27 sailfish
12-19-2009, 08:13 PM
Figured it might be worth a try before the storm really kicked in.
This time of year - I like to go mall fishing. It is a little known sport but a lot of fun - although very dangerous at times. I've found the 40% off sales to be the best bite but this time of year - it pays to go when you can. Knowing only hardcore shoppers would be out - I had to drop my leaders down to 200 lb flouro. These seasoned shoppers are hard to fool - not the pushover schoolies that swarm on nice days.
I got set up near the food court - downwind of course. I decided to only fish one rod - a 130 lb bent butt with a Fin Nor two speed reel. Peering through binoculars - I could see three or four shoppers but they were well out of casting range. Taking into account the low light level - I went with a sandwich bait. A custard filled donut and a buy one / get one free coupon to Ben and Jerry's ice cream. I heard a large splash behind me and saw a huge shopper set down her 88 oz soda cup. Carefully I tossed my bait out and saw her eye it up. No doubt this big girl had been caught before - she turned down the bait. I reeled in and freshened the offering - a large pizza with extra peppori. This time , I cast well past her so I would not spook her. A small shopper started towards the bait but then big mama spun around and the little shopper darted away. I could tell she wanted the bait - the mall air was clear and I had a good view from the second level. A few slight twitches of the pizza bait did the trick and she piled onto it. I dropped back for a 30 count - figured the big bait might take half a minute to swallow. I held my breathe as the line came tight and then set the hook. The big shopper did not run fast but there was some real power in her first long run. With 45 pounds of drag though , I knew she would tire out. I had to follow her so as not to get spooled. With about 450 yds out - I finally was able to gain a few feet. I put the reel in low gear but then she took off on another run. Not as fast as the first one but still a lot of power to it. The storm was picking up - I could see the flashing lights of the snow plows clearing the lot. I hoped the big shopper would stay close to the stores and not run outside. Almost lost her when she took the line around a coat rack but the 130 lb Ande held up. I had most of the line back on the reel and her runs were very short. I knew she was getting tired and hoped to get a tag in her before the storm got worse. The fight had taken us to the far end of the mall and I worked my way down the stairs to her level. The rod had been pulled down against the railing a few times and I feared it might be damaged. Seeing my shadow - the big girl made one last run , back towards the food court. Damn , this was trouble and I pushed the tackle to the max. I could hear the mono pinging - it went well with the piped in Christmas carols. I felt the rod begin to shatter and watched in horror as it broke just above the second roller guide. Luckily the broken part slide down the taut line and did not tangle. I lost all leverage though and landing a shopper this size would be tough with a broken rod. I was forced to let her drag me along the tile floor - nothing to do but hold on and hope she tired out. Mall security happen to see me and one of the guys helped me out. We started to hand line her in - neither caring of the deep cuts we were getting. This shopper was crafty though and tired to get around the Santa display. With the guard and I pulling for all we were worth - we finally turned the shopper and I knew she was spent. It was still no easy task bringing her in with broken tackle but I felt the two hour battle would soon be over. I got hold of the leader when she made one last ditch effort and ran. This really caught me off guard and I felt my feet going out from under me. I had no choice but to dump the leader. We fought her back in and this time we both grabbed the leader. Oh , how I wish I had 600 lb rather then the light 200 lb flouro. We held the leader tight and I readied the tag. Just as I went to tag the huge shopper , she pulled hard and bent the 11/0 barbless hook. I can not tell you how bad it hurt not to get the tag in but the guard said it counted as a release since we had the leader in hand. I shook bloody hands with my new friend and went back to get my tackle bag. I loaded the busted rod in the truck and headed home as the storm picked up.
Most likely won't get back until the big after Christmas day sale. Heard it was a good bite last year - hope to see it first hand.
This time of year - I like to go mall fishing. It is a little known sport but a lot of fun - although very dangerous at times. I've found the 40% off sales to be the best bite but this time of year - it pays to go when you can. Knowing only hardcore shoppers would be out - I had to drop my leaders down to 200 lb flouro. These seasoned shoppers are hard to fool - not the pushover schoolies that swarm on nice days.
I got set up near the food court - downwind of course. I decided to only fish one rod - a 130 lb bent butt with a Fin Nor two speed reel. Peering through binoculars - I could see three or four shoppers but they were well out of casting range. Taking into account the low light level - I went with a sandwich bait. A custard filled donut and a buy one / get one free coupon to Ben and Jerry's ice cream. I heard a large splash behind me and saw a huge shopper set down her 88 oz soda cup. Carefully I tossed my bait out and saw her eye it up. No doubt this big girl had been caught before - she turned down the bait. I reeled in and freshened the offering - a large pizza with extra peppori. This time , I cast well past her so I would not spook her. A small shopper started towards the bait but then big mama spun around and the little shopper darted away. I could tell she wanted the bait - the mall air was clear and I had a good view from the second level. A few slight twitches of the pizza bait did the trick and she piled onto it. I dropped back for a 30 count - figured the big bait might take half a minute to swallow. I held my breathe as the line came tight and then set the hook. The big shopper did not run fast but there was some real power in her first long run. With 45 pounds of drag though , I knew she would tire out. I had to follow her so as not to get spooled. With about 450 yds out - I finally was able to gain a few feet. I put the reel in low gear but then she took off on another run. Not as fast as the first one but still a lot of power to it. The storm was picking up - I could see the flashing lights of the snow plows clearing the lot. I hoped the big shopper would stay close to the stores and not run outside. Almost lost her when she took the line around a coat rack but the 130 lb Ande held up. I had most of the line back on the reel and her runs were very short. I knew she was getting tired and hoped to get a tag in her before the storm got worse. The fight had taken us to the far end of the mall and I worked my way down the stairs to her level. The rod had been pulled down against the railing a few times and I feared it might be damaged. Seeing my shadow - the big girl made one last run , back towards the food court. Damn , this was trouble and I pushed the tackle to the max. I could hear the mono pinging - it went well with the piped in Christmas carols. I felt the rod begin to shatter and watched in horror as it broke just above the second roller guide. Luckily the broken part slide down the taut line and did not tangle. I lost all leverage though and landing a shopper this size would be tough with a broken rod. I was forced to let her drag me along the tile floor - nothing to do but hold on and hope she tired out. Mall security happen to see me and one of the guys helped me out. We started to hand line her in - neither caring of the deep cuts we were getting. This shopper was crafty though and tired to get around the Santa display. With the guard and I pulling for all we were worth - we finally turned the shopper and I knew she was spent. It was still no easy task bringing her in with broken tackle but I felt the two hour battle would soon be over. I got hold of the leader when she made one last ditch effort and ran. This really caught me off guard and I felt my feet going out from under me. I had no choice but to dump the leader. We fought her back in and this time we both grabbed the leader. Oh , how I wish I had 600 lb rather then the light 200 lb flouro. We held the leader tight and I readied the tag. Just as I went to tag the huge shopper , she pulled hard and bent the 11/0 barbless hook. I can not tell you how bad it hurt not to get the tag in but the guard said it counted as a release since we had the leader in hand. I shook bloody hands with my new friend and went back to get my tackle bag. I loaded the busted rod in the truck and headed home as the storm picked up.
Most likely won't get back until the big after Christmas day sale. Heard it was a good bite last year - hope to see it first hand.