"Team Southern Comfort" Gator Fest ( 2-22 Report & Pics Added)

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 02-21-2004, 05:10 PM

Had the pleasure today of fishing with Tacklebuster and his favorite fishing partner "Wife Erica." First off, I have to say if you ever have the chance to share an outing with this awesome duo, consider yourself lucky...Not only are they great fisher people, they are just great folks to be associated with...

Let me start by saying we covered the gammit today... Put in at Cathedral Park, fished around the railroad bridge there and then proceeded to make the loop around Sauves Island...I mean the complete loop...Fishing the Big C & the MC...

Erica caught the biggest fish in regards to weight I have ever seen for a low 50's fish...The fish was 52" and weighed a whopping 45# according to my digital scale... Much congrat's Erica on a huge, huge gator... Oh ya, we got a couple of other keepers that were released as well... Here is the damage...

I still can't believe how much girth this fish has...I have caught 55-60" fish that didn't weigh this much...Congratulations Erica...

This picture gives you an idea of the width...

And yet again...Erica with another keeper which was released...

Chris & Erica...Thanks so much for a memorable day and I surely look forward to the next outing

[ 02-22-2004, 07:15 PM: Message edited by: Kentucky Hog Hunter ]

5-Cents · 02-21-2004, 05:16 PM

I've seen first hand the "Shock and Awe" that team TB can hand out to those gators :shocked: :grin:

That spot sure has pumped out some nice fish this year, way to go

rainrshine · 02-21-2004, 05:19 PM

:shocked: [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Bluetick · 02-21-2004, 05:29 PM

This is real I saw it myself,
"WHAT A FATTY"

WHAT A FATTY

02-21-2004, 05:31 PM

[ 02-24-2004, 07:57 PM: Message edited by: ****** ]

jokester · 02-21-2004, 05:31 PM

WOW!! :shocked: What a fatty!!

Nice job "Team Soco"!!

-jokester

Tacklebuster · 02-21-2004, 05:34 PM

Terry- Today was the best trip I have had in quite sometime, thanks friend

If you guys ever get the chance to be aboard the mighty "Hog Hunter" you will be blessed with Terry's knowledge and company. A real class A guy.

Shane- That spot was dead bud. We didn't even touch a fish there. We threw hook in that area to finish the day and clean up the boat and I was amazed to find the place void of all marine life. We didn't have another boat within a mile of us where Erica hooked Moby Dick

Madeline- It was great seeing your new ride, I can honestly say that I'm jealous [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]

Brad- Great meeting you at the take out and I hope to share some water with you soon after the derby.

Rick- You and your broomsticks need to get off my river :tongue:

[img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img] Good seeing you...

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 02-21-2004, 05:46 PM

I apologize to all the Ifishers that were giving many shout outs today...I am sure I will miss a few but I want to acknowledge all the ones I remember...

DipNet (Madeline) & Husband...Beautiful ride by the way...
Fish Freak
Bassin
WaterFish
Jet
Cool Texan
GreenButtSkunk
OregonRedSide (Go Team Cast & Blast)
The famous "******" - Hey dude get out of my fishing hole by the way...

I am sure there are others but I have to many missing brain cells to remember that many...

It was great hearing from all of you...

[ 02-22-2004, 05:44 AM: Message edited by: Kentucky Hog Hunter ]

Boatdog · 02-21-2004, 05:49 PM

NICE FEESH! That's one of the fattest fish I've seen this high up. CONGRATS!

It puts my 47-incher to shame, and it was decent.

Great Job out there today!

blacktail519 · 02-21-2004, 05:49 PM

DAW GONE!!!!! WOW :shocked: Well done guys& Gal!!
That is one fat fish..... CONGRATS [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Short Hop · 02-21-2004, 05:50 PM

That fish must have been eating a lot of stuff washing around by the boom.

blacktail519 · 02-21-2004, 05:50 PM

DAW GONE!!!!! WOW :shocked: Well done guys& Gal!!
That is one fat fish..... CONGRATS [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Boedy · 02-21-2004, 06:09 PM

What a pig! nice going guys and gals.

