Took a spontaneous vacation day yesterday to ply the Channel in search of my first keeper. What a weird day:
1) First fish came within 30 seconds of hitting bottom. Was walking my buddy through the motions of what to look for (bottom bounce vs. fish etc..), how to operate the downrigger and then POP. Off it came.
2) During the fight the fish went around the leg of the kicker. Despite some very sad netting attempts by yours truly, we had to tilt the motor up and lift the keeper straight into the cooler. It was just barely legal (63cm), but I was annoyed at it, so the bonker came out.
3) During a routine line check later on, the line snapped. Well bugger. That was the combo that caught the keeper and a shaker (trap shack skinny G and Glow Herring Aide flasher); however, a check of the other side revealed the tangled flasher and gear!
4) then the tiller arm snapped. Time to go home.