My Diary 

September 28th 29th 2001 

Going in on Friday night to take advantage of the low tide I was surprised to see how many people turned out for the tournament being put on by the San Antonio Police Dept.  The beach was full of lights for the first seventeen miles. Many of them were well organized and orderly but there were the few that unfortunately leave a bad taste.  One camp we came to was 60ft from the surf and they had dug a trench across the beach. (This is not allowed and is a dangerous practice). Hardheads slung across the beach waiting to stick in an unsuspecting foot or tire. (Illegal, dangerous and a total waste of life.)  My favorite is mounds of trash were they picked it up and just left it in a heap.  OK. the tournament was well attended and well organized but I think that they should have a better method of policing entrants to make sure they do not muck it up for those that fish it properly.

On the subject of tournaments. I personally do not take part in tournaments that are kill based. We have got a team that competes in North Carolina but these events have judges on the beach who will measure your catch so that you can then decide to release it or eat it.  There is no way, that you can have a way in tournament on PINS that lasts more than 1 day and not waste the fish that are caught. A high percentage of fish caught are just flung in the trash.  That said, I have a lot of friends that do fish the local ones, I enjoy the chance of seeing and spending some time with them during these tournaments so you will see me on the beach during them. 

Fishing on PINS was great this weekend. We fished from the 39 south to the 55.

At he 39 Surfgirl hooked into this Black Drum that gave her a good pull on her All-Star titanium with a Corado reel, loaded with .325 Breakaway HighViz. She was using fresh dead shrimp as bait.

Their was plenty of Whiting in the surf and also small Pompano.  The best fun was to be had under the birds, that were hammering the thick Rain-minnow in the first gut. Using lures you could hook up with the Frisky ladies or the reel busting Jacks. 

It was early Sunday morning when we had birds working north of our camp. We had just put out our long rods using whiting and mullet as bait. At the same time we decided to fish with lures under the birds. The jacks were charging the beach and blowing the bait as they struggled to get back into water deep enough to get going again. I tossed a a jig head at them, "I was into a freight train." The line screamed off the Carado, the drag was no match for this bad boy. I waited for the Jack to tire but it would not. I was down to the spool when I thought I had better stop it by pushing my thumbs on the spool to break the line.  At this time I noticed that Guys rod was bending double as the reel screamed the line off.  This was his 2p1p with a pulley rig using mullet as bait. It gave him a good fight for about 20 minutes before mister Jack got his picture taken with Guy his captor.  

Guy and Jack which was released, Guy, Jack and Preston who we kept. 

On Saturday I had heard rumors there was a monster in the surf at the 55 mile marker. Later that day I drove down and sure enough I found it. 

Big Lou was on PINS

In the first picture Lou was walking back after casting a 6-O out of site when he got stuck in the heel with a Stingray. He cured the pain by putting the foot in a very large bowl of hot water. He said that "after the second bowl the pain was a lot better"/

Second picture is of two US champions Surfgirl, the legend on the left ( just in case you get confused who is who) and Big Lou on the right 10 times USA champ and man that slung the sinker over the Huston Astrodome.   That night Lou and his buddy joined us for a toddy and I only wish I had it on film. He told us stories about casting and fishing that I would love to share.  Maybe when I get the time and Lou will have me I will get a film of an interview with Lou.

Well having had a great time and a few wet-ones with the Frog hunters, I decided to get some pictures for those that could not make it. 

Camp at the 51

These flowers grow wild on the beach 

Sunset on PINS. 

Moonshot. 

I think I must have been fishing to much lately, I awoke to find this dam barnacle growing out my forehead.

Till the next time. Regards Nickaway

PS. I have some shots of fish that Sandplow and Signcaster caught, that I will add to this page. as soon as I get them from Hardhead.