Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post Reply
User avatar
Mythman
TKF 10,000 Club
TKF 10,000 Club
Posts: 23716
Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:23 am
Location: Cypress.......watching the weather to go BTB fishing!

Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by Mythman »

I was meeting btbrich at BA-16 today at noon to start off Shark Week and see if we could welcome come to TKF! :)

I sort of knew we were in trouble when I passed the auto dealers across from Almeda Mall as the flags just were flying a little too much.

Image

But I had been on the road for about an hour and a real man doesn't turn back. :roll:

Got to BA-16 and they had graded the entrance and you could have made it in a motorized scooter from the Scooter Store. But the surf was way more than predicted.

Image

I unloaded and started loading my yak for launching and btbrich shows up. We launch and after getting through the surf, we go out about .65 of a mile and anchor up. I don't know how deep as I chose not to bring my FF. But where was the single digit winds the predictors promised?

Image

We fished for about 2-3 hours and only were catching gafftops and hardheads...........so we moved and anchored up where even though the water was rough, we could see plenty of bait fish hitting the surface and the pelicans were feeding all around us. It was a still a little rough, even for btbrich!

Image

After catching about 6 gafftops, finally I get a decent run on my reel and make a hookup on what seems like a good fish. But no, it was a little shark about 3.5 ft.

Image

I try to hold him and get the hook out and he thrashes free and fall into the kayak. I quickly yanked him out with the rod and decided cutting the hook was far more intelligent than retrieving my hook.

Back into the water you go!!!
Image

and that was about it. I think btbrich had a good day on gafftops. We stayed until about 6:30 and at least the wind finally laid, a little. Enough to make the surf re-entry doable. Frankly, it was so slow, I would have come in earlier except for two major things, negotiating the surf and negotiating the commuter traffic through town. :horse:

Not a good catching day but one advantage of wind is you stay cool. When I started for home the temperature on Galveston was 87°'s.
Last edited by Mythman on Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
rod dawg
TKF 3000 Club
TKF 3000 Club
Posts: 3462
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2007 1:26 pm
Location: rounding up the cronies for some BTB

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-15 on Monday 7-25

Post by rod dawg »

Sharks are out deciding what to do about the debt ceiling....

Odd because this is the month where we start slaying them. Hoping to find them at the DP this weekend. I'm off fri-sun.
User avatar
MONSTER
TKF 4000 Club
TKF 4000 Club
Posts: 4187
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:53 pm
Location: Katy, Texas

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-15 on Monday 7-25

Post by MONSTER »

At least you gave it a good run.

Next time.....
bigfost
TKF 3000 Club
TKF 3000 Club
Posts: 3401
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2005 3:39 pm
Location: Hammer Whisperer, TX

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-15 on Monday 7-25

Post by bigfost »

I can't believe after all the grief you've given me you finally pulled a shark up in your lap. :lol:

Sorry to hear about the bad day. It's sure been a weird year for fishing.
User avatar
Mythman
TKF 10,000 Club
TKF 10,000 Club
Posts: 23716
Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:23 am
Location: Cypress.......watching the weather to go BTB fishing!

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-15 on Monday 7-25

Post by Mythman »

bigfost wrote:I can't believe after all the grief you've given me you finally pulled a shark up in your lap. :lol:

Sorry to hear about the bad day. It's sure been a weird year for fishing.
Well, I didn't exactly pull him up in my lap..............I had my hand around him and was holding him preparing to take the hook out and he did a small shark flop and landed in the cockpit of the kayak, not in my lap but somewhat near my feet. Luckily, I still had my rod in my hand and I quickly hoisted him over the side and back in the water and guess what, I got to catch him a second time. :D

This time I cut the leader. :clap:
User avatar
chazbo
TKF 2000 club
TKF 2000 club
Posts: 2151
Joined: Wed May 23, 2007 6:54 am
Location: MulletJump, TX

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-15 on Monday 7-25

Post by chazbo »

Mythman wrote:
bigfost wrote:I can't believe after all the grief you've given me you finally pulled a shark up in your lap. :lol:

Sorry to hear about the bad day. It's sure been a weird year for fishing.
Well, I didn't exactly pull him up in my lap..............I had my hand around him and was holding him preparing to take the hook out and he did a small shark flop and landed in the cockpit of the kayak, not in my lap but somewhat near my feet. Luckily, I still had my rod in my hand and I quickly hoisted him over the side and back in the water and guess what, I got to catch him a second time. :D