CATCH AND EAT · 02-21-2004, 06:13 PM

You guys are killing me here. We did not get out today but I did get some boat work done on Cindy Lou. Had planned a lower river trip but Pop's was not up to it yet.

Love them fat gator pictures kids. Keep 'em coming.

Tacklebuster · 02-21-2004, 06:25 PM

Terry- Dude, I just got done opening the stomach and you would not believe what Moby Dick has been munching on :shocked:

I got the next batch of secret sauce sitting in the blender as I type that will not only be as good as the stuff I brought today but should surpass it. The only other ingredients that I added was Moby's stomach contents.

I found 1 northern pike minnow, 3 brown bullhead catfish between 6 and 8 inches long, and more grain than you can shake a stick at. I see a great pattern for the derby

[ 02-21-2004, 07:27 PM: Message edited by: Tacklebuster ]

Chromaflage · 02-21-2004, 06:29 PM

Way to go!!!!

You guys were hoggin' the Ifish VHF channel going on about that thing! I don't blame you one bit after seeing that pig. Congrats! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Terry - it was an honor being bounced by your wake today.

:grin:

ORS

02-21-2004, 06:33 PM

[ 02-24-2004, 07:58 PM: Message edited by: ****** ]

NorthRiverRick · 02-21-2004, 06:36 PM

Way to go Terry, Chris and especially Erica!!!

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Rick

greenbuttskunk · 02-21-2004, 06:46 PM

Tacklebuster and hog hunter,
Good to meet you guya at the take out, I saw you putting the fish into the cooler and just had to come over and check it out. I felt you pain as you struggled to jam that hog into the mammoth cooler. Nice problem bud! I'll take you up on the offer to do a sturgeon recon after the derbies. sounds good to me. Till then, enjoy the fish, and congratulate your nice wife Erica, it was good to meet her. She was pumped, and it's great to see the gals out there putting us boys to shame. :grin: Wish it was my wife with that fish!
Cheers,
green (with envy)butt skunk

[ 02-21-2004, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: greenbuttskunk ]

Riverliver · 02-21-2004, 06:52 PM

KHH

WTG Ill be out in the morning if not Ill have the boat well doors open stop for coffee iffen you see them open.
RL

Dipnet · 02-21-2004, 06:59 PM

What a nice fish Erica [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] . It really put up a good fight too!!! Love seeing those things come out of the water like it did. Nice talking to you Terry and Chris. Jerry caught a nice 49"-50"er right below St.Johns bridge. It didn't have the oversize body like the one Erica caught though!! I caught a 40" in the same spot and a few more shakers.

Nice seeing you ****** and company on the river and at Fred's!!

Dipnet :grin:

Tacklebuster · 02-21-2004, 07:07 PM

Rick- Moby had a bunch of half digested craw daddies in his gut. I just [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img] poking around in the feed bag. I sure hope those dang springer fisherman don't plug up all the good sturgeon slots

ANDYCOHO · 02-21-2004, 07:20 PM

Way to go guys! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

That is a Sturg-a-sorus for sure! :shocked:

I have seen the grain in the stomach before, a little strange for sure. I'm not sure how well it would stick on a hook...but your blender idea [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] ....hmmmm.....

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 02-21-2004, 07:28 PM

Hey Chris...

Very interesting diet...I know your new potion is going to be even more killer if this batch was any indication... I also have a feeling that this fish was probably a local resident of that area...

Can't wait to try out some adjacent areas tomorrow...Purely recon tomorrow...I will have the other half of our team with me tomorrow and I love finding new spots...

Hey Team Cast & Blast - You guys look like you have a great time...Its nice to shout out to you guys...

GreenButtSkunk - I would love hooking up with you and Cool Texan sometime as well...

