Date: March 3, 2002
To: PFIC Message Board
From: Nufo
Subject: Nufo's Quest (YEAH BABY)
I finally did it! Hooked my first 2 dinos today thanks to a hint from Stugyslayer. Did a little footwork and found the spot he hinted about. Here is the breakdown of how it all went down.
Arrived at the spot (south of GG bridge) at low tide around 10:40am. Nothing biting at all so around 12:15 I decided I would try holding my rod for a bit. Within 2 minutes I felt a little tick and set the hook. BAAAAMMM the water explodes and out jumps a monster sturgeon. The fish tried to play me for a fool and came right in. Knowing better than to try and land a monster like this when he’s not tired I just let him sit there. Finally he got pi.... and took off on a line peeling run of about 100 yards. He stopped a couple of times to show me his aerial display but then would turn and run again. Finally I turned him and he came back with in 10 feet of me. Still thinking he’s playing possum I took my time and guess what I was right. Off he goes again on a thumb blistering run. After about 6 of these runs and a bunch of little runs he finally tires and goes belly up. Now its time to try and land him but stupid me forgot my snare. I pull him in close and grab my shock leader. Now I drag him up into reaching distance. I notice he is barely hooked so I reach down and slide my hand into his gill plate. This pi.... him off and he gives a violent shake slipping out of my hand and off of the hook. DAMN! For some reason I always learn the hard way. The thought of keeping him if he was under the max limit crossed my mind. I know that’s gotta be why he gave that last effort to get free.
I wasn’t mad that I lost the fish but rather I was excited about the battle I had just been in. About 30 minute later I got another little tick on the end of my line. Slammed the hook home and landed a nice little 46 incher.
Breakdown on bait and gear:
Gear:
Calstar GF700XL rod (custom built by me!)
Calcutta 400S reel filled with 15lb Izoreline.
50# Andy shock leader (approx. 10yards)
7/0 Gami hook on a 60# wire leader of 18 inches.
3-oz sinker attached to a slider.
Bait:
Grass shrimp
Fight time:
Big fish about 45 minutes
Little fish about 3 minutes
Lesson learned:
Holding your rod makes all the difference. These fish hit so soft that they didn’t even make the tip of my 700XL move! Wonder how many fish I have missed due to this?
Thank you to all of you who have contributed to my sturgeon fishing knowledge on this board and on the water. Nufo's quest is not over, it’s only just begun. Nufo
Posted by johnr
Nice catch. My only time fishing for these was in my boat under the San Rafael Bridge. I was used to salmon fishing so I'm leaving my rod in the rod holder. We had several hits with nada. I didn't know it until we came in and talked with some experienced sturgeon fisherman that you need to hold your rod and set that hook as soon as you feel that "pump". These are a fun challenge from shore. John
Posted by SteveO
Awesome Man...!! Way to go.
Posted by Songslinger
Hey Dude, that is so great! Way to go! You must be walking on air.
Posted by Nufo
Took a quick picture of the 46 incher and then released it. Won’t have the pics for a while since I don’t have a digital came. Had to use an old trust disposable. 15 pics left before I can develop it.
Posted by BankShot
Right on Nufo! Sounds like quite the battle on that first one...thumb-blistering runs, I love it. Plus two in one day is one hell of way to break the ice. Congrats and many more to come.
Posted by Corbinaman1
Nice Sturgeon--Sounds Like A Blast!
Posted by gyozadude
Nufo: Congrats! That's a great catch and the feeling must be enhanced by the fact that you built this rod yourself. I hope you land many more and tell more stories. - Gyozadude "Yes - I can roll my own potsticker skins"
Posted by geckomd
CONGRATS on a successful quest! Now off for some stripers!
Posted by leony
Wow, you finally did it! Congrats, Nufo!!! It's amazing that those giant sturgeons create such little action while pumping the food. The hint on my first got-away sturgeon is moved line, but I thought it was wind at first. Anyway, it was really great that you got your first one. I am sure that you will catch many more in the future. leony
Posted by salty nick
Congratulations Nufo - nice!
Posted by lucy
Good going, Nufo! Just reading about it was exciting, so experiencing it must have been a real blast.
Posted by stinkyfingers
Glad we talked. Good thing we got on the phone earlier that day. P.S. Glad security wasn't an issue. We'll have to go out soon, just to drain that roll of film.
