Seal Experiences With Hooked Fish

[Backbeach Jake]

It took a while but I've learned not to fight them. The initial hit is a rush, but after that just le the seal eat. Put the rod on your hip and relax, when he's done, he'll let you have your plug back. The first one, I actually turned him, 65#braid, 40# leader, my heavy setup, thought I'd win. Then he noticed me...crack!! and my plug was gone..

[numbskull]

I fought a harbor seal that ate my favorite needle last year until I had him 15' out in the rocks on very dark night at about 2am. Took 45" of incredible pressure with heavy conventional tackle. Of course for the first 10" I was sure I had the bass of a lifetime. The next 20" I was hoping for a big shark. By the end I knew what I had and was pissed. Eventually decided I had no way to handle him by myself and get my plug back, so I broke him off. Left me drained, weak, and shakey. Finished fishing for the night. Could have easily broken a rod, twisted a reel frame, or had a heart attack. A good test of what you and your tackle can stand, but not something I'd ever do again. The analogy of a car driving off at 5MPH in the night was exactly what it felt like. By the way, I could see Rhode Island from where I was fishing so I suspect it will not be long before you guys start to see them as well.

[MikeToole]

It happened to me for the first time about five years ago at the Race, since then it is fairly common. I average about 5 to 10 times a year now. Seems like the seals have figured out that this is easy pickens. funny thing is in my case the seals have always avoided getting hooked.

The first time I hooked up what I thought was a blue when suddenly line just started to fly off my reel for about 50 yards and it suddenly stopped. I pulled hard and all of a sudden the fish is running right at me, I could hardly keep up reeling in the line. Then once agian line is flying off the reel for about 100 yards and sudenly stops. Another hard pull and once again the fish is coming right at me. Again it turns and pulls off about 50 yards but this time the seal comes to the surface holding the fish in it's flippers and mouth. A hard pull and the plug pops out and i get to watch the seal eat the blue. That time it was exciting now it's become a pain. Watched a seal shake the blue around brealing the line and sending a $15 plug flying several times now. These aren't the smaller harbor seals, these are those big ones.