This time I cut the leader. :clap:

..................didja scream like a little girl....???? :lol:
User avatar
btbrich2110
Posts: 777
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:58 pm
Location: Humble

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by btbrich2110 »

Gafftops, hardheads and 1 hammerhead! Not a bad day as said above you got to take the ups with the downs = balance!
Image
Image
mike no kayak?
Image
Image
Image
see you all soon! 8)
User avatar
laxhuskie9
Posts: 250
Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2010 7:41 am
Location: Katy, TX

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by laxhuskie9 »

btbrich2110 wrote:1 hammerhead!
I'm still learning and not real familiar w/ ID-ing sharks, but is that really a hammerhead or perhaps a bonnethead?

**meant to add a congrats on the nice catfish meat haul, Rich!
User avatar
Mythman
TKF 10,000 Club
TKF 10,000 Club
Posts: 23716
Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:23 am
Location: Cypress.......watching the weather to go BTB fishing!

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by Mythman »

Rich,
You sure you didn't get that hammerhead out of a Simpsons Comic strip/ :D

He sure resembles them!!! :wink:

Image
User avatar
Cadiyak Sam
TKF 1000 Club
TKF 1000 Club
Posts: 1587
Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:05 pm
Location: Central Texas, Galveston// Manta Ray 11// Jackson CUDA// Team Turtle Head

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by Cadiyak Sam »

How do y'all cook gafftops and hardheads?
User avatar
Milkjug
TKF 4000 Club
TKF 4000 Club
Posts: 4039
Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 1:50 pm
Location: Galveston

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by Milkjug »

-Insert plank joke here-
User avatar
btbrich2110
Posts: 777
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:58 pm
Location: Humble

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by btbrich2110 »

laxhuskie9 wrote:
btbrich2110 wrote:1 hammerhead!
I'm still learning and not real familiar w/ ID-ing sharks, but is that really a hammerhead or perhaps a bonnethead?

**meant to add a congrats on the nice catfish meat haul, Rich!
The bonnethead shark or shovelhead, Sphyrna tiburo, is a member of the hammerhead shark genus Sphyrna. The Greek word sphyrna translates as hammer, referring to the shape of this shark's head - tiburo is the Taino word for shark.

when I looked it up I does seem to be a bonnethead still learning also! 8)
User avatar
LOOKN4REDS
TKF 1000 Club
TKF 1000 Club
Posts: 1313
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:39 am
Location: Barker Cypress/Clay RD, Houston, Tx

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by LOOKN4REDS »

WAIT A MINUTE! Did I just read that Mythman was involved in a semi-lap dance :shock: I'd pay to see that!!!
User avatar
rod dawg
TKF 3000 Club
TKF 3000 Club
Posts: 3462
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2007 1:26 pm
Location: rounding up the cronies for some BTB

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by rod dawg »

Rich...that sure is a lot of gafftops :D bait or table fare?

great catch on the sphyrna tiburo....
User avatar
rod dawg
TKF 3000 Club
TKF 3000 Club
Posts: 3462
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2007 1:26 pm
Location: rounding up the cronies for some BTB

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by rod dawg »

LOOKN4REDS wrote:WAIT A MINUTE! Did I just read that Mythman was involved in a semi-lap dance :shock: I'd pay to see that!!!
I have free tickets...front row seating :D
User avatar
btbrich2110
Posts: 777
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:58 pm
Location: Humble

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by btbrich2110 »

rod dawg wrote:Rich...that sure is a lot of gafftops :D bait or table fare?

great catch on the sphyrna tiburo....
I was using for bait and hoping I would need to use them but the sharks must have been following the shrimp boats its that time of the year again! 8)
User avatar
sheriff_john
Posts: 654
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Humble / Atascocita

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by sheriff_john »

Sorry I didn't get out with you guys. I need to get out again soon. Glad ya'll caught some fish!!!
Towboat Trash
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2011 2:53 am

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by Towboat Trash »

Thanks for the report! A 'little' bumpy out there! :mrgreen:
User avatar
RedWolf
TKF 3000 Club
TKF 3000 Club
Posts: 3138
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 11:47 pm
Location: Clear Lake, Lime OK Frenzy, Lime Tarpon 120, Blue Tarpon 140
Contact:

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by RedWolf »

Cadiyak Sam wrote:How do y'all cook gafftops and hardheads?
I got a couple of 3# gaffs last trip BTB, just filleted them out like I would a trout or redfish, skinned them, and gave them to my father in law that loves catfish :)
jlai92
Posts: 795
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:25 am
Location: friendswood

