Juno Beach, FL: Jan. ‘07 Report (#1 of 2)
Well, it’s taken me a bit to get a chance to sit down and get this report going (sorry late), I just flew back up to New England late Monday night.
I flew down to West Palm on Xmas Eve., the week prior my girlfriend Susan had an additional complicated operation on her leg, that had been originally broken back in late July that was a result from getting thrown off/from her Horse. I would have my hands full taking care of her and the Horse etc., but I did/would manage to get some serious fishing in whenever I could seize the opportunity. I hooked up with BTH a few times, and as you’ve read from his report not much would result from those efforts. This time of year the prevailing winds can be pretty intense and are either out of the NE or E/SE, this can present a challenge in the Surf depending on the location you’re fishing in. Hence, I decided to opt spending most of my time fishing in an alternative spot closer in location, attempting to liveline mostly Runners and Jacks. Fortunately, I did manage to land a few decent BTs - however I had a multitude of very interesting experiences, missing three additional Sharks due to terminal tackle destruction/failure and also losing many, many Sharks due to blistering run/around bait drops and spit outs. I will detail most of these experiences in
Part #2 of this Report.
Meanwhile here's a few pix:
Susan’s leg, with an exterior fixator/metal halo.
BTH’s new “Smitty” harness (as recommended by Sharkman).
Fishin’ with BTH and Howard (left) waiting for a hit, Marla agreed to keep an eye out for Sharks.
These Ladies were members of a College Swim Team from a Alabama. My next camera is a Canon Rebel, 10 megapixels with a telescopic 10X zoom. I was going to ask the group to swim our baits out, but they were in a hurry.
BTH casting.
A few days later the result of my second attempt at live linning a 4# Jack that I caught. The Jack went up twice and on the 2nd jump he met his maker in the form a fat BT, from this point on I would be on a mission for the duration of my stay. As Susan would predict the BTs would intentionally be “Taunting me!”
Yet another few days would pass and 1/02 would prove to be a good day. Wind variable NE-E, 5-10 starting out sunny and then clouding up with a cold front moving’ in and the chill following it. I baited up my Loomis with Shrimp and Fishbite and cast out,.. moments later Rod’s down and on the Beach, this thing - Marquette? Mutant Sheepshead? Fish ID?
After I threw it back in and recast I managed a Runner shortly after and out he went,... 30 minutes later FISH-ON! BT goes AIRBORNE multiple times, eventually on the beach fat 6’ 3” female.
A short while later back out with another Runner and FISH-ON,... breach, run, AIRBORNE once and run again. After a few minutes walking around I start putting pressure on the Shark, moments later bait comes back. Shark dropped it. I was surprised as the intensity this thing was running with the Runner in it's mouth - I thought surely it was hooked. These Kids helped inspect the lacerations.
It’s amazing that this Runner wasn’t demolished.
Time to catch another Runner,... out it goes, after about 35 min. FISH-ON! This thing went berserk, probably came out half a dozen times. On the beach 6’ 8” BT female. A small group were rather unpleasant about my landing the Shark and were in fact quite rude. Fortunately after the release they calmly went their way.
C’YA!
A short while later, another was was to be had and out he went. Close to an hour and BAMNO,... AIRTIPPER! Nice one to boot. I had this fish on for about 15 minutes and started pressuring him to the beach, a big run and PLINKO! I reel in my line to find the leader below the crimp on my mono trace gave way!
After a spell it was getting late and I had to bail to pick Susan.
Several days would pass, and I managed to get out nearly every afternoon for at least for a few hours. I will post the crazy details in
Part #2 of this Report.
Mon. 1/08 rolled around and I got out later in the morning, S-SW 5-10 with gusts higher, sunny and good water. Got my trusty Loomis rigged up and put out a Shrimp and Fishbite. It would be close to two hours with several rebaits before I’d pickup my first Runner and out he went. After 30 minutes or so, I reeled him in - he just wasn’t swimming out. Then I picked up another and out he goes, after about an hour swimming like a champ, the balloon sounds and,... FISH-ON! AIRTIPPER,... I let this Shark take me down to well into the spool figuring after a while he really should get a good munch on this Runner and I’d have a solid hookup. I’d say it was around the 10 minute mark and I start to lock down on him - well up he goes again with an explosive jump and line goes limp. I reel in my leader only to find the Runner still on the hook hardly munched, after all that I couldn't freakin’ believe it - but then again I could (see
Part #2 of this Report).
Back to my Loomis for another sacrifice to The Shark Gods. Time for Runner #3, and out he went. After about 30,... FISH-ON! Up she goes and a few runs later I realize this one’s mine. On the Beach 6’ 5” BT female.
LOL. I thought this Dude was taking a picture of the Shark but after further inspection,.... I’m not quite sure.
I was running out of time and rain was threatening, my Loomis produced one more Runner and I relocate my hook placement prior to bait deployment. The lad did well for close to an hour, but no one was interested and it started to rain BIG-TIME, and I had to bail.
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Parting Shot. Here’s a pic of how NOT to store your Shark leaders. LOL,... Nice work BTH!!
To be continued: (See Part #2 of this Report)!
Hopes Susan feels better.