Anyway back to the Flat Bridge report... So shortly after getting my first line wet, I had a small nibble with a live baby mullet on the bottom, but the action quickly disappeared. Also my attempt at jigging gulp shrimp today was a failure due to the strong wind and current. I just couldn't hold bottom where I wanted it to. So I cut the jighead off and freelining a live baby mullet for about an hour. Not one bite on the freeline either. I just put that rod aside and grabbed my 10 footer out of the car. LOL Yeah baby! Now I'm rocking two rods with live baby mullet fished on the bottom with a 1 oz pyramid sinker. I'm using 30lb fluorocarbon leader line and a 1/0 Owners Light Mutu circle hook.
Around 11:00am I noticed a few schools of bait running frantically and it looked like something busting them. But the topwater explosions weren't that big, probably just some small jacks I figured. Sure enough a few minutes later they returned and I had my line in the water at the right place at the right time....zoooooooooom. The baitfeeder sang to me for awhile but this fish was small enough to reel in quickly. It was just a little Crevalle Jack, under 12" long but it sure had an appetite as it swallowed a decent sized mullet.
Next cast I had a strong runner that wasn't stopping. It definitly felt like a much bigger Crevalle Jack. The damn thing took my line straight towards the other fishermans lines to my left, I'm thinking to myself "oh great this fish is gonna get me in trouble". Fortunately for the fish it jetted under the bridge and broke me off. It had me in a bad position anyway. Even though I lost that one, it only broke my leader line so I still had my weight attached. Besides now I'm pumped and ready for more.
With a live mullet in the water, I'm tying a new rig on my pole that just broke off. I didn't even get a chance to finish and the baitfeeder goes off. Another big jack! This one went out then raced back towards me. This one I got to fight a little longer than the first one, and I actually got to see it for a glance. But knowing the crevalle's they don't give up that easy. Another dash and it went under the dang bridge again. I held on as much as I could but it just wouldn't turn around. The line rubbed against something sharp and eventually broke the main line. My whole rig including weight was gone. By now the bait were busting all over the place with bigger explosions on the water. In fact you could actually see a few jacks in the water racing each other to the next victim. However, now I had two broken rigs and no lines in the water either.
I raced to tie knots and get both lines in the water again. Then waited, not long though. Heard the bait busting coming from my left, split second later the big 10 foot rod in front of me gets a big hit. Quickly grabbed it and felt the power of another big jack on the end. Seconds into my fight, I hear my other rod going off with what sounds like another big jack. The jacks are still busting fish out in the water too! Not much I can do but handle the 10' rod I grabbed first. It's taking me to the right so thats where I start walking. As I'm walking, I pass my other rod that is still singing but I can't do nothing about it. hahaha. So I get this badass jack tired out eventually and there's absolutely no way I'm bringing it over the bridge rails. It was way too heavy. A guy comes along and notices my other rod. I ask him to go ahead and see if he can reel it in because I'm busy at the moment. He was cool. He grabs the rod and fights it for a short while but the main line breaks. Oh well, by now I'm getting my big jack up the rocks and successfully on the land. Whew!! My personal best Crevalle Jack! 10 LB 6 Oz and 24 inches long to the tail fork.
This trip cost me though, the same Okuma Avenger 65 that was repaired is having the same problem again. Basically the baitfeeder is a secondary drag on these reels which allows you to disengage the spool and main drag. They are ideal for live or cutbait fishing, especially when your working 2-3 rods at once. When a fish picks up the bait and runs, your suppose to hear a clicking sound. Problem now is I don't hear the clicking sound anymore. It still works fine, just without the sound to alert the bite. I've had this reel for 2 years now and it's been through alot. It's been dunked in saltwater at the beach, in the shop for a cleaning after that, then shipped to a warranty service shop to fix the absent "clicking" sound. They fixed it, but at some point during my trip today the clicking has failed again. I think alot of it is just abuse and wear on the reel itself. I have another Avenger 65 that was purchased a year ago, exact same model and it works fine with no issues.
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