After watching about 200 of these dino-fish jump all around me in the last 3 trips, I stuck a nice little keeper.... and yea', I actually kept it. Hope it tastes good.

Funny thing is, I had fished for about 5 hours, and kept having a bunch of sharp little whacks, from tiny Stripers. But if you set the hook on every one of those, 1) you would go through all of your bait in no time, and 2) would spend most of the time with your line out of the water re-baiting and casting.

So, I kept ignoring it.

Every now and then I'd get a softer, kind of pumping bite... like a Sturgy, but those would last about 1 second, then drop it.

So, finally, after not even seeing a bite for quite some time, I decide to reel in a relocate the boat a little bit. I pick up the micro-light, start to reel, and the rod just loads up, so I swing.... Fish on ! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ > with no signs of letting up

So, I just flip the anchor rope out of the boat, with buoy attached and start drifting after the fish (with help of the tide). Took about 300 yards, and 25 minutes, but I finally landed it

One thing I'd like to pat myself on the back with; The first time I got it to the boat, I leaned down and I was thinking, "I better keep the line all straight... no loose line around the tip, or guides, and be ready to pick it up and fight it some more......" So, I get ahold of the fishes gill plate, go to pull it in, it twists out of my hand, splash, ZZZZZZZZZZZ ! But like I say, I saw that coming before hand ! Grabbed the pole and after a few more minutes, had it back to the boat

Ended up being a nice little slot limit fish of 53", and I dunno... 28 or 30 lbs ?

Anyway, I'm getting ready to go again, and hopefully I'll stick one of those 100+ lb monsters that I've been seeing jump on every trip ! I swear, yesterday, I saw one... probably 125 lbs, 6 1/2ft, come out of the water fast, and high, do this crazy "S" twist, and explode the water going back in (I mean, with great violoence  ) about 30 feet from the boat !

Makes you feel kind of weird, sitting there with a couple of Bluegill poles !

But > Fear No Fish < right ?

Please wish me luck today,

Peace,

Fish

That is just totally cool, Chris!  I know my heart would be pumping.  Nice-looking fish.  

Very nice Chris.  

Dude!  nice job, what a catch!  

......that one,

............on the UL,

.........................your the MAN!!!!!!!!!!

good job.

Very nice man!  What is the yearly slot limit on those in California?  Only 1 in WI, and has to be between 46 and 66" if I remember correctly.

that is awesome, what do you use for bait to catch those?

Nice catch! Do they taste good? :-?

That is just plain AWESOME Chris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 HA! You don't need a "Good Luck". You the Man ...

skillet

Thanks again guys...

KingKoopa, 3 per year, 46" to 66".... but if you want to keep fishing for them (Catch and Release) only 2 per year.

Hey CharlieBrown, I got home from fishing today, and my Landlord was cooking up a bunch (about 1/4) of that one, and I can't tell you how awesome it was ! I'm really picky about the fish I eat, and usually, my favorite is Halibut, or Salmon..... But this was right there, next to the best fish I've ever had ! Very firm. Kind of like a tender, boneless Pork Chop. And come to think about, similar flavor to a boneless pork chop too.

Oh..... nothing today, although I saw a few more jumpers which had to go 125 lbs !

Peace,

Fish

Great fish Chris, I heading out this morning for kingfish and dolphin.

Chris, what is the purpose of the sturgies jumping (if there is one you know of)?

Nice fish, BTW.

Hey Speedbead, their are a lot of theories, but one likely one, is that after feeding in the mud for a while, they run up, make a jump, and crash back into the water, to knock the slime off of themselves, and out of their gills.

I think it could almost be like a flexing and stretching thing too.

But now, here's an interesting thought {I'm sure a lot of people would think I was crazy for even considering this.... but then a lot of people probably think I'm crazy regardless ;-)}

Yesterday, I pull up on this spot... trying to be as quiet as possible, letting the current push me into position.... Quietly as possible I lower the anchor, and right before I make the first cast, this 125+ lb'er comes up right behind the boat, and does this gentle roll over, and as it rolls, I am able to look right into its eye...... Hmmmmm  :-?

Now, they say Sturgeon have very poor eye sight. But are you going to tell me that fish was not able to see my 14ft boat, from 25 feet away ? .....or, that it was not aware of my presence ? Kind of makes you wonder why I didn't get a touch, huh ?

I'm telling you, those big "old" dudes are SLICK !

Peace,

Fish

Thanks again guys...

KingKoopa, 3 per year, 46" to 66".... but if you want to keep fishing for them (Catch and Release) only 2 per year.

Hey CharlieBrown, I got home from fishing today, and my Landlord was cooking up a bunch (about 1/4) of that one, and I can't tell you how awesome it was ! I'm really picky about the fish I eat, and usually, my favorite is Halibut, or Salmon..... But this was right there, next to the best fish I've ever had ! Very firm. Kind of like a tender, boneless Pork Chop. And come to think about, similar flavor to a boneless pork chop too.

Oh..... nothing today, although I saw a few more jumpers which had to go 125 lbs !

Peace,

Fish

Man, that sounds really good! I just realized i'm starving!! ;D

nice fish, and a great story.

Thanks for posting

Wow.  That's pretty cool.  Nice job.