NETKEEPER - Sunday Striped Bass Rat Rodeo, 100+ stripers, Tog & Revenge of the Sluggo

[Netkeeper Sportfishing]

Sunday (12/13) was suppossed to be a Tog trip. After seeing the forecast, I called everyone Saturday night letting them know we had a limited weather window to go togging, giving them an all out. Hollywood Mike (fispro28), Joe (tuna tales) & John (semperfly) were the only ones who still wanted to go.

We left the dock an hour late while we waited for one of the group heading off into a flat calm ocean an no wind. We had some life right away as soon as we set-up and boxing 4 Tog and tossing some shorts back. Then the fishing slowed and most of the boats started to head North but we stuck it out a little while longer. An hour into fishing the leading swells came, then the gusty wind, rain and then 4-6ers which we were taking over the bow and so we hauled anchor and ran for home. The weather window came and closed way earlier than expected.

As we got north of the highlands bridge we saw the Gannets diving on Sand Eels and then the fishfinder lit up and I knew it was going to be good. For the next 3 hours we caught over 100 short bass in what we termed the "Rat Rodeo" on Sluggo's and Deadly Dicks in 4 to 6 foot seas, gusting wind and rain. At least the Southerly winds kept it warm on an otherwise raw December day. The boat drifted very well and was very stable in them (check out the swell and silouette of the Highlands behind Mike). As Capt. Ron says, give me the snot any day.

At one point Mike (Deadly Dicks) and John (Sluggos) went head to head and eventually the Sluggo won out so everyone converted to them. Most fish caught were in the 16in to 20in range and a few were near keepers in the 27" range. All fish were nice purple ocean fish. By days end over a hundred bass were caught and released and the guys only had one keeper for their efforts. 6 fish were tagged for the ALS including the one Mike is holding which was the last bass boated for the 2009 season. At one point the fish were coming in so small we were competing to see who might lower our 15 1/2" smallest fish ever caught on the NetKeeper record. Not a lot of meat on the deck but everyone had a blast.

The boat was hauled out and this trip was the closing chapter to our 2009 season. Really bummed that I only got one full day of togging in this season due to all the blow outs. Still we made a lot of good memories with 2nd place in the Striped Bass & Fluke Tournaments, Stripers to 48# and Tog to 10#. I hope to see the same faces again in 2010 and wish everyone has a great holiday season. For anyone looking for a holiday gift, we do offer gift certificates. Just call or email.

[ALS Mako]

Allan, good effort on a crappy day. see you next year for the fluke tourneys in the off season you may want to pick up an extra long handle net for someone who will remain name less. by the way i hear the weather in HOLLYWOOD, california is nice this time of year. :

[Reelron]

Nice Job Captain Alan!

Hey did you guys know Captain Alan will be one of the Seminar Speakers at the Hi-Mar Fishing Flea Market in 2010?

[ReelErIn]

[fishpro28]

Alan, had a great time on sunday. Too bad the weather wasn't better for togging but the stripers didn't seem to mind. I was actually out-fishing the sluggos with my deadly dick till it wasn't heavy enough to stay on the bottom. After the switch I became a believer in the sluggos.
Steve, that really hurts...lol I would say that I will never let it happen again but....it probably will..lol maybe we can start cast-netting my fish or a 10ft bamboo net would work..lol

[JonDevin]

Originally Posted by ALS Mako

in the off season you may want to pick up an extra long handle net for someone who will remain name less. by the way i hear the weather in HOLLYWOOD, california is nice this time of year. :

Oh that was cold Steve...

Nice job Cappy... I'll see you for the tourneys!

[Semperfly]

I was actually out-fishing the sluggos with my deadly dick till it wasn't heavy enough to stay on the bottom.

Maybe there should be a disclaimer on the Deadly Dick website:

"These lures are excellent for surf casting, deep jigging while drift fishing* and even trolling."

*jig may float under certain circumstances

In any case, Capt Alan, Hollywood and Joe, it was great fishing with you guys for what turned into the last bass blast of the year. Apologies again for being late. If I had been the Captain, I would left without me. 0600 is 0600!

[fishpro28]

Originally Posted by Semperfly

Maybe there should be a disclaimer on the Deadly Dick website:

"These lures are excellent for surf casting, deep jigging while drift fishing* and even trolling."

*jig may float under certain circumstances

In any case, Capt Alan, Hollywood and Joe, it was great fishing with you guys for what turned into the last bass blast of the year. Apologies again for being late. If I had been the Captain, I would left without me. 0600 is 0600!

Yeah John you would have left yourself That DD was working good until I realized that when I was jigging it was on the surface Any larger and I don't think I would have been "matching the hatch". The "NO-Goes" were the way to go and I will definately be stocking up on them in the off season.