One Expensive Day... 2025
Hale reply :
I headed out this mornin meeting up with BassnBlvd. We each had our boats and buddies. The parking lot was a bit shady so we decided to not leave any valuables in the vehicles...(details coming on that).
Doug's started catching fish immediately flipping mats and we had a few that didnt get hooked up good. We ended up going our seperate ways....I caught a nice 5lber that appeared to be bigger so I decide to weigh her and all that. I had to dig everything out and I decided to toss her in the livewell (flipping on the manual fill switch). I get the pics, weight, and move on. About an hour and half later my buddy syas, 'wheres all this water coming from'? I look down in the floor and there is two inches of water. The bilge had completely filled and started filling up the rest of the boat. Well easy fix, no biggie. 30 minutes later the boat is empty. (my to do list just got longer for Friday..I have to find out what happened to the livewell and install a float switch on the bilge pump).
A few hours later I hooked onto another nice fish and grabbed the line while lipping her..I set my rod behind during this. After shes unhooked, photographed, and released I go to grab my rod...and its gone! I don't understand? I guess I dropped it into the water?!? Well it was a week old Shimano Curado200 and Shimano Crucial...$350.00 sitting at the bottom of the canal. I do some rigging to drag the bottom...no luck. The depth finders are tweaed for maximum sensitivity and I think we have found it. I cant seem to hook it so I decide to take a swim. (oh yeah this is Florida and the gators were already spotted). But whatever, I needed it back....again no luck.
During all of this, my partner decide to open the rear deck compartment where we stored our valuables to get his wallet. Its water tight...normally. There is a slit at the top of the liner for ease of removal. The water episode earlier caused this liner to fill up. Heres the good part: Items in this container: Garmin Nuvi 660 (900.00+), Sony DVD Camcorder (1000.00), Ipod (300.00), Keys (the car remote was replaced last week for 250.00), and then there was some other oddball items in there that arent ruined (firearms, wallets, etc.)
We did catch a lot of fish..and some good ones. The day cost me about 2800.00 (excluding gas ;D). And here is how it all breaks down:
Shimano Rod & Reel: 350.00
Electronics: 1450.00
Being a complete retard on the boat (total the above amounts)
Still being stoked about the day's catch: Priceless
Having to explain to the wife what happened: I think Im grounded now ;D
(one of today's catches):
burleytog reply :
Was the trip worth it? 
I've been lucky enough (knock on wood) to never have a day like that. I usually have my cameras with me, so I've been lucky. I'm just waiting for the tripod to fall off the back deck and dunk my camera.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
HUGE drag but great post!
guest reply :
Momma said there'd be days like this.
ouch!!!!
Gotta Love It reply :
You are a brave man to swim with gators!!! 
SneakySnook reply :
WOW! The hurts.
Hale reply :
QuoteYou are a brave man to swim with gators!!!
Not brave...desperate!
georgiabassfisherman reply :
yeah i had to dive in Turkey Lake which is in orlando after my brother in laws rod after he kicked it out of the boat he didnt have any extra clothes and i did(always take extra clothes) but i have never had a day like that one Dr. Hale that really musta sucked.
GBF
Troutfisher reply :
That's a $2800 fish you are holding.
Bassn Blvd reply :
Dang Hale, did you lose your rod after I left? You shoulda called me and I woulda found you guys to help look for it. First Avid and now you. That sucks. We did have a good day though.(as far as catching fish goes).. My partner and I boated 12 fish in about 2 hours but our biggest was only 3.5 pounds. Missed quite a few that were decent. Sorry about all your gear too. When I started to read this post I thought you were going to say your truck had been stolen after I called to tell ya it was okay when I left. Will your insurance cover any of the losses?
fezkoe reply :
Well, at least you were happy in the picture, right. :-/
Hale reply :
So heres the deal with insurance...(nightmare as usual). Boaters Insurance: I dont have personal contents protection (my fault), Homeowners insurance: to cover these items in the manner they were damaged they will only cover up to 1000.00. But wait, my deductible is 1000.00. The hell kind of sense does that make? Auto insurance: yeah right!
yeah doug this was all after you left. I told Cory that it would top the day off if the truck was broke into when we got back....
So all is well for the most part. Garmin will fix/replace the GPS for 275. The IPOD is getting replaced for free. And Sony will send an estimate for the camera repair (they'll hit me hard Im sure). And I have an idea for getting the rod back... if it works Im headed to US patent office!
bocabasser reply :
bummer hale. was that spot near the sun-sentinel building? LOL. maybe if you write a letter to shimano, they might have a soft heart and replace your gear. you never know. that canal is not very deep.
roadwarrior reply :
Well, no doubt that sucks...
T-rig reply :
Your wife is never going to let you go fishing again!
KU_Bassmaster. reply :
Big ouch!!!!
Grey Wolf reply :
Super BIG ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bigdog reply :
Pleasr do not take this the wrong way.Sucks to be you that day... >
> >
clipper reply :
I was feeling sorry for myself for having to replace 2 batteries, an axle, and 2 tires. After reading about your experience I shouldn't complain. Sorry about your bad, bad day.
Hale reply :
alright...good news! I retrieved the rod/reel today. I first tried a big industrial magnet. At a minimum I figured it would attach to the hook and I could pull it up. And then I figured by dragging it I could feel something on the bottom.
Well I really learned how to use my electronics over the last few days. Here in Florida there is not much deep water, so doing drop shot techniques and using the df is virtually unheard of. I got the thing dialed in so good I could see a fish fart! After scanning the area I ended up seeing it. The magnet didnt work as planned so I tied on a 1oz RatL trap (oversized hooks) with a 2oz bullet sinker. I backed off the location and on the third cast I caught my rod/reel. Whoo hoo! She needs some cleaning/maintenance but everything is still good to go!
I want to thank you guys for being my support group ;D ;D ;D
roadwarrior reply :
Woo-Hoo!
That's great.
llPa1nll reply :
Oh man that so s#%ks I feel for you man. Get this man a frosty beverage someone...
MattStrykul reply :
awesome! I have a similar story, its just not a success yet. I just got my first luckycraft jerkbait, and I got it for my birthday. I caught my newest pb on it, and I lost it on a tree in about 9 feet of water! I saw it on my aqua vu, and tried getting it with the cast net but no luck, anyone have any secrets to getting lures like this? I know exactly where it is too.
lunchbox508 reply :
You should post before and after pics of the rod/reel cleaning! Congrats and good luck
Hale reply :
matt...go swimming
I already cleaned it all up and I tried taking pictures of it beforehand. The pics really wasnt showing the slime and scum that had accumulated on it in the few days.
I have fixed my boaters insurance to include 20k personal contents protection (overkill..but better safe than sorry).
gtbehary reply :
Quoteawesome! I have a similar story, its just not a success yet. I just got my first luckycraft jerkbait, and I got it for my birthday. I caught my newest pb on it, and I lost it on a tree in about 9 feet of water! I saw it on my aqua vu, and tried getting it with the cast net but no luck, anyone have any secrets to getting lures like this? I know exactly where it is too.
If you can see it, you can use some rope with a metal ring on it. Snag on to one of the treble hooks.
Plan B would be to send Hale in after it!
Gotta Love It reply :
I am happy you got the rod/reel back!!! 
guest reply :
good for you dude,
I had this real positive feeling you would find it.
knowing where it went over and your skills with the df, gave you a good shot.
Glad to you were able to get back so soon. Who knows how long it would have taken for the outfit to get so mossy it would have looked like any other weed.
Well done dude.
avid.
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