Sea Dog question

[Harry Hill]

Originally Posted by straightrod

I thought I read of someone on this site getting bit on the leg while dangling their legs overboard. There was a pic and it was a pretty good bite to the calf.

I managed to hook one while fly lining a live mack three weeks ago off La Jolla in a Tandem Island. At first I thought he was trying to steal a fish that I had caught, then realized he was the catch. He surfaced 30 yards away screaming like hell. Another seal sped to his rescue while my wife was encouraging me to cut the line. I contemplated removing the hook from his mouth but worried he may attack if I had him that close. He looked to be bigger than I am. Got him to within 4 feet and cut the line. Still not sure how I should have handled it?

sounds to me like you handled it just right. I sure don't want one coming into my boat with me while I pull a hook from it's lip. A guy I talked to at the ramp said earlier this year one jumped right over the bow of his yak like it was a sea world show. He said it scared him pretty good, I know the one that came up next to me and snorted all over me gave me a good scare and I'm not the jumpy type. I'm thinking an M80 in a mackerel would discourage them but the rangers might be kind of pissy about that.