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johneod75 · Horse Mullet Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 108

Well we had high hopes this year and even higher expectations from our family and friends after taking 1st place last year. Unfortunately due to financial and health concerns Eric couldn't come last year so our team was down to Drew, Ray (my father-in-law), and myself. I also definitely learned my lesson about talking about our exact location as there wasn't more than about 50 yards between camps from the 40 to 41 mm. That was where we were planning on setting up again this year but had to continue farther south in order to get some decent separation. We set up Friday morning and started fishing, setting up and rigging baits.

Friday afternoon we sent out two whole rays, a couple of wing sections and a fresh whiting, making drops from 300 to 1000 yards. That night we got hammered by the rain, winds and lightning that I'm sure everyone else out there felt. Woke up Saturday morning to strong winds and growing seas.

All baits came in Saturday morning 100% in tact; there wasn't even a hungry crab out there. We immediately went into fresh bait mode and ended up with plenty of fresh large whiting, a roughly 18 inch Pompano and a 24" skipjack. We didn't end up deploying any baits till around 2 p.m. and had our spread set by around 3:30. We only were able to get 4 baits out as, after three failed attempts by Drew and myself to get the 5th and 6th baits out, we deemed it unsafe to try anymore to get out in the kayak. By 5:30 both the shorter drops had broke loose and we were left with only the Pompano on the 80w and the Skippie on the Daiwa 900. Around 10 p.m. Drew went up top to check the reels and noticed that the 900 had moved drastically South and had quite a bit of slack in it. He grabbed the rod, climbed down the ladder and we started walking south and taking in line. Several times it pulled some drag but we were fairly sure that there wes trash on the line being pulled by the current. I went ahead and ran back to camp to grab all our required photo and release gear just in case.

With about 50 yards left to put on the reel he hollers "It just changed directions!." With the doubts of wether or not we had a fish on gone we immediately were in release mode. We finally spotted the leader and myself and one of the guys from the camp South of us waded into the chest deep wade gut. The other guy grabbed the leader and I made my way toward what looked like a much smaller shark. I quickly got a hold of the tail, secured the tail rope and pulled her onto the beach. A quick cut of the hook and we got her into position and snapped all the required photos.

Drew and I handed all our gear to Ray and drug her back to the deep wade gut. Upon entering the water she wasn't moving and I was worried that we were going to lose her. I grabbed her by the tail and directly behind the dorsal fin and started walking her up and down the beach. Finally I felt her tense up and then kick. I gave her a good shove and let go and she swam off into the dark.

At the weigh in we knew that there was a 7'6" Greater Hammer caught and there were quite a few rumors of a Lemon that was either 7'3" or 8'3". With our hopes still fairly high that we could place third we eagerly awaited the announcement of the shark division winners. Finally it was time and we hear, "In third place with a Bull Shark.......", alright this must be us "......that measured out at 75 inches......" Wait, what is going on? Did we miss measure? Did we screw up the photos and not have our submission count? Surely we did everything right yet we did not get third, then... "In second place with a Bull Shark measuring 76.5 inches....." Holy Cow!!!! The rumored Lemon doesn't exist! "....Andrew Stensland!" We were blown away! 1st last year and 2nd this year and on top of everything else out tournament record still holds!

It was a great weekend with friends and a blast as always even though the shark fishing was painfully slow. We will of course be back next year with high hopes and ambitions.

Thanks to the guys from Woodstock Tree surgeons for all the help landing the shark and I also have to give out some props to Nick over at Breakaway Tackle for providing me with the Z-One rod that the shark was caught on. Thanks also have to go out to our friends and family, especially my wife for putting up with the countless hours I spent yet again preparing for the tournament. Last but certainly not least thanks to my great friend and boss for helping me build the tower that we fished off all weekend.
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topdog15 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 12:21 pm Post subject:

Congrats guys! Yall have a streak going now.
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rabbit · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 12:47 pm Post subject:

Congradulations on 2nd place. But im confused. A 75 inch took 3rd and you took second with 74.5 Shocked

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Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

Congrats! I like the shirts! Now you can become a sponsor Wink

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johneod75 · Horse Mullet Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 108

ltorna1 · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 3240

Way to go boys!

troutless · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 3:50 pm Post subject:

Congrats guy's - Awesome job, keep the string going.

ladyfish · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 6:15 pm Post subject:

Way to go guy, sounds like a great trip. and the win

cbroutfitters · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:37 pm Post subject:

Congrats fellas!!!!
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CCWADER · Joined: 15 Jun 2009 Posts: 6

Congrats to you and your crew. It was nice meeting you guys. We were the guys parked next to you Thursday night (White F250). We'll definitely be getting in touch with you after seeing the aluminum tower job you guys had on the Tahoe.

Wow! 2 in a row! Yall MUST be doing something right!

Congrats again! Hope to see yall on the beach!

PanamaYak · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 10:16 am Post subject: Bravo Zulu John!!

Repeat champs - your crew rocks! I told California son Mike "Jones" to check out your team's report and pics.

Bruce "PanamaYak" Steele
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ROBDOG · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 5:04 pm Post subject:

Congrat's John. It was nice seeing some friends take 1st and 2nd. Would have been nicer if I had placed though. Awesome job!!!

surfdragon · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:55 pm Post subject:

Congrats, AND hell of a fishing rig that you won not to
mention big bucks.Glad you stuck it out and it payed. Cool

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