Dana Point - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

fishchaser25 · 04-04-2009, 11:25 AM

Hit Dana point today for a Nice Halibut. Fish was 31" long. Sorry didn’t get to weigh it.

>>
So here's the story.>>
I launched at the boat launch and headed to the bait receiver. Picked up a scoop and headed outside for halibut. got to the spot and started drifting. With in 10 min I was slammed. I grabbed the rod and set the hook but there was nothing there. so I rebated and continued to drift. Soon I’m hit again and this time I stick the fish. Its pulling hard and i knew right away that it was a nice halibut. So I got the gaff ready and when the fish came to color i wasted no time in & gaffed it. After I secured ion the game clip and cut the gills to bleed it I repositioned myself and started a new drift.
well soon after I get myself positioned I feel my yak rock and here this loud thud sound. when I turned around I was a pup sea lion had jumped onto the stern of my yak and was trying to get some sleep :shock: then I noticed that my rear hatch is underwater and I’m starting to sink :shock: I begin to start yelling at the sea lion but it doesn't move. now I’m getting nervous because the whole back of my yak is underwater so I start hitting the sea lion with my paddle and it finally jumps off. Now I have to think fast so I can stop myself from sinking. I quickly dumped my bait tank and put the bait pump inside my yak so I can start pumping out the water. After about 45 min of pumping I’m stable enough to paddle in and finish the clean up. I paddled to the bait receiver and unload my yak and finish the clean up. Now I’m ready to go back out. I asked if I could get the other half scoop that I payed for earlier and the guy said its a 10$ minimum. WTF I told him that I already played and he said that rules are rules. I told him that is it a rule to sell 1/2 scoops for full price and not give the person the other half when he wants it. I was so mad that I just called it a day and left. freakin retard.
O well at least it was a good day on the water. 1 halibut and I didn’t sink

467echo · 04-04-2009, 11:30 AM

too funny! next time get that camera out for a pic of the pup!

fishchaser25 · 04-04-2009, 12:02 PM

Ya when should I have taken a pic of it. before or after it sinks me???

Dan · 04-04-2009, 12:17 PM

Cool report. Nice halibut. The juvie pups have big nards this time of year. I had one whack me twice from below the other day. So freaking freaky in the dark.

fishchaser25 · 04-04-2009, 01:22 PM

Ya about 7 years ago I had 1 jump on my lap while I was in a float tube. scared the $hit out of me. the thing just curled up into a ball and fell asleep. I didn't know what to do so I just left it there. I didn't want to spook it and have it turn around and bite the $hit out of me.

Vikingj · 04-04-2009, 08:28 PM

Nice Fish! Glad you made it back OK. If you were at the point or further north that would have been a long (submarine?) ride back with no place to land. When I left the DP baitbarge on Fri I had 2 egrets land on my bow and one on my stern- fortunately they were not as heavy as a sealion! With the wind forecast I decided to fish the rivermouth and C&R'ed 5-6 short flatties and a leopard. I guess I need to get out to the point or salt creek to find the keepers.
PS-Try not to blame the baitbarge guys, they don't make the rules and they are actually very generous to kayak'ers with their scoop. In the 3 yrs I have fished Dana Pt. they have never been able to do a half scoop, but they will give you as much as your tank will hold at one time.

dadandsonkayak · 04-05-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishchaser25

Ya about 7 years ago I had 1 jump on my lap while I was in a float tube. scared the $hit out of me. the thing just curled up into a ball and fell asleep. I didn't know what to do so I just left it there. I didn't want to spook it and have it turn around and bite the $hit out of me.

04-04-2009, 11:25 AM	#1
fishchaser25 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Riverside Posts: 97	Dana Point Hit Dana point today for a Nice Halibut. Fish was 31" long. Sorry didn’t get to weigh it. >> So here's the story.>> I launched at the boat launch and headed to the bait receiver. Picked up a scoop and headed outside for halibut. got to the spot and started drifting. With in 10 min I was slammed. I grabbed the rod and set the hook but there was nothing there. so I rebated and continued to drift. Soon I’m hit again and this time I stick the fish. Its pulling hard and i knew right away that it was a nice halibut. So I got the gaff ready and when the fish came to color i wasted no time in & gaffed it. After I secured ion the game clip and cut the gills to bleed it I repositioned myself and started a new drift. well soon after I get myself positioned I feel my yak rock and here this loud thud sound. when I turned around I was a pup sea lion had jumped onto the stern of my yak and was trying to get some sleep :shock: then I noticed that my rear hatch is underwater and I’m starting to sink :shock: I begin to start yelling at the sea lion but it doesn't move. now I’m getting nervous because the whole back of my yak is underwater so I start hitting the sea lion with my paddle and it finally jumps off. Now I have to think fast so I can stop myself from sinking. I quickly dumped my bait tank and put the bait pump inside my yak so I can start pumping out the water. After about 45 min of pumping I’m stable enough to paddle in and finish the clean up. I paddled to the bait receiver and unload my yak and finish the clean up. Now I’m ready to go back out. I asked if I could get the other half scoop that I payed for earlier and the guy said its a 10$ minimum. WTF I told him that I already played and he said that rules are rules. I told him that is it a rule to sell 1/2 scoops for full price and not give the person the other half when he wants it. I was so mad that I just called it a day and left. freakin retard. O well at least it was a good day on the water. 1 halibut and I didn’t sink __________________ Fishing is not a hobby! It's a way of life!

04-04-2009, 11:30 AM	#2
467echo Rookie of the Month Club Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mira Mesa Posts: 483	too funny! next time get that camera out for a pic of the pup! __________________ they are getting bigger....

04-04-2009, 12:02 PM	#3
fishchaser25 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Riverside Posts: 97	Ya when should I have taken a pic of it. before or after it sinks me??? __________________ Fishing is not a hobby! It's a way of life!

04-04-2009, 01:22 PM	#5
fishchaser25 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Riverside Posts: 97	Ya about 7 years ago I had 1 jump on my lap while I was in a float tube. scared the $hit out of me. the thing just curled up into a ball and fell asleep. I didn't know what to do so I just left it there. I didn't want to spook it and have it turn around and bite the $hit out of me. __________________ Fishing is not a hobby! It's a way of life!

04-04-2009, 12:17 PM	#4
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,053	Cool report. Nice halibut. The juvie pups have big nards this time of year. I had one whack me twice from below the other day. So freaking freaky in the dark.

04-04-2009, 08:28 PM	#6
Vikingj Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dana Point area Posts: 438	Nice Fish! Glad you made it back OK. If you were at the point or further north that would have been a long (submarine?) ride back with no place to land. When I left the DP baitbarge on Fri I had 2 egrets land on my bow and one on my stern- fortunately they were not as heavy as a sealion! With the wind forecast I decided to fish the rivermouth and C&R'ed 5-6 short flatties and a leopard. I guess I need to get out to the point or salt creek to find the keepers. PS-Try not to blame the baitbarge guys, they don't make the rules and they are actually very generous to kayak'ers with their scoop. In the 3 yrs I have fished Dana Pt. they have never been able to do a half scoop, but they will give you as much as your tank will hold at one time.