Date: October 27, 2002, To: Pier Fishing in California Message Board, From: gmm, Subject: Quivera Basin (Mission Bay, San Diego)
I haven’t been able to fish all week (the horror of it all) and it was looking like this weekend would be no different. I was just able to squeeze in an hour at Quivera Basin tonight. Met the SD Crew (well, couple of em) and fished with Pescador for a bit. Managed 1 teeny-tiny (4″-5″) sand bass right away on a black grub over by the boat docks and then a little barracuda at sunset on a blue-mackeral Krokodile. Copenhagen – ever get that ray up? I couldn’t believe you guys were pumping up that raft to go after it. Wish I could’ve stayed to watch the chaos that surely followed. Good meeting you guys. -Drew
Posted by SD Fisherman
Nice meeting you too Drew. And, Cope did it!!! A beast of a ray it was!!! Easily 125-150lb. I do bicep curls with 100lb. and this monster I could barely hold up. Pescador will put the pics up tonight. Stay tuned! ~Don aka SDF~
Posted by pEsCaDoR619
I got to the Q about the same time as copenhagen. When we finally got our lines wet my coworker shows up and got this cuda….
I hooked up on three or four ‘cudas but didn’t get any pics. Too busy fishing. Anyways, while I was on the south side of the point near the boat docks I hear copenhagen screaming he’s got a fish on…
… now this might seem like another pic at the same time as the last but this was about 20 minutes later. still bendo…
…this fish would just keep holding the bottom so cope would just set the rod down between the rocks and wait for it to free itself again to fight. Now this pic was taken later on. about an hour later…
… finally after about four rounds of waiting for this fish cope gets it to the rocks. This is at about 6:30; he went bendo at about 3:30…
… these pics were taken while we were trying to get this beast up the rocks. Not easy. we had to use two iron jigs as gaffs to haul it up…
…finally got her up…
copenhagen holding his catch…
…spread eagle..
… in the back of the truck. We dedicated this pic to Stan. [Famous on PFIC for huge bat rays and sturgeon]
Posted by bayfisher86
I don’t think thats’ a bat ray. I cant tell exactly what type but I’m sure its not a battie. Looks like the tail was cut off awhile back. I think its a round stingray. Did you guys keep it? You gaffed it with iron and put it in a truck so thats what I’m assuming. Am I wrong? Nice catch though.
Posted by pEsCaDoR619
Here’s the pics and here’s SDFisherman’s smoothie caught in the middle of the fight. Oh forgot to mention. While cope, my coworker, and I were fishing, dazex calls and says he’s coming. That’s him in the spread eagle shot on the left. SDF calls right after that and says he’s coming. We also met GMM. Good talking to you dude. and I’ll see you on the water one of these days on our toothpicks. Good day fishing and a lot of excitement. Now we gotta get cope to catch a yellowtail! hahaha.
… the ray was kept. We don’t know what kind of ray it is since round sting rays only get to 22″ wide. And definitely not a bat ray. We could tell while the fight was going on. No way cope would have been able to rest it on the rocks for 20 min at a time waiting for it to run again. And yah the tail was cut off before.
Posted by bayfisher86
I thought about the 22 inches only thing but I mean it is possible, because giant kelp fish only get to be 12 inches and my friend and i each caught one at Catalina that was at least 3-4lbs; an easily 24 inches.
Posted by Sinker
WOW. What else can I say – I do believe you: “GOT BENT.” Absolutely a Great Job and nice Team Work – You said it all.
Posted by pierhead
My guess is that it is some sort of skate. It’s probably not a Big skate (official name) because it doesn’t have the dark spot(eye) on the wings but definitely not a round stingray nor a battie. Those were some of the best action photos I’ve seen and I liked the sequencing … made me feel like I was there. Great post! How much did it weigh? Pierhead
Posted by mobilesuit
HOLY MOTHER !!!!!!!!! dude, I knew there were large sharks and rays in the basin, BUT DDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMNNNNNNNNN~~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!!!!! GREAT JOB GUYS!!!!!! Boy, i wish I was there….DDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMNN NNNNNNNN~~~~~~~!!!!!!! thats all I can say.
