| High Island Surf/Kayaking Report
High Island,
TX
July 9th-10th, 2005
Report by TJ 'Jolly ROger' |
Got a late start saturday thanks to a strong little T-storm
sitting right on the beach and my house. On the way to the beach stopped
and talked to a few friends coming from the beach. Knew this was not good
when I saw them. Sure enough the winds from the storm had pushed some new
weed in. They could not keep a line out. I made my way to the beach and met
up with Buckeye. The wind layed and we got a few lines out around one. The
bite was slow with a few pick up and drops. Could not get a hook into anything.
Lot of bait in the surf so I grabbed my trout rod and waded out chest deep
or so on the back of the first bar. The little sharks were thick, chasing
and eating my finger mullets. Most were baby blacktips, but I fianlly did
catch something different.
Jolly Roger with a baby scallop hammer.
We kept lines out until one sunday morning. I headed home for a few hours
of rest. Buckeye kept lines out all night with no takers.
Sunday 07/10/05
Met Parrothead at the beach a little before seven. Weather was
looking alot better then the day before. Got on the beach to find big swells
rolling in. Looked perfect to surf. We got rigged up and paddled out about
400-500 yards from the beach. The swells made for a fun paddle out, but we
knew there was going to be hell to pay to get back to the beach. First line
wet around eight, and it did not take long and I was hooked up.
Jolly Roger with a bull red
Parrothead did not take long to get in on the action
Parrothead with a bull red
This was looking to be a good day, thirty minutes into the trip
and we have already landed two bull reds. The next bite came on my bait rod.
I had already caught a few whitting fishing with peeled shrimp on the bottom.
But the next hit was a little bigger. As I set the hook, I knew I was in
trouble. The fish made a hard run straight away from me. I dropped anchor,
but he was still burning drag. Many a time in the battle I was down to a
1/4 spool. During this time Parrothead also hooks up and we both land the
first double of the day. In the pic, if you look at the nose of my kayak
you can see his tail.
First double of the day.
The action heated up, and we were getting hit left and right.
We must have anchored in a nest of monsters. Most, if not all were over 40".
With some today close to 46". Here are a few random pics of reds caught
throughout the day.
Jolly Roger with a bull red
Parrothead with a bull red
Jolly Roger with a bull red
Parrothead with a bull red
Jolly Roger with a bull red
During all this fun, parrothead gets a big bite. The fight was on, drag a
screaming. And him making good time to cuba. The fish was pulling him as
fast as I could paddle. After a good hard long battle, he get the fish up
for our first look. Blacktip shark, aprox 4.5-5'. He wears him out enough
and we get a few pics and let hime go.
Parrothead with a blacktip shark
I hooked into the next one. He makes a hard run, then bust out
of the water just a few feet from us,, wooho, air tipper. He drags me for
a long time, making thumb burning runs. Drags us a very long way form our
anchor bouys before I can get my hand on the leader. Even then he has a burst
of speed, soaking me as he leaves. Finally get him to the kayak for a few
pics and release.
Hooked Up
Jolly Roger with a blacktip.
We get back to the bouys and get baits back out. Did not have
to wait to long before the bull reds start to hit again. Caught a few more
of them. Then Parrothead gets a fast fish, then I hear the splash, sure enough
another blacktip going airborn. He gets right in front of both of us and
clears the water almost making a 180, before splashing back in. Blacktips
are a blast to catch, hard runs, great jumps, and so much power.
Parrothead with a blacktip
We paddle back in around two. Braving the 4-6' breakers, most
made it good some did not. That is his story. I think the final count for
the day was 12 bull reds, 3 blacktips an a buch of misc whitting, sandtrout
and others. Bull reds were hitting anything fresh, same with the blacktips.
Did see some macs working saturday evening, but water color was a little
off for them today. Sea weed looked to be in the first gut, but no new weed
coming in. Had a great time and looking foward to the next trip.
- TJ
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