| 2004 PINS Sharkathon Surf Report
Padre ISland National Seashore,
TX
October 22nd-24th, 2004
Report by Oz |
I would like to start off by thanking Curmit,
Yakmon, Repofish, and Ron for their tiring efforts in bringing a positive
catch and release surf tournament to our South Texas Gulf Coast.
Dwade and I left to meet up at the Sharkathon Pre-party on Thurs night.
We made it out to a small but anxious and happy crowd. Henry, Repo, Shindle,
and Champ were just a few that were there. Got to meet Moose who also showed
up for the pre-party kick-off. Overall the party was insane and great, good
fun. Next year it is a must if you can make it and Curtis assures everyone
he will be there this time. There were many crazy and wild moments not to
be forgotten.
Friday morning more and more people showed up waiting to get things
kicked off. Curtis had ran into some obstacles in S.A. but him and Ron showed
up with a ton of stuff and quickly got things organized. After sign-up, everyone
got their Sharkathon goodies and tournament 'ruler' for the weekend. Then
we were off.
Dwade and I hauled down the beach and despite the windy conditions
and dirty water, we always kept optimistic. With several frozen Bonita, Skipjack,
a large mid section of stingray along with a Blackfin Tuna I brought with,
we were hoping the weather would cooperate. We ended up far south in the
50's. Water conditions didn't improve much but there were finger Mullet
everywhere. Despite the numerous quantity of Mullet, this was probably the
first trip in a couple months where I didn't see a single Mullet over 8-10"
up close. We get a load of finger Mullet and started fishing early
hoping for Jacks or Reds. Not long and Frenzy lands a nice 29" Red.
Anyhow, we set-up camp and briefly ran a couple baits in the rough
surf. We left one large bait a piece out overnight and around 2am my
12/0 got rocked hard for about 10 sec then the fish dropped it. Brought the
water-logged bonita in the next morning without a bite mark. However a
small slab of stingray set in the 1st gut during the night also
got hit and in the morning was completely absent from the hook.
We continue to fish with live Mullet in the morning and thinking I had a
nice Red, I end up landing a 31" Female Blacktip. After a couple pics I tagged
and released it then threw out the rod again and finally got a monster skipjack
that was immediately ran back out.
By now the wind had calmed down but the weed was starting to show
up. We left fresh Skipjack and my Blackfin Tuna out along with smaller baits
out for the next several hours without a bump. Word around the beach was
Old Salt got a nice Blacktip at base camp and other than that, not much was
being caught anywhere. The weed was starting to get bad everywhere and the
outgoing tide would continually drive it back into the breaking wash and
hang up on the line. With the combination of that and the absolute ripping
current, keeping a line out was getting harder and harder by the hour.
My 12/0 finally got wiped out and I brought it in to find a nearly
untouched Blackfin. The skin was literally pale and desolving in the water
and yet the crabs did not touch it. I re-baited and put out another Bonita.
I ran it out far up current and wasn't long before maintaining lines
became a full time job. Dwade had got blasted by the current and weed several
times and decided to eat. Sharken shows back up to hang with us for
a bit. With the crabs not being much of a problem out past the 3rd bar, I
was still determined to leave the Bonita out as long as I could. I spent
more time in the kayak maintaining that line then I did on the actual beach.
For 3 straight hours it was constant maitenance. On the last trip in the
kayak I went to get the long stretch of grass off the line and look back
to see the line no longer holding up current. As I thought it was over and
I officially got weeded out, I brought in the 12/0 and to my surprise find
I am hooked up on a stubborn shark. I finally get it in and ends up being
a nice overweight 6' 2" female Bull Shark.
In the corner of his mouth was a razor sharp red circle hook with
its coating yet tarnished. That IRONICALLY ended up being Shindle's hook
that he lost the night before on a breakoff with a Skipjack rigged and casted
up close. I could see the fire in his eyes as he knew I ended up catching
what would have been his shark. Sorry bud ;) I walked out and released
her and she swam off back down south (probably looking for another meal).
Despite catching that shark, we were in the process of packing up
and heading north hoping for better conditions. It was up to Dwade as to
what he wanted to do and it was decided to go back to the high banks and
try casting shark baits up close. When we got down to the 20's the
sun was fixing to set and the water was quite rough. However ran baits hoping
they would stay. After a matter of an hour or so the were history.
The only baits that would stay were the ones in the 1st gut. Later in the
evening Shaken fried up some excellent fish and venison along with an array
of other great tasting food. Fishing was slow and not worth the effort so
Shinlde whips out a Pumpkin (don't ask) and gets into the Halloween spirit
on the beach.
Frenzy left 2 baits out all night and in the morning brought in 2
completely untouched skipjacks. Because of the conditions I ran Skipjack
and Whiting out in the morning and they held like a champ. I waited and waited
and waited.. but no takers. It was already noon and time to head in
to the to the closing of the event. On Dwades very last bait, he brings it
in to find a beautiful 19" Redfish.
We get back to the pavillion for the closing of the event and to see
what everyone caught and the final winners of the Sharkathon tournament.
The whole situation was setup very professional and very nice. The
kicked it off by giving away MANY, MANY door prizes. This alone is a reason
to enter for next year. There were Rods and Reels and other awesome goods
distributed by many of the fine sponsors.
When it was time to announce the winners of the tournament. They did
the Red Division first and Frenzy's 29" Red came in 3rd!!! After the winners
of the Reds, they announced the Shark Division winners. I was nervous not
knowing what else may have been caught. I was hoping if anything to at least
place in the Shark Division. They called out 2nd place for total length of
all sharks and it was Tunakilla with 2 sharks. Then they called out the 1st
place for total combined length and I ended up taking it with my two sharks!
I was still surprised and actually thought they were joking around. They
announced the winner for the largest shark and I luckily had placed taking
that too with the 6'2" Bull. I was shell-shocked and very excited.
If I had not even placed in this tournament, overall I would say the
effort put by the organizers is quite astounding and the conservation message
they are trying to get across along with the clean beach efforts are applaudable.
Outstanding, great job guys. Great job on a great tournament and congrats
to all who entered and it was great meeting some of the new guys.
Great fun guys, congrats to everyone at Sharkathon and see you next
year.
-Oz
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