| Ryan Sweeney | |
| Hi Daryl,
All in all, I am really enjoying this 55" hybrid that I bought from a fellow spearboarder recently. It feels great in the water and has put a few nice fish on the boat already...what more can I ask for? Thanks for making such great pieces. Anyway...Yesterday, August 26, 2009...my 32nd birthday. Where does the time go?...and oh how greatful I am to live in this paradise known as San diego. Damien & Robert (from J&J), Brian (Moto619), Antoinette (a great friend of mine) & me (duh) head out at 5:30am to do some paddy hoppin. It started off a bit slow...there were plenty of paddies & a lot of bait but aside from that the big blue was feeling kinda like a ghost town. After a while Brian is startin to get that funny guy personality he wears so well...we jump in on a paddy and I am about 3/4 of the way around it when he starts yellin something about DoDo's. At first I think he's kidding until I round the corner and see he's got one strung up at about 30ft. after he stoned it. Nice shot chief. Then I notice about 10-12 others that are curious but keeping a distance. They came my way a bit, I aimed, shot...and didn't connect. Then of course they got more curious as I was reloading...but kept their distance as Robert & I tried to lure them in after that. Finally we gave up and moved on. A handful of paddies later we come across a school of about 4-6 yellowtails. Now to this point in my fishing career let me tell you...I have shot one YT and had it tear off. I have seen a wall of about 100 swim by me just out of range w/ a lil 100cm euro & not have the skill to get em closer... I have, well lets just say that i've had what I think is every excuse possible for not bringing home fish despite seeing them. My mom thinks there's something subconscious at play and that i don't really want to "hurt the fish"...haha. moms. OK, back on track here... the point...4-6 yellows, swimmin right by me...they get curious, come in closer, closer again...start to turn sideways and I let one fly...WHAT! No F'ing WAY! How could I miss that shot!!!! it was MAYBE 15ft. at the very most. NOTE: target practice is a very good idea. If you're reading this and saying...yes, it is. why don't I go do that?...and haven't done it...stop reading now and get your A$$ in the water with a target fool! OK, so back to the story...yes, I missed an easy shot and was starting to think that my birthday chances are looking slim. 2 missed shots. Lot's of vacant paddies and it's getting a bit later in the day...but we're not done yet. Damien, Brian, Robert and I are scoutin paddies like champs and givin it the ol 100% effort on every last one, regardless of size. It was obvious that everyone was pushing for me to meet my goal of 20lb or bigger. Finally we come up on a big ol paddy. Probably 25ft. or so. Brian's in first and I'm not far behind...with Robert in tow. Brian is off to my right and I see him start to track something. I trace the line and see a YT heading towards me. Since he was lined up I decided to turn away so he could get a clean shot (ya know, without me as a back-drop incase his laser accuracy fails him this time!). Well, the YT decides to check me out as I'm swimming away...so I turned, took careful aim this time and let one fly. After a slight pause that lasted probably no more than a 1/2 second, boom...he starts running straight for the paddy, peeling the line off my 55" wong hybrid. He makes it straight to the center of the paddy, pops thru the surface and from what Damien & Ant said was floppin around ON-TOP of the paddy...a good 10 ft. in. I knew if it took me this long to finally land a respectable fish that It wasn't gonna come easy. Basically, i tried climbing, tearing, cutting thru the paddy. I finally reached the shaft but man, this fish was tied up something fierce. Brian & Robert dove below the paddy and saw it's tail somewhere in the middle. I finally went down to check it out, grabbed this F'ers tail and started tuggin with all I got. I wasn't gonna surface unless it was with this fish. Gave it the 'ol bear hug - to death grip at the gills & then the final knife to the skull. It weighed in at 22.25lbs gutted & bled so the 24-25lb. range sounds about right. Words don't do justice to how stoked I am on FINALLY getting over this hump. I was starting to wonder if "I" was the bad luck omen or something. haha. Many great lessons were learned along the way & I'm incredibly excited for more to come...but am most greatful to have it fall on my birthday and be with a group of truly awesome friends. Thanks guys. You F&*#ing Rock!!! |     |
9:23
Monday, May 21, 2012
