christmas halibut - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

young mola · 12-26-2009, 04:54 PM

Moms in washington and bro went to his chicks for dinner so i took the kayak out for a little evening session last night to try out a portable fish finder mom got me for christmas. Headed out at around 3 to the carlsbad lagoon . cruised around and checked out some depths and whatnot for a bit it seemed to be pretty on as far as the grass and structure and depths go showed some fish in a few spots but dont know how accurate that is. anyway decided to cruise into the lagoon by the jetskis and fish a bit and when i showed up there wasnt anyone else one the water.. it was sweet. i drifted around for a while dragging a gulp ghost shimp while castin a jig. eventually gave up on the jig after a while so i found a sandy spot using the new fish finder (thanks mom!) and casted out the shrimp lit up a special x mas stogie and relaxed and watched the sunset. right as i was finishin boom fish on. reeled him in and when i got him to the yak realized it was a hali. never landed one before, lost a keeper after a 5 min battle on a microite w 4 lb but never acutally landed one. got him yakside and didnt quite know what to do as i usually just lip bass so after a little floppin i grabbed him by the tail and landed my first but. off the yak at that. so far now ive caught a spottie a sandy a croaker and now a but off the yak but theyve all been way better quality fish than i catch at the normal oberfished spots. i think im almost ready for my lj yellow. lol! wasnt a keeper so i didnt bother with the tape no pics as i havent bought a x mas camera yet (thanks grandma!!) just quick c&r but i figure about 16". i heard on this site i think, buts hang together sometimes so i set up in the same place and did a few more drifts i got a little hit on the first and nothing on the second then it was getting late and cold so i headed in. i was stoked! one other boat came out as i was headin in but other than that i had the whole glassy lagoon to myself all thru sunset.... the good life. ill be heading out tomorrow again to see if i can find big brother, see ya on the water.

Ed · 12-26-2009, 05:00 PM

Congratulations. Can you feel that yak fishing fever?. It gets worse and better every time out. Thanks for the holiday report.

yaky yak · 12-26-2009, 06:39 PM

Congrats on the Christmas hali. You'll learn to love that fishfinder, a vary usefull tool.

Tman · 12-26-2009, 06:43 PM

Good for you young mola...bring a net next time and hopefully you will find a keeper...they are in there...

If you can make a couple bait (smelt), send them down, do a slow drift, and I am sure you will get a keeper.

Thanks for the report

young mola · 12-26-2009, 08:37 PM

ive got a net but its just a basic like rope one i heard if you net a halibut with one it messes up their tail and in a few days theyll get tail rot if you throw em back?

GregAndrew · 12-26-2009, 08:58 PM

That is true Mola. You should either get a net that has the very small holes in it or get yourself a boga type of grip. For halibuts up to about 26 inches I have found my plastic fish gripper (looks like a plastic vise grip) up to the task. It can be a little tricky to get it into their mouth though (gotta be fast).

Gino · 12-26-2009, 11:12 PM

You can always grab them on the shoulder with your index and thumb fingers, right behind the gill plate there is a little dimple. that always works for me, I used to use a promar net (not the cool folding one) and found it to be a pain becuase the hooks would get snagged, so does the halibuts teeth, The net was nice on their tails though.

12-26-2009, 04:54 PM	#1
young mola Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: oceanside Posts: 32	christmas halibut Moms in washington and bro went to his chicks for dinner so i took the kayak out for a little evening session last night to try out a portable fish finder mom got me for christmas. Headed out at around 3 to the carlsbad lagoon . cruised around and checked out some depths and whatnot for a bit it seemed to be pretty on as far as the grass and structure and depths go showed some fish in a few spots but dont know how accurate that is. anyway decided to cruise into the lagoon by the jetskis and fish a bit and when i showed up there wasnt anyone else one the water.. it was sweet. i drifted around for a while dragging a gulp ghost shimp while castin a jig. eventually gave up on the jig after a while so i found a sandy spot using the new fish finder (thanks mom!) and casted out the shrimp lit up a special x mas stogie and relaxed and watched the sunset. right as i was finishin boom fish on. reeled him in and when i got him to the yak realized it was a hali. never landed one before, lost a keeper after a 5 min battle on a microite w 4 lb but never acutally landed one. got him yakside and didnt quite know what to do as i usually just lip bass so after a little floppin i grabbed him by the tail and landed my first but. off the yak at that. so far now ive caught a spottie a sandy a croaker and now a but off the yak but theyve all been way better quality fish than i catch at the normal oberfished spots. i think im almost ready for my lj yellow. lol! wasnt a keeper so i didnt bother with the tape no pics as i havent bought a x mas camera yet (thanks grandma!!) just quick c&r but i figure about 16". i heard on this site i think, buts hang together sometimes so i set up in the same place and did a few more drifts i got a little hit on the first and nothing on the second then it was getting late and cold so i headed in. i was stoked! one other boat came out as i was headin in but other than that i had the whole glassy lagoon to myself all thru sunset.... the good life. ill be heading out tomorrow again to see if i can find big brother, see ya on the water.

12-26-2009, 06:43 PM	#4
Tman BRTF...bought & paid... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,247	Good for you young mola...bring a net next time and hopefully you will find a keeper...they are in there... If you can make a couple bait (smelt), send them down, do a slow drift, and I am sure you will get a keeper. Thanks for the report __________________ Adios Tman Gaffer for Clay the Fishcatcher

12-26-2009, 05:00 PM	#2
Ed Fringe Head Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Drippin Chicken Water Ranch Posts: 140	Congratulations. Can you feel that yak fishing fever?. It gets worse and better every time out. Thanks for the holiday report.

12-26-2009, 06:39 PM	#3
yaky yak Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Riverside, calif Posts: 130	Congrats on the Christmas hali. You'll learn to love that fishfinder, a vary usefull tool.

12-26-2009, 08:37 PM	#5
young mola Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: oceanside Posts: 32	ive got a net but its just a basic like rope one i heard if you net a halibut with one it messes up their tail and in a few days theyll get tail rot if you throw em back?

12-26-2009, 08:58 PM	#6
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	That is true Mola. You should either get a net that has the very small holes in it or get yourself a boga type of grip. For halibuts up to about 26 inches I have found my plastic fish gripper (looks like a plastic vise grip) up to the task. It can be a little tricky to get it into their mouth though (gotta be fast).

12-26-2009, 11:12 PM	#7
Gino Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 520	You can always grab them on the shoulder with your index and thumb fingers, right behind the gill plate there is a little dimple. that always works for me, I used to use a promar net (not the cool folding one) and found it to be a pain becuase the hooks would get snagged, so does the halibuts teeth, The net was nice on their tails though.