Reel Repair by Alan Tani

This guy caught me playing with light tackle.  Definitely out-classed the rig.  That's an Eagle Claw Granger 8'6" 20-30# trolling rod and a 5000AL with 17# big game.  We were beyond 90-degree bends a few times.  I was dragging finger mullet under feeding pelicans, targeting flounder on a sandy slope.  That's why I had this rod.  The tip is pretty sensitive and delivers a softer hook set.  Very forgiving when an angler gets excited. 

It's always fun to get caught outside the box and be forced to dance along the bank with a fish.  Got him off the hook and back in the water in short order.  These larger drum don't recover as quickly and need help to get going so I didn't take time to weigh and measure, also the tide was coming in fast and I was risking getting cut off from the beach. 

Nice job!

Best, Fred

Very nice. If we only ever caughy fish within the "appropriate range" of the tackle we use, then it doesn't matter if its quality tackle.

From the size of the reel Vs the Fish, looks like a pretty big fish for that abu, looks like you had a heck of a fight !

 

Quote from: steelfish on March 30, 2023, 06:41:34 PMlooks like you had a heck of a fight !

I knew when he hit, I might be in over my head.  These drum get much larger and turn into dead weight.  The last half of the fight is just winching a nearly dead fish. I carry one of these rods on every trip.  Given that it's a trolling rod, I use it in fast water around points, corners, and drop-offs.  Basically simulating its purpose in the currents.     

I got two of these rods a few years ago.  Once I found a way to use them, I like what they do for me.  Pretty sporty option in my world.  Fun on flounder!!  The best is putting someone new on one of these and watching them have some rod-bending fun.

I caught a bunch of other fish, but that's coming up on another post.  

I have a similar rod. 4-10# 10' w&m crappie trolling rod. Basically a noodle. I stripped it down and turned it into a really fun spinner. With a SS700 on it, even catfish are fun. Snook are a blast.

OK, I'm gonna lose some folks with this one.  These are Gaftopsail catfish, gafftop, sea cat, or whatever you like.  They are game fish.  These were caught on finger mullet in the Intracoastal canal. They are pretty aggressive biters and can put up a good running fight.  They like to eat other fish, cut or whole, and especially seem to prefer cut eel.  I've had them hit spoons and soft platics as well.  The real small ones are a nuisance.  The 5+# ones will work your stuff over.

There are steps to take if you keep these.  First, Don't Get Stabbed.     Next, slice near the tail to bleed, and cover with sand to capture the slime....assuming you're at the beach.  Give 'em 5 minutes or so, take them to the water, and wipe the sand off.  Slime is now gone and the fish has bled out.  Bleeding isn't necessary, it makes them more palatable to those who don't like fish with "character".  I clean these with an electric knife.

About their slime.  It's messy and will completely "nastify" everything.  If boat fishing, and you get into these, accept the mess or move.  They slime your line, reels, all surfaces, coolers, you, and everyone on board.  If you take a break to eat, you'll eat it.  What you miss with the pressure sprayer, you'll peel off months later.  In a boat, I used a short gaff into the gill, took them straight to the cooler, and shut the lid.  Let 'em chill a bit and then get the hook out.  Use your spare rod.  Minimizes the mess. 

Good to eat?  They are a little gamey.  I don't mind that.  After all, why eat fish that has no fish taste?  Never understood that concept.  IMO, it's a fish that should be tried.  It gets bad marks because it's armed and messy. 

On the geeky side, the males carry females' eggs in their mouths for a couple of months, not eating during that time.  The fry hang out with dad until they can forage on their own.

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on March 30, 2023, 09:36:39 PMBasically a noodle.

Yes!  A noodle that doesn't break.  I thought for sure mine was gonna die.  Big fish swift current...snap!

Yeah I've caught more of those fellas than I care to count. They taste good breaded and fried if you clean them early. but the slime is incredible. And they smell bad while you're cleaning them. The smell goes away but it's not pleasant. And guaranteed they'll poop on your dock. And slime it. Did I mention the slime? How does it get 2' up the leader line?that doesn't even make sense.

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on March 31, 2023, 01:31:04 AMDid I mention the slime?

Tell me about it.  We got into those fish one night and caught so many.  We only kept the ones over 20".  We were tossing those into a homemade fish cage behind the pier.  Got up the next morning, lifted the cage, they were all alive.  The cage, 1/4" mesh, was a goopy drippy mess!  In the daylight, the pier was BAD.  It's a miracle that nobody slipped and fell.  That stuff was in my worm shaft, line guide, spool....ugh.  You HAVE to be committed if you choose this species!

All my buddies suddenly had something else to do.  Almost 4 dozen slimy armed fish to clean (alive) and a pier to scrape off.  I cleaned fish and baited all the crab traps.  Honestly, I'd rather clean angry live crabs.

My wife and I just ate one of these this evening.  It was really good fish.  I'm under orders to keep some on hand.  I'll choose to obey.

Quote from: Shellbelly on March 30, 2023, 05:37:32 PMThis guy caught me playing with light tackle.  Definitely out-classed the rig.  That's an Eagle Claw Granger 8'6" 20-30# trolling rod and a 5000AL with 17# big game.  We were beyond 90-degree bends a few times.  I was dragging finger mullet under feeding pelicans, targeting flounder on a sandy slope.  That's why I had this rod.  The tip is pretty sensitive and delivers a softer hook set.  Very forgiving when an angler gets excited. 

It's always fun to get caught outside the box and be forced to dance along the bank with a fish.  Got him off the hook and back in the water in short order.  These larger drum don't recover as quickly and need help to get going so I didn't take time to weigh and measure, also the tide was coming in fast and I was risking getting cut off from the beach. 

Thanks for the memory's , I have the star fire model 17-20 .    I have hooked up to the big drums with this stick , it`s usual a good 20 minute fight .

Them there's some big ol' Gaftops! And a beastly black. 

Quote from: oldmanjoe on March 31, 2023, 02:14:55 PMThanks for the memory's

Big drum are brutes.  I don't keep any black drum these days.  Too wormy.

That's a nice combination, Joe.  I'll take 20 minutes of that action!

You know, I've seen quite a few of the W&M surf casting rods used on the beach.  I saw these in various stores over the years.  I never bought one of their surf rods.  They weren't very expensive, but I didn't think their action was heavy enough.  Also, at the time, I wasn't too keen on hollow rods.  I didn't need another surf rod.  The old brown solid fiberglass rods were still holding up and my lighter work was on Wonderods. 

Now I'm thinking I missed an opportunity to have a variety of the W&M USA rods. 

Quote from: nelz on March 31, 2023, 03:38:28 PMThem there's some big ol' Gaftops!

Thanks,  They yielded a little over 6# of filets.  I didn't have to feed the seagulls.  The fish ate all my bait.  Used my last piece of shrimp around 9PM.  Up at 4:30AM, back home at 10pm.  45 miles of beach travel.  I could have gone straight to the canal and would have been home by noon....but where's the fun in that?

Off to the freezer they go!