Posted by lucy
Sandpaper skate?It’s definitely NOT a bat-ray. From consulting my Petersons field guide, I’d guess it’s a sandpaper skate–the shape is just right, and the book says sandpaper skates can get up to about 34 inches. Whatever it is, it’s a hell of a catch! Way to go, everybody!
Posted by tombaAtwork
I’m glad you kept the ray, because I was gonna scold you for treating it that way only to release it. That is a huge Sting Ray (not Bat Ray). Should have an interesting taste.
Posted by Sinker
Posted by Red Fish
They’re on fire!
Posted by rbwalker
This fish might be a diamond stingray, which I understand is fairly common in Baja California. I caught a stingray very similar to this, and almost as big, fishing in the Florida Keys.
Posted by dkkim
holy moly!! nice feeesh!!
Posted by COPENHAGEN_FLU
Well guys, I’m really glad you could share the experience with me. It wouldn’t have been the same without you. I learned one thing tonight. The S.D. crew is about team work. Everyone there tonight played a role in me catching the fish of a lifetime. Dave inflated his raft in case I needed to go out and get the ray untangled, Arvin advised me and encouraged me through it all, as well as helped muscle the fish up the rocks. And Don not only pinned the fish with a net until we could gaff it, but notice the lack of shoes and socks. He was willing to go in after this fish if need be, as well as be the captain of the raft if we had to go out there. Bottom line, tonight I realized iIve got the best fishin’ buddies in the world! Thanks guys. mike
Posted by OB Pier Rat
That ray is a monster!! What’s the wingspan on that bad boy? Wish I coulda seen ya battle it! Congrats!
Posted by fishfinder
Details. Details. I want details. Great fish. Aren’t big rays fun? Another question. What are you going to do with it? Good job on the team effort guys. Pat
Posted by dazex
Live sardine on 20lb test. Yeah, you guys should have been there. I had a blast watching the “men” hoist the fish out of the water. The grunting, cheers and congrats after the fish was landed really gave me a view of what primal life must have been like for the cavemen as they returned from a successful hunt. The lady that was there was beside herself after seeing the ray. She wanted to cook it up. She claimed that her cousin made some really good dishes with it and if we didn’t want the ray, she would be happy to take it and cook it. She even offered to have us all over for the meal. I came out to hang for an hour and ended up staying the entire night. I just couldn’t leave without knowing what was on the other end of the line. Great job Cope and thanks again to you and your girlfriend for bringing the grill and cooking up those delicious hot dogs. Until next time!!! -Dazex
Posted by SD Fisherman
We donated the fish to the gentleman in the pic with us dragging the beast up the rocks. His wife was there and was looking forward to cooking it up. So we were more than happy to oblige. In fact she took down Cope’s phone number because she wants us to have a taste of the dish she’s going to make. Cope, Arvin, Dazex..any of you guys want to comment on the Seaforth incident? I’m a little peeved right now… Don aka SDF
Posted by pEsCaDoR619
Here’s all the details: Crude measurement of the ray’s wingspan with a 1-ft ruler was approx 3-ft wide. It was caught on a live anchovy. Carolina rigged on 20lb mono. We don’t know the weight for sure but estimate it at about 120-150lbs. We tried to take it to Seaforth to have it weighed, but the high and mighty offshore-fishing-only guy wouldn’t bring out the digital scale for something that wasn’t a gamefish. This guy was such a glans. he said, “im not going to bring out my digital scale for a mud marlin. Now, if you had a GAMEFISH I’d bring it out for you.” The moron didn’t even know what a bat ray looked like. Even got another guy trying to say it was a bat ray. When he brought a book out, we proved him wrong by pointing out the characteristics of a batray. Thing is, how can he consider himself a fisherman when he can’t even identify the local inshore species? I’ve only been fishing for less than two years. I don’t limit myself to shore fishing. I’ve been out there also. and I know the difference between a yellowtail and an albacore. He cant even tell if the catch was a bat ray??? Truly a glans (medical terminology for a part of human anatomy corresponding to this individual’s attitude). if he ever reads this post I wonder if he’ll ever figure that one out too!
