This now a short report, I some how deleted my long version.
Launched at 3:30am, back in by 9am.
7 legals to 4#+, all sandies except a very chunky 2# spottie. 6 shorts, mixed between sandies and a couple calicos. 1 legal butt, about 6#.
Through glow-in-the-dark Tight Line Lures mega grubs and zipper shads till daylight. Then TLL 3" grubs in watermelon/ red flake, brown and orange, and a secret color (Steve hasn't decided wether he'll release it or not). Also threw a white/chart. blade (Matsuo I think), only got me two micro calicos.
Despite the north wind which made for some quick drifts it was nice conditions, w/ the water about 63ยบ and pretty clear. Stiff outgoing tide. The spottie and the butt on my old school Phenix LM rod made for really fun fights. Talked to a couple other yaker's w/ rods, sounded like they were having a tough day too.
Question: Better to net a butt (that's going to be C&R'd) and cut up it's tail, or cut the line and leave a hook in it's mouth? I netted mine, leaving three deep cuts into it's tail. I don't eat much fish, butts especially, so keeping it wasn't an option even if I wanted to. What would you do?