3/23/12 evening... Bay Bridge Stripers (with video)

[chex]

Rough day at work had me needing some R&R so I headed to the BB. Launched from the SPSP boat ramps around 6pm. Very calm and warm out there. I was in shorts and a t-shirt.

I trolled my lucky xrap on a Trevala XXL/Calcutta101B combo (very light) and quickly pulled up a 24" rock. My biggest ever. It fought well on the light rod, taking out line a few times. I was excited.

20 minutes later, bam. A big one. Never felt anything that heavy. I fought this thing for 11 minutes. Every time I got it close, it ran hard. I finally got it in. 34" fat rockfish. I foul hooked the poor guy, but luckily the barbless hooks came out real easy. I took some time to revive him after the fight, before letting him go.

This video is from a point-and-shoot camera hanging from my neck. Sorry for the poor angle/quality, the lack of editing (it's the raw footage) and the profanity.

[CB kayak 02]

Nice Fish MIKE!!!!

you were soo quiet for the longest time while you were fighting it. I definitely would have been talking to myself or the fish that whole time!!

[Cliff]

AWESOME FISH!

The suspense of the fight was killing me. Great job, way to get the beast in the boat.

+1 about you being silent for so long.

[frettr00]

That's awesome. Stripers I've fought are usually in the boat in under a minute. That boy didn't want to give up!

[J.A. Veil]

Nice work Mike. After at least 6 other MKF anglers came up empty at the Bay Bridge over the last two days, it is good to see that one of our members found some fish.

[MTDluvsFishin]

Nice linesiders! That 24 has been eating quite well. Great catch.

[MetroMan]

What a blast!

[camelbird]

NICE FISH!!!!!!

A fish that big really wakes you up on a yak, almost a little sketchy.

Congrats

[jffoley]

Great fish!! Good job and congrats! Nothing like a 30"+ striper. Hope they're still around the flats for the Jamboree.

[Aesiegel]

Nice work Mike! I'm glad you proved that the fish are out there!
Unfortunately, I think you burned your spot. I think I recognize that bridge in the background .

[Sun]

Congrats on that fish! Thanks for sharing the video.

[CAGE RATTLER]

Nice fish .... Congrats!

[chex]

thank you. i hope everybody catches this fish (poor guy)... he's a tough fish (or she... i have no idea) stonemason (stupidjet?) caught an even bigger one right around there too. so they're there... sometimes. i cheated because i have a lucky xrap.

[tufnik]

Good video. To say the least, you seemed highly excited. Even though you were quiet. Congrats!

Can't wait until trophy season so we can keep them. I think it's 1 May.

[chex]

Can't wait until trophy season so we can keep them. I think it's 1 May.

yeah i woulda gotten some major brownie points if i'd taken this fattie home.