RiverLiver - I will give you a shout tomorrow while I am out and see whats up with you...I want to see where you live there on the channel...

fishingfirst · 02-21-2004, 07:46 PM

Nice fish Erica!
We went up to the fishery this morning. Didn't take long to realize we were not going to be fishing up there today. We actually walked down to the boat ramp just to check it out, wind wasn't too bad there (probably only about 20 mph!), it was really whipping down around the wall, white caps all over and that was at 8 am. So we decided to come back to Portland, put in at 42nd and ran down. Tried a couple of spots in the Columbia, then moved into the mob in the Willamette and picked up shakers for the rest of the day. Biggest for us was 41", but what a great day on the water. I think that is the most boats I have ever seen fishing in the lower Willamette.

Should be an interesting derby this year! If the smelt don't show that is.

Scott

wannacatchem · 02-21-2004, 08:25 PM

Hey KHH, I was in the green Alumaweld when you pulled anchor and headed up the channel. NICE FEEESH! When can I get a tutoring from ya? We stayed there while the tide came in and hooked a few shakers, but in all it was a keeperless day. Tried a lot of spots....no luck. Saw quite a few being taken.....

Point-of-Sale Clerk · 02-21-2004, 10:13 PM

That is a nice fish Erica�

You know you should probably thank the person who sold you your obviously luck Fishing License�

:grin:

*** Clerk

[ 02-21-2004, 11:14 PM: Message edited by: *** Clerk ]

FishFreak · 02-22-2004, 04:17 AM

KHH... good talking to you yesterday. We were having an awfully slow day in the W and kept hearing the stories of your hog... that's quite a fish.
Why are the channel fish so much darker than the Willamtte fish?
FF

SureSet · 02-22-2004, 09:01 AM

Now that's a fish worth one of 5 slots! With the gauntlet of boats in the harbor and St. Helens yeasterday, I'm surprised you could find 50 yards with no one around. Good job Mrs. TB!

SureSet

Tacklebuster · 02-22-2004, 10:23 AM

Steve- Long time no hear, how ya been?
The only boat around us where we were was Dipnet and hubby. I just can't fish a hogline for sturgeon. It was amazing to see all the boats in the lower Willy sturgeon fishing, I almost thought I was fishing B-10 in mid August :shocked:

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 02-22-2004, 04:29 PM

Well, here is the Sunday version of Gator mania aboard the USS HogHunter...

Fished today with the other half of our sturgeon derby team good frien Shawn aka: "NWSteelheader"

Man, did he open up the proverbial can of Whoop A*S on the ole HogHunter today... He tallied 3 keepers to my notta...I was close on a couple but he definately had the hot rod with the smelt & garlic combo today...

Also fished next to "Spooled" & "Catch & Eat" for a while down on the Willy...You guys are great company...

Just another beautiful day and one more huge fish caught by Shawn... Man, hope derby day will be kind enough to give us this one we caught today and the one like Erica caught yesterday... Tight lines all...

Shawn with an awesome 48" brute...This fish is not your skinny variety...

Shawn with Keeper #2 of the day...

Yet another but on the short skinny side...But on derby day, this may be the fish to put someone over the top...

And yes, Troy (Spooled) shows he can represent with a respectable keeper...

Just a great weekend of Gator Slamming with great friends...Thanks Chris, Erica, Shawn, Troy & Bernie...

[ 02-22-2004, 05:46 PM: Message edited by: Kentucky Hog Hunter ]

Cool Texan · 02-22-2004, 04:42 PM

TB and KHH, it was nice meeting you two yesterday...and yes, that is a reeeeal nice fish!! :grin:

SKP · 02-22-2004, 09:03 PM

KHH,

You almost have me talked into wanting to start gator fishing. But.....I'll be soaking some spinners tomorrow PM at OC after work.

SKP

Dipnet · 02-22-2004, 09:24 PM

Another great day for you KHH!! Thanks for the picture of us on the water!!

Dipnet :grin:

SPAZZ · 02-23-2004, 06:43 AM

Way to go. Lots of nice fish

skrimmy · 02-23-2004, 07:02 AM

Nice fish Terry, you're putting the hurt on them! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]