2009-09-02 Kayak Angler teaches PBer

I was going through some fish photos and found my personal fishing log from 2009-09-02, on which a funny thing happened while pink fishing ...

Over the last hour I had been working my way from deeper water, stopping at the tide seams and trying my luck.  I had drifted a 1/2 mile south, had pulled my gear, had the hook in the rod's hook keeper ready for a quick cast, and was paddling in slowly.  A powerboat motored in from behind me, then slowed and slowly overtook me from about 30 feet away.  He was careful and considerate in his boat handling, but still, I was a little annoyed.  The white boat was about 25 foot with a canvas cabin.  The 65-ish year-old guy waves at me then, in a light Norwegian accent shouts, "I hear you are quite the fisherman." 

To say I was surprised is an understatement.  I think I said something clever like, "Really?", or "where did you hear that?"  He had shut down his motor so I paddled over to his gunwale. 

He explained, "I overheard you telling Donny (a friendly, local bum at the launch site) that you limited out here last week."

"Yeah.  Wednesday I limited, Sunday I got one, and today I've got two in the bag."

He throws his hands up and almost shouts, "I've been out here for weeks and haven't hooked a thing!"  He grabs a weight, flasher, and hoochie rig, "I've been using a hoochie, ...", and he throws that down and picks up a similarly rigged spoon, "... and this!".  He drops that and picks up a white candlefish with a treble hook.  "I've even been using this."  He drops his gear and hunches over, "What are you using?"

"BuzzBombs, casting to the jumpers."

"BuzzBombs!  I've got BuzzBombs!  I've been using BuzzBombs!", and he grabs another rig with a 3-sized white BuzzBomb. 

I answered, "I've just been casting.  I gave up trolling from the kayak for now."

Hearing the secret he calmed down a bit and asked, "What color?"

"Just pink, and a 2-1/2.  I've tried every other color and size I own and I've only hooked fish on the pink 2-1/2."  Then I added, "Not that I personally care, but the regulations say you can only fish with single barbless hooks."

He picked up the candlefish with the treble hook.  "It came like that."

I shrugged, "It's an expensive ticket if you get caught.  You are supposed to change them out."

He held it up again, "I squeezed in the barbs."

"Sorry, gotta be a single, barbless hook."

Just then, as though on cue a pink jumped 10 feet off my bow.  We looked at each other, and I grabbed my rod, freed the hook and casted to it in about 5 seconds.  WHAMM!  FISH ON!!  And the rod bends sharply.  The guy is screaming, "I DON'T BELIEVE IT.  I DON'T BELIEVE IT!".  Ten seconds later, the fish is gone.  The guy is just looking at me shaking his head, "I don't believe it.  I've been out here for weeks."  Then he grabs his cell phone, apparently his wife answers, and he tells her to go out right now and pick up two pink 2-1/2 BuzzBombs from some tackle shop. 

He hangs up and just looks at me for a few moments, the phone still in his hand.  Then he shakes his head and in a low voice repeats his mantra, "I've been fishing for weeks."

Well told!

It hasn't taken long for the poweeboat crowd to take us seriously. 

-Spot-

If someone has been fishing for pinks for weeks and not caught anything a would suggest they take up golf.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

I bought a Washington license for the pinks this year.  Unfortunately, I have to go to Alabama for six weeks this summer. I get back mid-August.  When does the pink party usually start?

I figure it is most likely in August.

Yeah, august. You should be fine.

What a great story, sometimes the ones with no fish caught are the best with great personal interaction are the best ones.

I bought a Washington license for the pinks this year.  Unfortunately, I have to go to Alabama for six weeks this summer. I get back mid-August.  When does the pink party usually start?

I figure it is most likely in August.

We're not ready to officially announce the Humpy tournament, but unofficially it will be Aug 17. So, keep the date open.

Dino Abulencia
HOW-NWest

I bought a Washington license for the pinks this year.  Unfortunately, I have to go to Alabama for six weeks this summer. I get back mid-August.  When does the pink party usually start?

I figure it is most likely in August.

We're not ready to officially announce the Humpy tournament, but unofficially it will be Aug 17. So, keep the date open.

Dino Abulencia
HOW-NWest

Damn.  I'll be tuna fishing that day (weather permitting)

Great Story Demonick, thanks for sharing.

I've never used buzzbombs but have heard great things to their versatility. They just look too simple for me to give them enough of a chance. Any secrets other than 2.5 and pink? More along the lines of how you fish them; retrieve etc...

I love using lures (candlefish types & spinners) and equally enjoy expanding the know-how arsenal.

Thanks.

... I've never used buzzbombs but have heard great things to their versatility. They just look too simple for me to give them enough of a chance. Any secrets other than 2.5 and pink? More along the lines of how you fish them; retrieve etc...

Cast 'em, let 'em sink a few moments, retrieve in a pumping motion.  You want them to dart forward, then flutter down, dart forward, flutter down, ...

Cast 'em, let 'em sink a few moments, retrieve in a pumping motion.  You want them to dart forward, then flutter down, dart forward, flutter down, ...

Thanks, sounds similar to what I do for black rockfish when I find them. Rather than erratic jerks I'll give it longer pulls letting the lure rise and fall through the water column as I reel in - channeling my "inner-baitfish".

Cast 'em, let 'em sink a few moments, retrieve in a pumping motion.  You want them to dart forward, then flutter down, dart forward, flutter down, ...

I forgot to mention, the pinks tend to hit on the drop.