good with sand between your toes. See yall on the beach.
- James
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