Posted by SD Fisherman
Pat, oh yes, WE ALL FEEL that way about the situation. Imagine our elation as we cruise over to Seaforth with a HUGE ray (like I said easily in the 125-150lb. range) in the bed of the truck, and three stoked fishermen hangin’ on for the ride. Then the jerk tells us that is ISN’T WORTH IT to weigh the ray on the super duper digital scale. He wasn’t gonna budge, so we said to ourselves, SCREW YOU A-HOLE!! The pathetic 60-lb. scale he “so graciously” let us use was maxed out almost immediately when Cope lifted the beast up just a little. I tell you, this fish was an aberration of nature that toyed with us BIG TIME until Cope figured him out in the third hour. From then on it was Pandemonium till the bell rung to signal the end of the twelfth and final round… I am feelin SORE big time from tonight and loving every minute!!!!!!!!! ~Don aka SDF~
Posted by Predator
These are the days you’ll tell your kids about. And this is the story, that I’ll tell MY kids about. You guys are awesome. Absolute super stars, each one of you. Consider yourselves crowned.
Posted by Red Fish
Bathroom scale can work f you get the smallest guy in your posse to hold him up then deduct his weight from the total. Usually, bathroom scales go to 300 #’s. Their could be ones that go more.
SD Fisherman
Great tip Red! We’ll do that next time!
Posted by lucy
Shouldn’t flatter him so much. Calling the guy a “glans” is flattery. “Smegma” is a better term for him. What a jackass!
Posted by Ken Jones
Pretty sure it’s a diamond stingray minus its tail (and of course its stinger). They get ‘em big down there. By the way, there used to be a bar in Pacific Beach with a huge diamond stingray up on its wall. But I believe it closed several years ago.
Posted by Rich Reano
Darn, I missed out. Darn seagull didn’t want me in on the action. lol Great job cope’ That thing looks like a mutantly large round stingray that are common in the bay. The wings on those things are becoming quite a delicacy in restaurants. …r…
Posted by pEsCaDoR619
Sorry that had to happen dude, you always seem to leave right before the biggest catch of the day. Next time I’m bringing a couple of extra shirts just in case. Stupid birds.
Posted by anadromous
HUGE!!! Good job!
Posted by dazex
Daiwa Millionaire CV-X review: Tonight was the first time I got to try out the new reel I picked up at the Turners sale. I have been fishing with its older sibling, the Millionaire CV-Z 300A. My first impression at the store was that the CV-X was noticeably NOT as smooth as the CV-Z. I chalked it up to the fact that it had only 3+1 bearings compared to the CV-Z’s 6+1. The body is also a 1 piece milled aluminum like the CV-Z and Calcuttas except it’s in gunmetal and silver instead of the gold. Very nicely machined parts. Overall, very nice reel. Well, after casting it a few times. I have to say that my initial opinion was off. The reel was very smooth after it was cast and retrieved a few times. I think the constant casting and retrieving allowed the factory applied grease to start spreading and working into the various parts. I thought it was every much as smooth as the CV-Z. The coolest thing about the models size 253 and below is that they feature Daiwa’s Magforce technology. Essentially, the technology has a drum that engages during the max spool rotation to help prevent spool overrun. Then the metal drum disengages from the magnets as the spool slow to maximize your casting distance. I thought this was all a gimmick, but it really works. I did not have to feather the spool when casting the 3/4oz lure. I had good distance and only needed to stop the spool as it hit the water. Very nice indeed. Casting into the wind though will required you to feather the spool a bit. In summary, the CVX 253 is a really nice reel and is definitely worth the sales price of $75. Magforce makes it a breeze to cast and the smoothness of the gears made it a pleasure to retrieve. I believe the drag is the same as featured on the CV-Z so it should be very nice. I fought numerous 10-15-20lb yellowtails on my CV-Z and the drag held up well so I think the drag on the CV-X should be adequate for the size and species of fish the reel is rated for. -Dazex
Posted by pEsCaDoR619
Daiwa Millionaire CV-X review. One thing about the drag difference between the two reels. the cv-z has an 11 element drag system, while the cv-x has a 7 element drag system. But seriously, do you think it made much of a difference? nah. I think the cv-x is close enough. I Iove mine too!
Posted by dazex
Oops…I thought both has the 7 element drag. But I love it nonetheless. I just need something big to test it. -Dazex
Posted by RaySniper
HUGE…I can’t believe it… A 3 hour fight…must have been so rewarding to pull that sucker up. I have heard that skate tastes really good, so enjoy!
Posted by DRIZZLE35
WOW! That’s a h*%$ of a fight – Congrat.
