Corpusfishing.com

Prof. Salt

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You guys know that I paddle/fish/catch plenty of the usual offshore contenders, but yesterday while competing in the Bluewater Kayak Classic I did something that will be a cherished memory for a long time. After visiting one of the normal rig sets and finding the bite slow, I took advantage of zero wind and the clearest water you ever saw, and I kept paddling East. I was heading for a distant rig that held a few big cobia days earlier, but I also noticed that the shrimper who had been pulling back and forth out there had pulled in his nets and anchored up. I know what that means, so I quickly altered course for the tiny target on the horizon. I was enjoying the beauty of nature and dragging a ribbon on one rod and a live blue runner on the other as I headed over the horizon and out of sight of the island. Suddenly the blue runner rod bent and let out a couple feet of line as the clicker yelped for me to look. I grabbed the rod, advanced the lever drag and turned off the clicker to see if the fish would return...

The rod lurched again and I jerked to set the hooks. As the line came tight, a beautiful big bull Mahi came out of the water with my blue runner hanging out of his mouth. The poor runner's face was inside the bull's mouth, but there was no way the hooks were any danger to the larger fish, and he spit the bait as he crashed back down on the glassy surface. I quickly reeled in and threw the ribbon bait that direction ...nothing. I started paddling and WHAM he smacked the bait and came up again, flashing his spectacular silver, white and electric blue crest in a magnificent tail walk. I had him on for long enough to get my confidence up, and he danced all over the surface. I think it was the third or fourth jump that he was able to loose the hooks. As he left he was gliding just under the surface, and he arced around the front of the kayak, headed offshore. What a sight! I was sad but elated at the same time. I had just hooked and fought a bull Mahi from my kayak... On the Texas coast!

I re baited and began paddling again, and within 30 seconds the new Ribbonfish was eaten by yet another fish. Yep, another Mahi came walking across the surface in a frantic attempt to get free. This one had the typical coloration and was almost 40 inches long. Smaller than the silver bull, but still a great fish! She danced and thrashed all around the kayak, tangling lines and during one leap she actually managed to tangle the line with the lure on my spinning rod. There I was trying with all my ability to untangle lines and hooks, hoping the fish would hold steady as I got it all straightened out.

Well I did get it straight, and as she came under the edge of the kayak I was able to get the gaff in her and pull the fish into my lap. Woohoo, I had landed a Mahi! At thirty nine inches she was a nice specimen and would make a rare treat for dinner. I fished around the area hoping to find more of the colorful fish, but never did. I continued to the shrimper and circled through the chum line several times, with baits high in the water, then low but there just weren't any other fish around. I finished the day with just over twenty miles and had a blast.

I need to do this again!

In this shot you can see the white and blue bull jumping clear of the water in an attempt to get rid of the hooks.

CHRISLAYNE · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 10:45 pm Post subject:

Congratulations!! Awesome catch!!

Quick Karl · Guest

THAT is fricken AWESOME! Laughing

shallowsport · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 4:13 am Post subject:

Day dream beleaving! Nice catch. Been awhile since your last report. Keep em coming they're always great.
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"I do hunt and I do fish and I do not apologize to anyone that I hunt and fish." - Norman Schwarzkopf

HRod2222 · Horse Mullet Joined: 03 Jun 2011 Posts: 222 Location: SA

Outstanding! We trolled blue water for 3 hours hoping for one of those on Saturday. Great Job!

H
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"Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun And you might meet'em both if you show up here not welcome son" -Josh Thompson

sapepper · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:40 am Post subject:

Wow,I drove by you as you hit the beach on your return Saturday. I had a feeling you would be posting something special. I told my wife as we went by you, I'll bet he had a great day!
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Taught my dog everything she knows!

TroutSupport · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 6:20 am Post subject:

Nice work and great write up.

riofrio · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 6:32 am Post subject:

Congrats... I saw you out there yesterday by the shrimp boat. We didn't catch anything there until later in the day. The big kings were hitting our trolled lures.....

Blast-n-Cast · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1142

Very cool and nice pics

HauntedByWaters · Finger Mullet Joined: 22 May 2015 Posts: 44

Awesome...

ST1300 · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:23 am Post subject:

Congrats on the Mahi catching contest. Now a question for someone who doesn't fish off shore much. Just what does that mean when the shrimper stops and pulls up the nets? Is he just done?

Prof. Salt · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:41 am Post subject:

That means the hard work begins for the crew as they cull through and toss the by catch ...which is thousands of small fish. The by catch attracts clouds of birds, and more importantly fish. When you hit it just right, the chumming shrimp boat can make for insane fishing.

landlocked beachbum · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:44 am Post subject:

SWEET!!!!

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Dave

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein

BayFly · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 9:06 am Post subject:

Great writeup Professor! You need to get Texas Saltwater Fishing Mag to publish some of your ventures, because you do a great job of describing your fun!

deputydawg · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 9:55 am Post subject:

That is awesome! Glad y'all got a weekend! Wish I could have been out there.