68, Squirrels, Turtles, Whales and Forktails

[Gfish]

I'll be a moderately unhealthy sixty-eight close to midnight this St. Paddy's day. Trying not to dwell on it, so why not do something that's focus intensive like kayak fishing on my birthday.

I learned yet another lesson; even with a 3/4 moon, don't go out in the dark early AM, when a front is approaching, the sky is solid overcast and the wind is shifting 180 degrees. It was like a washing machine out there. Most of the swell breaks I know so well to avoid were in different places.

While waiting for some light, I caught as many Squirrelfish as I wanted on a sabiki rig. Maybe they were spawning. Too spiny to be good baitfish, but fun.

With some light I started trolling and got a nice Forktail Snapper and a big Moana(Goatfish). I stopped to try for some more desirable bait and this huge Green Sea Turtle came up to the yak and bumped into the side, "what the...", . Then he started bumping my rudder(a delicate unit), so I had to leave. Strange behavior and a first for me. Time to go out deeper.

There's a small sea mount out at 110' and there were marks at the bottom and mid-depth. Tough to get bit though. 1—4" Akule and another about 12" off the bottom. Too little and too big, oh well, godda try it. Whales started cruising through the area as I was switching to live bait rigs. "WHOOOOSH!"The first one breached behind me way too close for comfort. Then it was fast-forward, fast reverse, several times as more came through the area and I was in their path. 5 min. latter, "What's that?" A streak of white underneath me moving away, a big fish?, a Shark?..., yeah it was a Whale and he came up about 40' from me. Must have had some kinda white patch I saw that was reflecting the sunlight. I'd started to follow it, not thinking it could be a Whale, oops! I wonder if it waited to breach once it saw me so we wouldn't meet by accident. Scary fun!

Time to bait troll back to the reef. Hooked-up on the tiny bait, slow-trolling with an ounce of lead, using one of Bryan's Spinfisher estate reels. Weird fish, like everything else today, stop/start, stop/start until it saw the boat, then it was on. The drag was flawless, but eventually underneath the yak, the hook pulled out.

Sorry, no pictures. That expensive IPhone will stay inside a waterproof container under my wetsuit liner ever since I already ruined one taking pictures several years ago.

A fun trip. I don't know how much longer I can do it, though. The end-trip load-up, the excessive rinsing, spraying, and drying of all my equipment is exhausting.

[oc1]

Happy birthday.  A lot of excitement there.  I had March 17th marked on the calendar.  Not because of St. Pat's day but because they predicted it'd be calm today.  Then the heavy rains last night muddied the water and it wasn't nearly as calm as the forecast said, so I didn't go.

I've had turtles bump the boat when spooked in shallow water, but it would be freaky to have one gnawing on the rudder.  It would suit me fine if I never saw another turtle.  There are too many of them now, they spook fish off the flats and they're good for nothings.

I've had pretty good luck with this style phone case.  I stick the phone/case in my shorts pocket and clip the lanyard to a belt loop.  The landyard is long enough that the fish can be photographed alongside the boat without unclipping it.  The cases never leak even if I huli/flip. But, after about a year the clear panels get scratched and it's time to fork over a few bucks for new.

[oldmanjoe]

  Well Happy Birthday .   St Paddy's day  has always been snow or rain or just windy as all get go .
     It blew 28 plus here with 5 footers ,but I am going out Wednesday with two of my brothers .

  You play with turtles , I play with Manatee They like to play with Tupperware !    I know what you mean about those slippery Iphone suckers .   The hands are not like they use to be ..

[jgp12000]

Happy Bday Gregg you look young for 68 ! I just turned 62 in Feb
I don't feel a day over 70

[OhReely]

Happy (belated) Birthday G.

[MACflyer]

A pretty exciting birthday in my book. 68 is young for an ol' fisherman. You'll be back out there sooner than you think. Glad you put Bryan's old Spinfisher to work. A good way to keep him close to your heart. Happy Birthday!

[Donnyboat]

Yes Greg, and may you have many many more, cheers Don.

[foakes]

What a great birthday to remember!

Best, Fred

[alantani]

happy birthday!  hopefully, you can get healthy again!!!

[jzumi]

Happy Birthday!  Sure hope I can have even half as much excitement on my 68th coming up this June.

[Midway Tommy]

Happy Birthday, Greg! Surprised your name's not Pat, or Patty. 😉 😁

[Shark Hunter]

Happy 68th G Man!

[steelfish]

Happy Bday Mr. G

sounds like a great way to have show what you still can do at your 68 yo.
I wish I still could do something similar when I get that same age.

[thorhammer]

Happy birthday, G!

[Crow]

Hope your Birthday was a good one ! I remember (I think ,) when I turned 68! It's just another candle on the cake!