9/19 LJ PM...I'm back! - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

madscientist · 09-20-2005, 08:56 AM

Took the early morning flight from NY (got up at 4:30am EST...ugh) and got home around 10:30. Went to work for a few hours but my computer is in the hospital so not much to do. Got to the launch around 4:00PM to find Jim with his three nice fish and a low tide. Motored straight out around the corner where, as I anticipated, the bite was done and the slack tide had the bait holed up somewhere else. Paddled around for 2 hours looking for bait or a boil, but nothing but sabiki resistant smelt and thunderstorms:shock:. WTF, this is San Diego, I thought I had escaped the afternoon storms! Pretty dramatic lightning but fortunately it stayed either inland or further out, though I did get rained on a bit. Tired, wet, and frustrated, I decide to head in early but as the tide turns, the bait comes storming off the kelp. A pair of nice greenies and I'm in business. Knothead got one, but whopper spanish were everywhere by now. Paddling in I enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

Reminding me of why I escaped the concrete jungle back east. Then the sunset got even nicer!

Fish hit somewhat tentatively but was not shy at all about running into the kelp. 35lb spectra is slicing stringers left and right, but finally we get really wrapped up. Had to do the ole bite through the kelp routine on a big mass that got tangled. Get to the leader but he's still stuck and I can't see squat in the dusk. A few forward paddles and I get enough slack on the kelp to raise the fish to gaff. Paddling in I had another strong runoff that took 100 yards of line before the leader snapped at the hook. Must have been nicked up from the first fish. Damn. Met Doug at the beach, who was kind enough to snap some more pics.

One of those weird afternoons where it sucked sucked sucked, then a late reward.

vellocity · 09-20-2005, 09:09 AM

welcome back Brad!
straight into the fresh fish!
i'm still landlocked for another week, hating it!!

Jimm H · 09-20-2005, 04:06 PM

I was wondering why the radio chatter was so subdued! Good job once again on the fish.

sitinsidejim · 09-20-2005, 04:17 PM

Brad thank you for posting my pictures. That is a nice fish your holding. way to go .Again thanks. Jim

katchfish · 09-20-2005, 06:48 PM

Hey Brad, way to jump right back into the fray!

And, nice solid.

I was going to hit it but decided to take a small break.

I have been caught out there in a lightning storm and it put the fear in me!

Perhaps manana PM with the Holy Mackerel.

Ken

bdkirby · 09-20-2005, 11:19 PM

man I saw you out there trying everything dude. The bait was so elusive. I share a similar story but I had paddled out so far towards sunset I could only see your tail lights on the beach from 2 miles away when I headed in. I think I must have put close to 12 miles on the yak trying to catch a fish. Congrats dude.

09-20-2005, 08:56 AM	#1
madscientist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,906	9/19 LJ PM...I'm back! Took the early morning flight from NY (got up at 4:30am EST...ugh) and got home around 10:30. Went to work for a few hours but my computer is in the hospital so not much to do. Got to the launch around 4:00PM to find Jim with his three nice fish and a low tide. Motored straight out around the corner where, as I anticipated, the bite was done and the slack tide had the bait holed up somewhere else. Paddled around for 2 hours looking for bait or a boil, but nothing but sabiki resistant smelt and thunderstorms:shock:. WTF, this is San Diego, I thought I had escaped the afternoon storms! Pretty dramatic lightning but fortunately it stayed either inland or further out, though I did get rained on a bit. Tired, wet, and frustrated, I decide to head in early but as the tide turns, the bait comes storming off the kelp. A pair of nice greenies and I'm in business. Knothead got one, but whopper spanish were everywhere by now. Paddling in I enjoyed a beautiful sunset. Reminding me of why I escaped the concrete jungle back east. Then the sunset got even nicer! Fish hit somewhat tentatively but was not shy at all about running into the kelp. 35lb spectra is slicing stringers left and right, but finally we get really wrapped up. Had to do the ole bite through the kelp routine on a big mass that got tangled. Get to the leader but he's still stuck and I can't see squat in the dusk. A few forward paddles and I get enough slack on the kelp to raise the fish to gaff. Paddling in I had another strong runoff that took 100 yards of line before the leader snapped at the hook. Must have been nicked up from the first fish. Damn. Met Doug at the beach, who was kind enough to snap some more pics. One of those weird afternoons where it sucked sucked sucked, then a late reward.

09-20-2005, 04:06 PM	#3
Jimm H Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rancho Bernardo-San Diego Posts: 117	Nice job, Brad I was wondering why the radio chatter was so subdued! Good job once again on the fish.

09-20-2005, 04:17 PM	#4
sitinsidejim sitinsidejim Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 49	to Brad Brad thank you for posting my pictures. That is a nice fish your holding. way to go .Again thanks. Jim

09-20-2005, 11:19 PM	#6
bdkirby Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 22	nice yellow man I saw you out there trying everything dude. The bait was so elusive. I share a similar story but I had paddled out so far towards sunset I could only see your tail lights on the beach from 2 miles away when I headed in. I think I must have put close to 12 miles on the yak trying to catch a fish. Congrats dude. __________________ Ben

09-20-2005, 09:09 AM	#2
vellocity Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 388	welcome back Brad! straight into the fresh fish! i'm still landlocked for another week, hating it!!

09-20-2005, 06:48 PM	#5
katchfish Paddle for Mahi Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Doing the happy paddle! Posts: 848	Hey Brad, way to jump right back into the fray! And, nice solid. I was going to hit it but decided to take a small break. I have been caught out there in a lightning storm and it put the fear in me! Perhaps manana PM with the Holy Mackerel. Ken