Floating Buffet

[JeffB]

Plans for my trip were to capture the only fish I have yet to claim from a yak, YT. I did not care of the size or anything else, just the satisfaction.

I started the day off early taking off to the beach and arriving with the 30 other yakers at 6am. I then realized I left my squid at home. I did a quick U-Turn on the beach and headed straight back to the house. I picked up the squid and snatch my lucky hat and tried again. I was on the water by 7am, a little behind everyone else. Once I got out past the markers I noticed everyone was trying to make bait. I decided not to waste any time trying for fin bait or live squid and dropped straight done once I made it to my mark. It didn't take long for my first good hit. Pulled off right away though with the bait in mouth. About 30-40 minutes passed by once the next big hit came, same thing, pulled off with bait in mouth. I looked around to see that no one else really had anything going fo them either.I started outside the pack and wound up drifting into the middle of everyone. Third strike came and I was hooked up. The fish pulled all over the place with plenty of force. I was having to yell to kayakers to move out of my way. I felt like I was in a pin ball machine. There was no head shakes, so I couldnt figure out what in the heck I hooked up with.

Mystery fish, finally I got it to the surface after a few U-Turns and 15 minutes of being drug around. I wasn't expecting what came to the surface, the biggest soup fin shark I had ever seen and caught. I have caught many many of these suckers, for a stretch of time I was plagued by these bastards. I pulled it up to the side and debated on yelling at Wade, who was close by, to snap a picture of it. It was just too big to pull up on my yak safely. It was about a foot shy of the length of my paddle. I measured the paddle when I returned home to be 7 1/2', so guessing a 6 1/2' shark about 100lbs or so. I took my pliers and pulled out the hook and off she went. It was a strange fight by the shark, 99% of the ones I have caught have all done very short runs and then death spins under my yak. They usually found themselves dangled.

After all of the excitement I met up with my buddy Roadx and headed out to a rock pile that brought Reel Anxious and I great success. It seemed the idea that everyone else out there had in mind as well. We caught a lot of decent reds and other fish. I brought a few home with me myself. Most of the smaller fish I caught I just deflated and sent back down to the depths. Once the sun started to peak and the wind started to blow, around 1:30ish, the bite all but disappeared. At 3:30ish I headed in and about 4ish I saw what appeared to be a capsized boat in the distance.

I paddled out to the open towards the object. There was no one around. All the other yaks and boats had went their separate ways but one or two who were way south of myself. I kept getting closer and closer and still couldn't make it out. It looked to be about 20' or so in length. I was hoping that it was not a boat, but maybe a lost object however from Japan. Once I got about 25yds away I smelt the stench, I inched closer and closer. I knew what it most likely was after the stench, but wanted to confirm for whatever curious reason. Sure enough it was what I thought, a whale. It was just a baby though. We did see two adults earlier in the day swimming beside one another. Maybe it was theirs, who knows. I snapped a few picks and headed in. I was unsure if it was something to report in or not. I know the whites love whale blubber.

It was funny because I really did not think of it until I got home, all the seals and dolphins disappeared. I only saw birds feeding heavily on the bait fish. I wonder if the whale played any role in it. Do you think that the floating buffet will bring the toothy critters out to play? It was pretty close to shore, I wonder if it will or has washed up?

With a lot of persuasion, I managed to talk the wife into once last adventure to LJ. I am moving back to OK in the next week or so. I do not know if I will be back again to fish SD waters or not, hopefully one day. I have one thing on my mind before tomorrow's Easter lunch. May the fish gods be on my side. I am hoping for a YT, but would would be satisfied with anything else worthy in size. Maybe I will see a few of you guys out there.

[wade]

It seems like I always misplace at least one item every trip..
Good to see you out there, Jeff. Especially during an extremely high speed tow where that Shark sure seemed to navigate you perfectly through several peoples rigs unscathed, and slingshotted you right back to the origin of hookset, with what seemed like two seconds.
(Shake-&-Bake!)
The surface spaz had me thinking it was other..
Hope ya get your target asap!..
Wade

[JeffB]

Yea it was good seeing you again as well Wade. Not sure if you'll be out tomorrow, but if you are, look for the camo trident. I'm hoping to be tails up at the launch tomorrow!

[blitzburgh]

I saw the head of that thing as you pulled up on it next to your yak and that thing was farggin' HUGE

[taggermike]

That carcass is going to be a delight if it ends up beached at the shores. The exploding whale is just a classic in the history of a bad ideas. Mike

[taggermike]

Less horrible but a better way to rid the beach of a whale than dynamite.
Hazmat suits and chainsaws, never a good combo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cahy3aIpxJQ

Mike

[Sully1]

Your post reminded me.. . . If you haven't seen the exploding whale. . . . it's worth your time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_t44siFyb4