My first YT on the fly line
 

Short story...... I hit LJ at 6am Sunday, 4/20. Right past the boundary I dropped frozen squid for nothing more than Sand Dabs. My irons weren't getting anything at all. The swells were getting to me so I decided to keep moving. I headed out further to the West where I could see a few boats. I knew that there were some YT caught out there recently, and as much as I hate paddling further than I really have to for my fish, I went. Once out there I realized that squid wasn't working at all. Grabbed a Mack on an iron and pinned it on my rod that I usually use for surface irons. I paddled and threw irons in no particular direction until I had to take a leak. So there I am, in mid stream, and my reel starts screaming. I jumped back in my seat and tightened the drag to set the hook. Once I was sure that the fish was on I preceded to put my PFD back on that I have to remove to use the scupper hole. The fight was on and full of head shakes, it lasted about 7 minutes. After one gaff hit and an easy clip, I cut its gills using garden shears. The fish bled out quickly and completely and went under the knife 24 hrs later at 27 pounds
While I'm always happy to bring home a fish, I'm an iron guy..... To me there's nothing more exciting then to feel that hit..... Anyway, right now the Mackerel is king. Get out there and get one.

Mike

PS. Sorry if my report seems blotchy. Been drinking after fishing the Carlsbad kelp today for nothing other than an involuntary stomach pump.

Short and to the point like it ! That crap happens to me all the time mid stream or when I'm calling my wife letting her know I'm not dead . Now only If you can piss a continuous 8 hr stream OTW you would be golden pun intended :reddy::reddy::reel:

Quality LJ :yt:...........garden shears in the tackle box:eek:

Mike is at it again!

A flippin YT machine. :notworthy:

He will have a dozen before most of us get one this year.

:cheers1:

Congrats Mike, wack em!!:reel::jig::yt:

I started bringing them with me after I started targeting WSB. I never caught one but understand that it might hurt your hand by popping it's gills by hand.

Sweet report! Congrats. :luxhello:

Thanks Matt, that one makes 11 in 2014. I'm buying friends left and right with fresh YT.

Thanks Wade!!!
Let's go get em. :reeling: Pm me with an up to date way to contact you.

Nice catch and even nicerer report!!!

You are a yellowtail magnet. WTG:reel:
I'm gonna try giving them a yellow trail next time too.

Never been to LJ, where do you launch from? Might try going Saturday.

:notworthy:

I'd rethink Saturday if I were you. Looks like a big swell on that day. Big swell=big surf =lots of rolls=lots of laughs for the people on the beach = wet clothes and possibly lots of money lost for you.
Check your surf reports!

Great catch Mike. Thanks for sharing.

Yeah just checked out the wind, gonna be pretty bad, so I'll just stick to the harbor Sunday. Thanks

Already 11 this year...I'm still in pursuit on my first!

If you have a camera bring it Saturday. It's the only day I can get out.

Does swell effect the fishing or just the comfort level?

if you really are a rookie yakker, it could effect your life.

Thanks for the invitation but I'm not going to just drive down to LJ just to watch someone roll.
As for your question...... Comfort level is all I care about. Don't kill yourself for a fish.... You'll get one when it's time, I promise.

I remember before I caught my first one...... I saw the Darkhorse (Josh) at the launch on a day with big swells and it was raining to boot. We were both heading out and i asked him if he thought the weather would make fishing slow. He said no, I wouldn't be here if I thought that. I remember telling him that I've never caught a Yellowtail.(hoping for a little advise) I told him that this was my twentieth something time out in LJ. He told me that there are guys that get one their first time and guys who are still after one after fifty times. ANYWAY...... Time Otw will reward you. Good luck. :)

Nice report & summary!

Very nice report, congrats on your continued success. Garden sheers, even the curved pruning shears for roses make great sense, and are probably much better than dikes.

Congrts
 

Nice going on all those old yellers. I too like to fish them on the iron, and look forward to my first one on a kayak.

great report thanks for sharing.

Nice one Mike! Congrats on keeping your cool while taking care of business and still managing to set the hook.

A selfie shot with a mossback in the back grounds. Very nice CONGRATS!!

Nice Mike!

I have hooked up while holding the wrong rod before too. I should drink more so i piss more and increas my chances of hooking up in mid stream.
Great report and good humor. We need an avatar that depicts such an event.:cheers1:

I'm not really a gardener so I think I'm mixed up. I do use the curved ones that I think are used for roses. So I guess I use pruning sheers.

nice Mike! 11 YT! I am not worthy..

A selfie of your 11th tail...this year...wearing a giveaway Hobie hat on your green whatever kind of yak you ride...:the_finger:

Love catching yellows on a jig. Congrats.

Nice YT Mike! 11 this year wow save some for us!


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Fresh one! :cheers1:

Nice fish Mike! :cheers1:

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Congrats, Always nice to see fish reports.

Only your 1st fly line? wtf, took you long enough!

Kidding aside, its great to see you still getting out there and evolving into a great fisherman.

Cheers man!

Awesome....