Name=Jeff
Date=4/16/99
Boat=Maxum
Area=Newport Bay
Bait=Squid, Mackerel
Water_Temp=? warming up
Captain=Jim
Weather=Clear
Seas=Flat
Report=Bay action is starting to pick back up again after a long, cold winter. We headed out Fri. evening to fish for some bat rays and other bay action we could find. Started the night off right with a little 10-pound runt that I handed off to my friend Jim who has never caught a bat ray. After releasing him, we caught several nice bass to 2-pounds on the shore side while the bat ray rods remained quite on the other side. Then at about 10:30 Jim's rod starts screaming. This I could tell was a big fish, so we reeled in all the rest of the rods and pulled up the anchors just in time as Jim's reel was completly spooled and at the knot when we got the last anchor up. We chased the fish down but it was heading out to the mouth of the bay, big and unstopable with #25 pound test. Jim fought the monster for over an hour, sweating and straining as we laughed and cheered him on. His poor coffee-grinder reel's drag was giving out and this fish was showing no sign of giving in. Then when we got out to the mouth, in deep water and clear of all obstacles, it happens. Jim's knot gives out at the swivel and that was it. End of story. I have no doubt that this was a triple digit fish but sure wish we could have at least seen him. I did get a good picture of Jim with his rod bendo, sure hope it comes out. P.S. when the bat rays start spawning in early spring like they are, it is usually a good sign that things will be picking up soon all-over. GET READY!!!!!!
Rating=Excellent
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