[rfh21]

Went to 3MB to try my hand trolling for kings in the bay. Got some nice 10" pogies in Texar and headed out. Paddled and trolled all the way to the middle of the bridge, back to the end of the fishing pier and back to the middle again. Decided I needed a fresh pogie and in the process of rigging him get snuck up on by a pelican who was literally touching the side of my kayak when I looked up. Scared the out of me.

Got back to trollling on the other side of the bridge and a pelican flies into my line, peels off line to the point of almost spooling me and finally lands. I reeled back to him and got him free with no harm but had to cut my leader and balloon off. Since I only tied 3 leaders I wanted that one back but my balloon was moving fast against the wind. I thought I just had a spry pogie. Chased it down and grabbed my line and it's heavy. So I start reeling old school with my hands and see a big flash, it sees me too and takes off. Luckily I had put gloves on to possibly have to grab the pelican and manage to land a nice size spanish by hand.

Ended up with nothing else on the day, the water was perfect but just no real action going on. Ended up with about 5 miles of paddling total, good training for my first gulf trip that I'm itching to take.

 

[PCfisher66]

That's the time your glad it's not a big fish. I've caught a few pelican too, glad they dont' have sharp beaks just some big ol' wings.

 

[rfh21]

Once I saw him I was scared I was in for a real fight with a small king cause he was close to 30 inches long. Luckily he had tired himself out pulling the balloon, still the biggest spanish I've ever caught.

I wish I had caught a fish that pulled line like that pelican did though.

 

[Captdroot]

That's the time your glad it's not a big fish. I've caught a few pelican too, glad they dont' have sharp beaks just some big ol' wings.

Taste like chicken??? Turkey??? Thanksgiving is about 10 weeks away!

Na, just kidding. I hate when ya gotta mess with any marine birds. I did get the hell pecked out me, once. I'm pretty sure "that" fowl fared better than me!