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by jlai92 »

i wouldve thrown up in those conditions ! better luck next time :D
User avatar
Iyakalot
Posts: 168
Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 4:35 am
Location: Tomball- 115 miles to Rollover

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by Iyakalot »

Were the shrimp boats working, Mike or Rich? Did you use your Mackerel chum Mike? Thinking it may take considerable chum to lure back a few catch-able fish if the shrimp boats have recently dumped their excess catch.
User avatar
btbrich2110
Posts: 777
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:58 pm
Location: Humble

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by btbrich2110 »

Iyakalot wrote:Were the shrimp boats working, Mike or Rich? Did you use your Mackerel chum Mike? Thinking it may take considerable chum to lure back a few catch-able fish if the shrimp boats have recently dumped their excess catch.
Yea the shrimp boats were out deep, then they looked close, then they were gone?? Im sure that didn't help. 8)
User avatar
Mythman
TKF 10,000 Club
TKF 10,000 Club
Posts: 23716
Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:23 am
Location: Cypress.......watching the weather to go BTB fishing!

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by Mythman »

I only remember seeing three shrimp boats and they were at least a mile or more from us at their closest point. To be honest, I am not sure I could blame them for a lack of shark catching success.

I was surprised that at the lack of shark activity we had. As said above, I chose not to take my FF so I don't know how deep we were fishing but if I remember correctly 1/2 mile out there is about 15-17 ft.

We did move in closer and seemed to have more activity but still it was littler fish...........even the slimers.

For some reason, I am just not catching the quantity of fish, this year, that I think I am use to. Don't know if it is me or the sign of the times :?: :cry:
User avatar
Iyakalot
Posts: 168
Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 4:35 am
Location: Tomball- 115 miles to Rollover

Re: Slow, tough day at BA-16 on Monday 7-25

Post by Iyakalot »

This story is from the Galveston Country The Daily News. It just seems more than a coincidence that shrimpers were present this trip and our Mattie trip and the fish were not. For what it's worth. Interesting read anyway.
Tom
http://galvestondailynews.com/story/245034
Good action near shrimp boats
By Joe Kent
Correspondent
Published July 18, 2011

Last Friday, the 2011 offshore shrimping season began.

While the opening of the season is a boom to shrimpers, it always is a welcomed event for offshore anglers.

Each year, shrimp boats from all over the Gulf Coast converge on the offshore Texas waters and spend days, actually nights, dragging their nets for shrimp.

The fleets of shrimp boats drag their nets at night and often well into the morning, then anchoring and culling their catch before retiring to their cabins to sleep during the heat of the day.

It is this early-morning event that offshore fishermen wait for and try to time their arrival at the point the shrimpers dump the by-catch overboard.

When all of this bait, including small finfish, crustaceans and other marine life, is dumped overboard, the water usually boils with activity as fish go into a feeding frenzy to take on an easy meal.

Fishing boats motor up to the stern of the shrimp boat and toss out their baited lines and normally it is just a few minutes before a ferocious strike takes place.

The fishing always is best for about an hour or so following the by-catch dump.

Early in the process, fish are concentrated close behind the boats; however, as the morning progresses, they can be found farther behind, sometimes as much as a quarter-mile or more from the boats.

While the most fish will be there in and around the dumping, lots of fish, particularly ling, will hang around the boats all of the time while anchored.

Shade is part of the reason and the other is there tends to be continuous droppings from the nets that are hanging out of the water.

Just about every species of pelagic fish can be found around the anchored boats.

King, ling, Dorado, sharks, bonito, Wahoo and sailfish.

Natural baits tend to work best; however, there are many boats that just troll around the shrimp boats.

Trolling allows you to cover more territory faster and once a strike occurs, the odds are a concentration of fish is close by.

At that point, some of the trolling boats switch to natural baits and drift the area where the strike occurred.

Today, the Gulf Shrimp Fleet has shrunk in numbers from that of the 1980s and early ’90s.

The culprits have been high fuel prices combined with low shrimp prices triggered by imported shrimp.

Also, hurricanes have done their part as well to reduce the fleet.

If you make it out for the first time, be considerate of the sleeping crew and captain.

They work hard at night and need their sleep during the day.

To get your catch in the Reel Report, phone Capt. Joe Kent at 409-683-5273, or send an email to reel.report(at)galvnews.com. There’s no charge for this service.
Post Reply