First YT in a Looong Time - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Pescavore1 · 01-25-2009, 03:56 PM

I’ve been kayak fishing in La Jolla for just over three years but very infrequently.

As much as I love fishing, I can count the number of times I went out last year on one hand, and even less yellowtail caught during the entire 3 years from a kayak. This year I am determined to improve my fishing skills with some professional assistance, spend more time on the water, and catch a few trophy YT.

With the incredible weather we’ve been having and reports of occasional wintertime YT caught, I made my second trip of the year on 1/21 (sorry for the late report). It’s been many months since I pulled on a fish and even longer since I brought one on board. After a couple of hours of yo-yoing, I dropped a Tady 9 a few feet off the bottom, took a brief pause to enjoy the spouting whales, then gave the handle a couple of cranks and bam! I’m on and the fight begins!

>>

I could tell immediately this one was going to be bigger than my previous yellowtails. I’m excited with anticipation but immediately begin to doubt. Is my line in good condition? Is my knot strong enough? Is my drag set properly? Yes, yes, and yes.

Finally, the fish comes to the surface but disappears quickly. Few more cranks of my reel brings it to within gaffing distance but it does not give up easily so I’m really getting nervous again. This YT was clearly going to be the largest one for me and I just want it on board. With a little help, a personal best yellowtail is finally on deck. One that is long overdue.

>>

Not bad for slow wintertime fishing. Thanks Josh for the pictures, assistance, and putting me on the fish.

yakrider · 01-25-2009, 03:59 PM

congrats one the nice

Flyfisher70 · 01-25-2009, 04:08 PM

Awesome! Congrats on the nice

bellcon · 01-25-2009, 04:23 PM

Awesome job

so there really are Yellowtails in La Jolla

Big time congrats!
looks like she was a fun one!

01-25-2009, 04:26 PM

way to go

Iceman · 01-25-2009, 04:57 PM

BENDO!!! nice, very nice!

dadandsonkayak · 01-25-2009, 05:13 PM

SWEEET. were still looking for our first

dorado50 · 01-25-2009, 05:26 PM

Congrats on your trophy yellow!! I was watching in the distance and saw it come up boatside then take a dash back down

Way to bring it to gaff...

Tman · 01-25-2009, 05:48 PM

Very nice

...congratulations...what was the weight?

Gotta know the weight to brag about that one....

Ya know, that shot of you smilin', with the moon in the background would look mighty nice ...framed!

landwhale · 01-25-2009, 05:54 PM

Congratulations a great looking fish glad you got one..........................

steamroll · 01-25-2009, 05:55 PM

Excellent catch

Rusty · 01-25-2009, 05:58 PM

For some reason that bendo shot makes me wish I went fishing this morning instead of sleeping in. Nice work man.

KennyHill · 01-25-2009, 06:20 PM

Sweet Fish

Wheres josh's haha

Dennis · 01-25-2009, 06:51 PM

WOO HOO!!!

.. Fatty! And also a nice relaxed BENDO picture...

Pescavore1 · 01-25-2009, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KennyHill

Sweet Fish

Wheres josh's haha

Good question Kenny.

Josh was my guide that day so he was not fishing. I guess I did not make that very clear. Had it not been for me at his side all day (slow, noisy paddler) and peppering him with constant questions, I’m sure he would have caught one..or two. During the fight, he was at my side to make sure I did not run into unexpected problems (i.e. get pulled into the lobster pots, ward off any unexpected dogs, etc.).

I highly recommend his guide service whether one is a novice or an “amateur” who wants to improve his/her fishing skills. I got tired of blindly trolling around bait with nothing to show for it but sore arms.

01-25-2009, 03:56 PM	#1
Pescavore1 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Scripps Ranch Posts: 82	First YT in a Looong Time I’ve been kayak fishing in La Jolla for just over three years but very infrequently. As much as I love fishing, I can count the number of times I went out last year on one hand, and even less yellowtail caught during the entire 3 years from a kayak. This year I am determined to improve my fishing skills with some professional assistance, spend more time on the water, and catch a few trophy YT. With the incredible weather we’ve been having and reports of occasional wintertime YT caught, I made my second trip of the year on 1/21 (sorry for the late report). It’s been many months since I pulled on a fish and even longer since I brought one on board. After a couple of hours of yo-yoing, I dropped a Tady 9 a few feet off the bottom, took a brief pause to enjoy the spouting whales, then gave the handle a couple of cranks and bam! I’m on and the fight begins! >> I could tell immediately this one was going to be bigger than my previous yellowtails. I’m excited with anticipation but immediately begin to doubt. Is my line in good condition? Is my knot strong enough? Is my drag set properly? Yes, yes, and yes. Finally, the fish comes to the surface but disappears quickly. Few more cranks of my reel brings it to within gaffing distance but it does not give up easily so I’m really getting nervous again. This YT was clearly going to be the largest one for me and I just want it on board. With a little help, a personal best yellowtail is finally on deck. One that is long overdue. >> Not bad for slow wintertime fishing. Thanks Josh for the pictures, assistance, and putting me on the fish.

01-25-2009, 04:57 PM	#6
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	BENDO!!! nice, very nice! __________________

01-25-2009, 05:13 PM	#7
dadandsonkayak Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: near palm springs Posts: 82	SWEEET. were still looking for our first __________________

01-25-2009, 05:48 PM	#9
Tman BRTF...bought & paid... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,247	Very nice ...congratulations...what was the weight? Gotta know the weight to brag about that one.... Ya know, that shot of you smilin', with the moon in the background would look mighty nice ...framed! __________________ Adios Tman Gaffer for Clay the Fishcatcher

01-25-2009, 05:54 PM	#10
landwhale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach Posts: 506	Congratulations a great looking fish glad you got one.......................... __________________

01-25-2009, 03:59 PM	#2
yakrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 611	congrats one the nice

01-25-2009, 04:08 PM	#3
Flyfisher70 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 69	Awesome! Congrats on the nice

01-25-2009, 04:23 PM	#4
bellcon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Pedro Posts: 999	Awesome job so there really are Yellowtails in La Jolla Big time congrats! looks like she was a fun one!

01-25-2009, 04:26 PM	#5
FishSeeker Guest Posts: n/a	way to go

01-25-2009, 05:26 PM	#8
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	Congrats on your trophy yellow!! I was watching in the distance and saw it come up boatside then take a dash back down Way to bring it to gaff...

01-25-2009, 05:55 PM	#11
steamroll Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 385	Excellent catch __________________

01-25-2009, 05:58 PM	#12
Rusty Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: LJ Posts: 201	For some reason that bendo shot makes me wish I went fishing this morning instead of sleeping in. Nice work man.

01-25-2009, 06:20 PM	#13
KennyHill Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Temecula CA. Posts: 117	Sweet Fish Wheres josh's haha

01-25-2009, 06:51 PM	#14
Dennis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South of La Jolla... Posts: 1,193	WOO HOO!!! .. Fatty! And also a nice relaxed BENDO picture... __________________ Hmmmm.....

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