Spring Break 2013!!!

S
sportsmanlio
For Spring Break, I went down to Sacramento and San Francisco for a few days with one of my best friends. We caught a Warriors game, hit up the casino, and just toured the city on foot eating tons of great food. The highlight of the trip; however, was fishing the San Pablo Bay!

Captain Don Franklin of Soleman Sportfishing guided me on one of my best trips ever. I've now taken eight charter trips all over Oregon and California, and this was definitely the best one yet!

Though the website says you need five people for a trip, he took out just the two of us. His stepson was his deckhand, and this was his first day. The kid was about 16, and he clearly loved doing it, though we were telling him how to do half of what needed to be done. It was really a change of pace to see a father/son-type operation like this, and we absolutely loved the experience.

I ended up catching 5 species (Brown Smoothhound Shark, Spiny Dogfish, Leopard Shark, Bat Ray, Striped Bass). I landed two Bat Rays over 50 pounds (my heaviest fish to date), two small Brown Smoothhound Sharks, a small Spiny Dogfish, a Leopard Shark that was 1" short of being a keeper (35" and about 6 pounds), and a huge striper.

My striper went 33.5" and weighed 12 lbs 10 oz--my largest game fish to date! The captain said it was actually the largest one he'd boated this year. When he netted it, he started hooting and hollering, jumping up and down, and it really added to the experience.

The weather was nice, the views were gorgeous, and he was an exceptional captain. Every other charter combined (dozens of people) caught less fish than my buddy and I did that day, and it was because he knew exactly what he was doing.

I highly recommend Don Franklin of Soleman Sportfishing if you're ever wanting to fish the San Francisco or San Pablo Bay!
 
C_Run
C_Run
Great report and it looks like an awesome catch, especially the big striper! Whose cat? Looks like he's ready to swim if necessary.
 
S
sportsmanlio
Haha, the Captain had a cat named "Spike" that ruled the boat. It was hilarious! It would jump around while we were fighting fish, watch from the upper deck, and it fell asleep on my buddy in transit. Truly a unique experience!
 
Raincatcher
Raincatcher
The great smiles and silly grins tell the tale. Great trip, great time and great cat. Can't beat the combination. :clap: :lol:
 
E
eugene1
Looks like an awesome trip out! I'll have to think about getting a trip with that guy.

Why did he gaff the ray? Wondering if you kept it or?

Best,
 
S
sportsmanlio
It was the only way to get it unhooked. Netting the really big ones is asking for a repeat of the Steve Irwin experience, and this one was particularly fiesty. It was just gaffed through the mouth, and it swam away fine. The other three we caught were just unhooked with long-handled pliers.
 
Casting Call
Casting Call
Sounds like a good time was to be had by ALL including Spike. Been there, done that for fourty years. String rays are good practice for sturgon fishing. With one exception, when they stop and set on the bottom, It's over! Theire is only one way to get them to move after that. PM me and I'll tell you how. Youre experiance is one for your record book and memories to re live. I do all the time. CC
 
M
Moe
Looks awesome, I really want to go shark fishing!
 

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