To: PFIC Message Board
From: Nufo
Subject: Nufo's Quest (YEAH BABY)
I finally did it! Hooked my first 2 dinos today thanks to a hint from Stugyslayer. Did a little footwork and found the spot he hinted about. Here is the breakdown of how it all went down.
Arrived at the spot (south of GG bridge) at low tide around 10:40am. Nothing biting at all so around 12:15 I decided I would try holding my rod for a bit. Within 2 minutes I felt a little tick and set the hook. BAAAAMMM the water explodes and out jumps a monster sturgeon. The fish tried to play me for a fool and came right in. Knowing better than to try and land a monster like this when he’s not tired I just let him sit there. Finally he got pi.... and took off on a line peeling run of about 100 yards. He stopped a couple of times to show me his aerial display but then would turn and run again. Finally I turned him and he came back with in 10 feet of me. Still thinking he’s playing possum I took my time and guess what I was right. Off he goes again on a thumb blistering run. After about 6 of these runs and a bunch of little runs he finally tires and goes belly up. Now its time to try and land him but stupid me forgot my snare. I pull him in close and grab my shock leader. Now I drag him up into reaching distance. I notice he is barely hooked so I reach down and slide my hand into his gill plate. This pi.... him off and he gives a violent shake slipping out of my hand and off of the hook. DAMN! For some reason I always learn the hard way. The thought of keeping him if he was under the max limit crossed my mind. I know that’s gotta be why he gave that last effort to get free.
I wasn’t mad that I lost the fish but rather I was excited about the battle I had just been in. About 30 minute later I got another little tick on the end of my line. Slammed the hook home and landed a nice little 46 incher.
Breakdown on bait and gear:
Gear:
Calstar GF700XL rod (custom built by me!)
Calcutta 400S reel filled with 15lb Izoreline.
50# Andy shock leader (approx. 10yards)
7/0 Gami hook on a 60# wire leader of 18 inches.
3-oz sinker attached to a slider.
Bait:
Grass shrimp
Fight time:
Big fish about 45 minutes
Little fish about 3 minutes
Lesson learned:
Holding your rod makes all the difference. These fish hit so soft that they didn’t even make the tip of my 700XL move! Wonder how many fish I have missed due to this?
Thank you to all of you who have contributed to my sturgeon fishing knowledge on this board and on the water. Nufo's quest is not over, it’s only just begun. Nufo
Posted by johnr
Nice catch. My only time fishing for these was in my boat under the San Rafael Bridge. I was used to salmon fishing so I'm leaving my rod in the rod holder. We had several hits with nada. I didn't know it until we came in and talked with some experienced sturgeon fisherman that you need to hold your rod and set that hook as soon as you feel that "pump". These are a fun challenge from shore. John
Posted by SteveO
Awesome Man...!! Way to go.
Posted by Songslinger
Hey Dude, that is so great! Way to go! You must be walking on air.
Posted by Nufo
Took a quick picture of the 46 incher and then released it. Won’t have the pics for a while since I don’t have a digital came. Had to use an old trust disposable. 15 pics left before I can develop it.
Posted by BankShot
Right on Nufo! Sounds like quite the battle on that first one...thumb-blistering runs, I love it. Plus two in one day is one hell of way to break the ice. Congrats and many more to come.
Posted by Corbinaman1
Nice Sturgeon--Sounds Like A Blast!
Posted by gyozadude
Nufo: Congrats! That's a great catch and the feeling must be enhanced by the fact that you built this rod yourself. I hope you land many more and tell more stories. - Gyozadude "Yes - I can roll my own potsticker skins"
Posted by geckomd
CONGRATS on a successful quest! Now off for some stripers!
Posted by leony
Wow, you finally did it! Congrats, Nufo!!! It's amazing that those giant sturgeons create such little action while pumping the food. The hint on my first got-away sturgeon is moved line, but I thought it was wind at first. Anyway, it was really great that you got your first one. I am sure that you will catch many more in the future. leony
Posted by salty nick
Congratulations Nufo - nice!
Posted by lucy
Good going, Nufo! Just reading about it was exciting, so experiencing it must have been a real blast.
Posted by stinkyfingers
Glad we talked. Good thing we got on the phone earlier that day. P.S. Glad security wasn't an issue. We'll have to go out soon, just to drain that roll of film.
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