Monday, June 24, 2002 I awake with something pulling at me from inside, it is the knowledge of a full moon tonight, plus tides and a voice telling me I needed to fish this day. The excitement of the full moon was pulling at me the entire day. Work was piled up but had to get done and it seemed to take forever, finally I had enough and set it aside for it was time to fish. I knew with the full moon and very plus tides I was going to have an incredible night out at the Rincon Sea Wall. I had my usual Squid, Anchovies and Sardines and thought tonight is special so I broke out some Clams, Mackerel and Shrimp for bait. My truck is loaded and I am ready to go in anticipation of my wifes arrival at home to take care of our daughter while I fish. Bev (my wife) calls and says she will meet me at the Sea Wall to pick up our daughter as she knew I wanted to fish today (a better and more understanding lady one will never find) - Oh yeah some extra fishing time as I can leave early and set up, even fish as it is from the road until my wife shows up.
 
 Walking to the truck the phone rings, I stupidly answer it. NO, they are coming out to do the site check for the Wireless DSL I am looking into. I have been working on this for a month now so I wait & wait & wait & wait. Finally they arrive and start work, guys with binoculars, antennas, computers, all sorts of electrical equipment that looks like it should be in some weird scientists lab or something. I am bouncing around trying to help these guys out so I can get out and fish, frustration is starting to set in as I notice the sun going down in the sky. I am on the roof lending a hand when like the cavalry I see my wives car turn the corner onto our street, I scramble down the ladder to meet her, I give her that look, she says go ahead, get out of here I will finish up with these guys.
 
 I'm off, driving to the Sea Wall my mind racing with thoughts of hookups that peel line like there's no tomorrow, suddenly I am there, not even sure how I got here (ever get someplace and can't remember if you stopped at that stop sign, can't remember if the light was red, yellow or green ?), that's how it was, dog gone fish on the brain.
 
 I just park and the phone rings, should I ? What if they need me back home ? Aghhh, ok I answer the phone, my wife tells me things are a go and the Wireless DSL will work!!! Cool, things are looking up. I set up my rods with new energized excitement, bait up and cast out.
 
 The currents are tough, seems that Mother Ocean is not going to give up her young easily tonight. The tides are rolling in one right after the other, they are huge, she spits her water over the Sea Wall at me but I am not leaving, fore this is my night.... My lines are swept south in no time, I move up to a 4oz. sinker and toss them back out searching for that catch I have felt was coming all day long. I watch helplessly as Mother Ocean sweeps my lines south again, I go to grab my pole and she spits her water over the Sea Wall again. I wipe my face in defiance and reel in my line and move to my truck, as I turn my back she spits again, I look over my shoulder and say fine, You Want It, You Got It, Let's dance!! I put down the 6oz.sinkers and go straight to the 8oz. grabbers. I turn armed for battle and walk straight into another spew of sea water, I walk to the wall and cast - Damn with 8oz. of lead and 2 full 8inch squids stuffed with anchovies that cast did not go far, I figure that's ok as I have another rod loaded and send it out as well, a bit farther but not much. Now I wait, ever so slowly my line is sweeping south but I can live with this pace, hey, what's that ? Is it ? Could it be ? Yep, a hit, I take up the slack and set the hook, not much reaction, I bring in a good sized THORNBACK, a THORNBACK this is not what I have been seeing all day, back she goes. I reload and fire back into the monster waves coming and slamming into the Sea Wall where I stand. An hour passes and my hopes are dying as I am continually spit upon by the ocean, it does not appear she will give up her own this day. I decide to go ahead and pack it up, this kind of fishing is tough and the kelp is getting thick.
 
