CG_Fishes Posted June 22, 2023 Report Share Posted June 22, 2023 This past Sunday I woke up and saw clouds with some rain for the first time in over a month, I knew immediately that I had to go target some Pike. I arrived at my first spot with 2 hours to kill before I had something to do. It was quickly evident that the fish were active. Catching 2 small fish around 24" and missing one over 30. I kept moving, going on a bit of a dry spell until I missed another fish. This would be the theme of the day, and is seemingly the theme of every Pike trip I've ever taken, they just suck at getting hooked! I made a quick cast off the rock point I had been standing on before moving on and finally connected with my first 30+ of the day. A respectable fish in its own right and enough to have made it worth while to get out. 30" is my benchmark of being a solid fish, little did I know that it would only get better. I continued down the shoreline, going on another dry spell, as the water in the sea is about 2ft below normal and so these spots have become too shallow. I made it to the Marina where I had parked my bike and began to fish around, I had never tried it before so I was interested to see if there were fish around. Immediately I missed another few fish, then connected with another 30+! I continued fishing around, catching a few smaller pike before missing a giant at my feet. I knew that fish never felt hooks so I was determined to get it to come back. I let that casting angle cool down for a bit and in the meantime caught another 30+, I was stoked but it wasn't quite the same caliber as the one I missed. After letting that angle cool down for a little while longer I made another cast, and again right at my feet the fish struck, but this time I connected. I knew immediately that it was one of, if not my biggest pike ever. 10 very stressful minutes of long runs and worrying about barbless hooks later I had the fish in hand. Without an official measuring device I can't be sure but using my hand (20cm/8") I estimate the fish between 34-36" making it my biggest ever. The stoke was real with this one. I went home, ran some errands and decided I couldn't be done for the day if that was what I got in just 2 hours! I went to a new spot, catching fish immediately, but nothing too big, topping out in the high 20s. I did get a fish pushing 40 to follow to the bank but it never struck. On the bike ride home I decided to try another new spot, missing a small fish on my first cast and another mid-high 30s on my second. I casted back for the big one and she struck again, feeling hooks but not getting pinned, that one hurt. I was lucky enough to catch another 30+ while there though and a local kid was there fishing to take a picture. I spend a good bit of time speaking with the kid and his dad about fishing in the area, and they let me know that was their go to spot. Fast forward 2 days and I wanted to get back out, going back to the last 2 spots from the other day. At the first spot I missed 6 fish without hooking a single one, they were just swiping at it. I got to the 2nd spot and missed a fish immediately, casting back and catching it. This is when disaster struck. As I went to remove the hook from the fish it thrashed and buried the triple grip of my bull herring into my pinky finger, attaching itself to me before continuing to thrash around. I quickly unhooked the fish after screaming a few not so nice words and decided I had to push the hook the rest of the way through. I was able to almost get it out but it got stuck before the barb could be exposed because of the sharp bend in the hook shank. This is when I realized I needed help. I called my boss, who was on the bus and called his coworker who I had not best met. What a first impression, he thought the handshake with a 6" lure attached to my hand was funny at least. We were able to cut the hook and upon attempting to remove the hook realized that it was truly stuck. To the ER we went. Being in the ER in a foreign country where you don't speak the language is kind of nerve racking but after 2 numbing shots and at least a full minute of pulling they got the hook out. It's safe to say that I am going barbless from now on. ^This roughly translates to "Here it sucks!" yev14, porkmeatballs, Jon P and 12 others 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbass Posted June 22, 2023 Report Share Posted June 22, 2023 Great job CG_Fishes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BASS_SWINGER Posted June 22, 2023 Report Share Posted June 22, 2023 Looks like some good fun CG_Fishes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtfallon88 Posted June 22, 2023 Report Share Posted June 22, 2023 Beautiful pike! CG_Fishes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtfallon88 Posted June 22, 2023 Report Share Posted June 22, 2023 Beautiful pike! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lux036 Posted June 29, 2023 Report Share Posted June 29, 2023 As big bait dudes, remember to bring your lip grippers or invest in 1 or 2. They're only a few bucks for plastic ones and they will save you pain and suffering. In some cases, a trip to the ER. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishDr Posted July 14, 2023 Report Share Posted July 14, 2023 An epic set of outings, even with the ER visit. That’s been one heck of an exchange program. CG_Fishes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CG_Fishes Posted July 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2023 1 hour ago, FishDr said: An epic set of outings, even with the ER visit. That’s been one heck of an exchange program. It has been incredible, truly the opportunity of a lifetime. Definitely set the bar high for the rest of my career! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CG_Fishes Posted July 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2023 On 6/30/2023 at 12:00 AM, lux036 said: As big bait dudes, remember to bring your lip grippers or invest in 1 or 2. They're only a few bucks for plastic ones and they will save you pain and suffering. In some cases, a trip to the ER. I've used them, prefer not to now. In my experience they almost always put a hole in the fish's mouth and they also put a lot of weight on a pretty weak spot for fish like Pike. At the end of the day, I do my best to put the health of the fish first and so I do not use these grippers kookfarmer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cristo Posted July 16, 2023 Report Share Posted July 16, 2023 Dude so sick, love tangling with worthy muskallonge CG_Fishes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yev14 Posted July 16, 2023 Report Share Posted July 16, 2023 Wow what a day of fishing! CG_Fishes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeter Posted July 19, 2023 Report Share Posted July 19, 2023 That’s awesome, nice work! CG_Fishes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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