Memorial Day:
This was a day that could've been much worse, but it's still hard to swallow. So, here's the ugly story. I got down to Diver's Cove in Laguna Beach around 5:30am. Big swell (for there), breaking pretty hollow. The beach had lost about 4' of sand in the two weeks since I last launched there. I waited and timed the sets for about a 1/2hr. Had it all timed, then I got stupid and seeing a lull I launched. Half way out a 3-4' wave popped up out of nowhere. The lip hit my bow and I just tried to paddle through it. I actually hung on for quite a while, but in the end I was rolled. When I finally got back to shore, a freindly beach walker helped me gather the few things I hadn't tethered down.

At this point, I started checking gear looking for lost stuff, trying to put my PVC rack back together, and generally trying toget myself back together. End result; lots of wet stuff, no rods broke, reels in major need of a cleaning, FF bracket broke though still usable, and a $300 pair of prescription sunglasses gone. The last one hurts really, really bad.

So, I go back to my truck and grab my regular glasses, then back to the beach. By this time the tide has the waves breaking even heavier, w/ almost no lulls. I ended up (after an hour wait) walking the yak to the far north end and having an easy launch. I paddled north out of the reserve and discovered that every peice of structure either had a boat or two already on it, or many many divers. After throwing the kitchen sink for 3 hrs and getting only one follower, I headed back in.

Again, I timed the sets for a good 1/2hr. I realized the only area I could land at had some rocks in deeper water (people were everywhere in the water). These made for a skitish landing zone as the waves would come in and they would break or not break at irregular intervals and places. So, I waited for the last wave of the last set and made my mad dash. Unfortuantely, that last wave slowed and slightly sucked up on one of those rocks, making my yak wave cock, and yep, roll. It happened so fast I didn't see it coming. I thrashed around trying to get a footing and get the yak upright so I could get it back in, but the w/ the rocks the botom was as shallow as waist deep or over my head depending on which way I was being dragged.

End Result: same as the launch, but I lost a $170 pair of prescription glasses (luckily I had some old ones to drive home with).

This is the point where I will tell anyone who has bothered to read this far what I did that was stupid (as if most of it wasn't obvious).
#1 I timed the sets for my launch, but in the end launched into a false window, rather than waiting for when I knew there'd be a lull. Being bored is no exuse for being dumb.
#2 I didn't put my sunglasses in my hatch or dry bag for the launch (cocky), and I didn't put away my glasses the second time because I forgot. Yeah, I do have a bad memory, so Kids stay away from the drugs.
#3 and most important, I wasn't wearing my PFD either for launch or landing. I will in the future though, and I knew I should have then too. But, I was cocky. This could've proved a very bad choice. I am an excellent swimmer (though out of shape), but a knock on the head would've made it a mute point. I've never said this before, but I'm saying it now; WEAR YOUR PFD.

5/31/03:
I'll keep this short. Steve B., Ed Whited, and I fished Shelter Island from around 6 till about 11am. We had a good tide push, little wind, and decent water (around 62º and stained). Fishing was slow with lots of shorts. I never got Ed's results, but Steve had like 15 or 20 short bass, 5+ short sculpin, and I think only one legal. He fished mainly his Tight Line Lures 3" grubs (brown and orange), and Storm 3" grubs. I finished with 12 or so fish, but 6 or 7 were legals. Big difference was I think the fact that I stuck to bigger baits and the blade. I also pulled 3 of my legals in deep water, most of the time we were w/in the boats. All my legals, and some shorts came on the TLL Zipper Shads (brown and orange), Basstrix 5" swimbait (brownbait, w/ orange belly), and a white and chart. Stanley Spinnerbait, w/ a TLL 3" grub trailer (clear w/ chart, red, and green flake).

Overall, a fun day on the water, though the boat traffic was nonstop. High point of the day was when a kid on the rocks got a 29.5" WSB. He was STOKED.

Amish Ed
You Can't Catch it again if
it's Dead!

tightlinelures@adelphia.net