 One rod in and put away, I turn to grab my other rod, something is not right, my line is moving, it's moving NORTH. Can't be, not in this current, as I get closer I am greeted with a nice face full of cold salty water, Mother Ocean is not holding any punches back tonight, just as I grab for my rod the reel SCREAMS, LINE IS GOING OUT LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN. I pick up the rod, let it go for just a bit, turn the handle - Bait Runner is off and drive the hook home, whatever is on the other end did not like that and the fight is on. My line is now out past the breakers and the fight is give and take, I know it is not a Bat Ray, can't be a Halibut this strong, Shovel Nose ? Nope never had one this strong, must be a good sized shark. The battle rages on but I am double teamed, I have a beast on the end of my line doing it's best to spool me, the ocean is against me as well, spiting in my face so I can't see, all I can taste is salt in my mouth from her constant slaps in my face. I am pissed and excited at the same time - this is the fight I had been dreaming of for days, I am not lying down so let's do this. I stand firm against the raging white water flying over the Sea Wall at me for the fish is my focus. So battle we do, constant give and take of line, I watch as my pole helplessly bends down and line is peeled from my reel, slowly it stops and then it is my turn as I pull and crank in line as best I can. A spirited battle would be an understatement as whatever is on the end of my hook has no desire to be there and is fighting for it's life, I too have no thoughts of giving in and breaking this off, this is what I have been waiting for, thinking of, dreaming of. This, this is a FIGHT, there can only be one winner and I am no loser. I gain enough line back to get the beast into the breakers, they are still rolling in one right after the other. HA - I laugh, as the oceans plan is backfiring on her, the current is so strong and the breakers coming in so quick the beast can not help but be washed towards me. I laugh at Mother Ocean for her own stupidity, her actions that ruined my night earlier are now going to make it the best night in a long time for me. I have this battle won and start to stand LARGE and IN CHARGE. It is now dark and the battle continues with only the light strapped to my head to see by. Finally the beast is at the Sea Wall, I quickly glance over - MY GOD - I have to take another look - HOLY CRAP - A mighty catch indeed, a Shovel Nose the likes of which I have never seen, it is HUGE, bigger than I am, this thing is over 6 feet long, never in my life have a seen one like this.
 
 I lay three towels on the Sea Wall for my line to lay on as I slowly back to my truck - Augghhhhhhh NO PIER JAFF, I left my bucket at home, I see the crab net so grab it. Back to the Sea Wall, net over the edge, I stand on the line to the net so I can keep both hands on the pole (This sucker is strong), I look over the edge - HOW AM I GOING TO GET THIS BEAST IN THAT LITTLE NET?????. Honestly it's head alone is as big as the hoop ring crab net itself, Mother Ocean keeps belting my crab net against the Sea Wall, she won't let it swing to the magnificent beast I have on the end of my line. I am leaning over the Sea Wall doing all that is humanly possible to work this monstrous beast into the net, hoping maybe it will curl into it or something. I am completely and totally focused on this beast, I can not go down as the rocks are to slippery, even if I could I would be in at least waste deep water that is pounding the face of the Sea Wall, I would be beaten down and swept away in no time, yes the net is my only hope, it must work. Suddenly Mother Ocean COLD COCKS ME. She has sent in a rouge wave that EXPLODES against the Sea Wall as I am not looking, I see nothing but white angry water coming at me, it slaps me straight in the face with it's ice cold hand, I can't see as my eyes burn from her salt, as my vision comes back I see the water recede, my net is free - YES - but, but, what, where, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO my beast, my wonderful glorious beast whom I had done battle with is gone. I stand there in shock, not believing what has just happened to me, I was so patient, I had worked so hard for this catch and had waited so long. I am brought back to reality when again I am spit upon by Mother Ocean. I bring in my rod and net. And sit at the back of my truck in reflection, looking at my soaking wet cloths, trembling from the adrenaline and cold combined. - I decide not to reload and call it a night. As I load my truck water continues to be spit over the Sea Wall, taunting me, reminding me who won. Yes Mother Ocean protected her own and in one tremendous act she brought the magnificent beast back to the safety of her waters. As I drive away COLD, WET & HUNGRY I swear I heard Mother Ocean say "YOU WILL RESPECT ME" !!!!!
 
 Yes, a true tail from Sinker - Monday, June 24, 2002 Southern California, Rincon Sea Wall #2