Fishing Bandit Point in San Leon Saturday night, the water was extremely fresh and dirty. Its only around 5 feet deep there, so not much of an underlying salt layer. So to hedge my bets I set out a couple rigs with dead shrimp while a worked the crappie jigs for trout. Caught a couple keeper size lower slot specks, but not in the mood to fillet so back they went. Then a long period of nothing, and then something starts toying with one of the shrimp. I pick up the rod and give a little pressure, feel the fish at the other end and give him a little sting. Apparently he didn't care for that as he took off running, slow freight train style. After many minutes of cranking back and him pulling drag, I brought the beast beaten to the pier side. Only problem was, I was alone, the kids weren't handy to net. Being the handy guy that I am, I managed to balance the rod in one hand and scoop low with the other holding the net, by laying flat on the pier I was barely able to reach. I need to get a pier net, side note. 28 lb black drum. Called the kids down, they came and posed for some pictures, and then left without fishing.
So I get back at it, crappie jigging and big shrimpin', and after a while get a little tug on my bobber. So I give him a little sting, and wham! He takes off running, fast freight train this time. At first I'm thinking maybe its troutzilla back for round two, but the fight is not speck style. Its clearly a red, pissed and heading out to sea. I know I can't trust drag to fight it after seeing troutzilla destroy my light wire crappie jig a few weeks ago. So I flip the anti reverse off and proceed to backreel like a madman. Finessing the fish takes quite a while, and many minutes later I brought the beast to pierside. Again I do the dance of juggling rod and not quite long enough net, and up the fish comes, beautiful 12 lb red. Called the kids and they came down to pose again. Nothing else of note, one more small trout and then I was tired and called it a night.
So I get back at it, crappie jigging and big shrimpin', and after a while get a little tug on my bobber. So I give him a little sting, and wham! He takes off running, fast freight train this time. At first I'm thinking maybe its troutzilla back for round two, but the fight is not speck style. Its clearly a red, pissed and heading out to sea. I know I can't trust drag to fight it after seeing troutzilla destroy my light wire crappie jig a few weeks ago. So I flip the anti reverse off and proceed to backreel like a madman. Finessing the fish takes quite a while, and many minutes later I brought the beast to pierside. Again I do the dance of juggling rod and not quite long enough net, and up the fish comes, beautiful 12 lb red. Called the kids and they came down to pose again. Nothing else of note, one more small trout and then I was tired and called it a night.
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