| Scott, Curmit, Shindle, and I headed out early with Moose on the
Fugazi to do some inshore sharking a few miles off the coast. Despite
being Super Bowl Sunday, we had to take advantage of the weather and hit
it for the day. The seas were not calm, nor rough. However, we were
quite determined to head out and see if we could hook some winter time toothies
from the Fugazi.
We started fishing nailing various baits. After a couple hours
we finally dropped a couple on the bottom in addition to a couple other large
baits already out. Scott Immediately hooks up on a solid mystery fish.
At first we thought perhaps it were a large rogue Grouper hanging
around the somewhat inshore structure but after several solid runs we begin
to think different. Scott hangs in and battles the fish around the boat.
After a solid 15 minute battle Scott finally gets the fish to
the surface and upon our first glimpse we see it is an unusual February Scalloped
Hammerhead.
Scott continues to battle the Hammer around the boat and keeps it close to
the surface.
After a couple more short runs Scott is able to subdue the beautiful
perfection of nature. Around 7', we tag and release the Male Hammer to swim
off until we see him again a couple months from now off the coastal beaches.
Congrats Scott on a gorgeous Hammer buddy!
Not long after and I put down a live bait and sure enough it
gets picked up within a few minutes. I start catching up on the slack...
then it runs... then comes straight in and I couldn't catch up in time and
pull the bait out of its mouth. As I am reeling the bait in a glowing shadow
from several feet below comes up and nails the bait once again near the surface
about 10 yards off the port side of the boat. It had came up, hit the
bait, and turned on a dime hauling back away from the boat. The hook is now
set and I strap in right off the bat.
Instantly we all knew we had another Hammer on. One of the things
with fishing with a Tiagra and being strapped in is you can push the limits
of the tackle. Using 80# braid on a 30 I wasn't afraid to put the 'hammer'
down on some drag pressure. Normally this wouldn't be suitable or safe in
these conditions for we were getting slammed with 4'+ waves with very little
interval. Fortunately for us it worked and we were able to subdue another
amazing Scalloped Hammer, slightly larger than the previous ringing in at
around 8'.
Moose and Shindle work the leader tagging the fish and he is soon on
his way to join his buddy.
The winds and seas continue to pick up but we have at least
a couple more hours of good daylight. About an hour later when we were
about to call it a day one of the live baits gets picked up. It slowly
starts running and Moose grabs the reel giving it line and then nails him
for a Rockstar hookset. Curtis gets strapped in and Moose passes off the
rod and takes control of the boat.
While Moose strategically maneuvers the boat around the shark,
we still do not know what species we are dealing with. After a few
more minutes Moose throws it in idle and several seconds later an aerial
Mako launches out of a wave. MAKKOOOO!.
We kinda figured that is what we had and finally hook up a shark
we are actually targeting. After a few more minutes Curtis is able
to get the shark subdued and after untangling another line that got wrapped
up in the leader during the fight Scott and Shindle tag and release a beautiful
purple monster. Congrats to Curmit on his first beast!
After releasing the Mako we decide to call it a day. The Super Bowl
is just starting on the Television... however the results are in for the
'Shark Bowl' as Shindle scores it...
Shindle broke down the Sharkbowl score:
Shark Bowl Summary:
1st Qtr - No score
2nd Qtr- Hammerheads 7
Halftime show - Snapper beat down incl a 16# and some vomiting
3rd Qtr - Hammerheads 7
4th Qtr - Makos 10 (touchdown and field goal for the jump)
Final score Hammerheads win 14 to 10! Who'd a thunk!
Overall a fun but rough trip out on the winter Texas coast with
a couple of unexpected surprises. Thanks to Moose and Shindle for taking
us out to the promised lands (errr waters) and congrats to Scott and Curtis
on their sharks and the guys for leadering mine. The Fugazi will be
back in action with bigger and badder critters yet to come!
As always, can't wait to get back out there!!
- The Rock'n crew of the Fugazi.
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