7/21 LJ am - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

ratdog · 07-22-2012, 01:01 PM

Couldn't make any squid sat morning, so I tied on a scrambled egg 6x and headed toward the NW corner hoping to find a nice YT. I was simply drifting with the current over some real flat bottom when I felt something tap my iron and give a few small head shakes. I knew it definitely was a WSB or YT because it came up heavy with no fight. As it started to show I had a flood of instructions rushing my brain from watching Greg Andrews videos on here on the proper Halibut technique. The lasttime I hooked a bigger halibut I totally blew it and lost the prize like an idiot. So I see this flatty and as I got him close I put my real in free spool and readied my gaff, I left his head in the water and gently coaxed him to the side of my kayak, put the gaff in the water and guided the butt close enough to make sure my one and only gaff shot would work, pulled with everything I have "up" and the gaff sunk with hardly any fight. I didn't know if it would work but I reached for my game clip and while his head was still in the water I was able to slip the game clip into his gills and secured the 39in. 21lb butt.
I was shaking because I kept expecting him to go nuts, its a first butt from the yak for me, and not a 40lber but still exciting. Thanks Greg Andrew for posting the video.

The Weather Channel was on the beach at the launch, so if you this picture and video on TWC's "Lifeguard" next season, the dork is me!

buttchaser · 07-22-2012, 01:16 PM

Nice catch John ! Congrats

StinkyMatt · 07-22-2012, 01:18 PM

Congrats, very nice fish.

GregAndrew · 07-22-2012, 01:25 PM

WTG John!!!

When does the video come out

I just pass along what Buttchaser taught me.

vincentek9 · 07-22-2012, 01:35 PM

a completely calm big flatty?! you are lucky!!!! i've had short sub 20" halis go crazy and bite me, or smack my gear in the water. or slap me in the face and leave some slime.

in any case.. WAY TO GO!

blitzburgh · 07-22-2012, 01:36 PM

Nice flat kind!

kobra · 07-22-2012, 01:45 PM

Congrats on a very nice first yak butt.

07-22-2012, 04:40 PM

Nice work big John!! It's always exciting bringing to color
a big fat halibut. And, thanks for the details!!

TJones · 07-22-2012, 04:45 PM

lots of noobs in background.

romspacenut · 07-22-2012, 04:52 PM

Nice flatty there!

Cbad Mike · 07-22-2012, 05:18 PM

Congratulations! Great fish and thanks for the report. I don't really like the Philadelphia shirt tho.

theluckypig · 07-22-2012, 10:00 PM

Anthony179 · 07-23-2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cbad Mike

Congratulations! Great fish and thanks for the report. I don't really like the Philadelphia shirt tho.

That's what i was thinking.

07-22-2012, 01:01 PM	#1
ratdog Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 424	7/21 LJ am Couldn't make any squid sat morning, so I tied on a scrambled egg 6x and headed toward the NW corner hoping to find a nice YT. I was simply drifting with the current over some real flat bottom when I felt something tap my iron and give a few small head shakes. I knew it definitely was a WSB or YT because it came up heavy with no fight. As it started to show I had a flood of instructions rushing my brain from watching Greg Andrews videos on here on the proper Halibut technique. The lasttime I hooked a bigger halibut I totally blew it and lost the prize like an idiot. So I see this flatty and as I got him close I put my real in free spool and readied my gaff, I left his head in the water and gently coaxed him to the side of my kayak, put the gaff in the water and guided the butt close enough to make sure my one and only gaff shot would work, pulled with everything I have "up" and the gaff sunk with hardly any fight. I didn't know if it would work but I reached for my game clip and while his head was still in the water I was able to slip the game clip into his gills and secured the 39in. 21lb butt. I was shaking because I kept expecting him to go nuts, its a first butt from the yak for me, and not a 40lber but still exciting. Thanks Greg Andrew for posting the video. The Weather Channel was on the beach at the launch, so if you this picture and video on TWC's "Lifeguard" next season, the dork is me!

07-22-2012, 01:35 PM	#5
vincentek9 MAYNEE-YAK Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: So Cal Posts: 533	a completely calm big flatty?! you are lucky!!!! i've had short sub 20" halis go crazy and bite me, or smack my gear in the water. or slap me in the face and leave some slime. in any case.. WAY TO GO! __________________

07-22-2012, 01:36 PM	#6
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Nice flat kind! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

07-22-2012, 04:45 PM	#9
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,526	great pics lots of noobs in background.

07-22-2012, 01:16 PM	#2
buttchaser Float Tuber Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 243	Nice catch John ! Congrats

07-22-2012, 01:18 PM	#3
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	Congrats, very nice fish.

07-22-2012, 01:25 PM	#4
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	WTG John!!! When does the video come out I just pass along what Buttchaser taught me.

07-22-2012, 01:45 PM	#7
kobra Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: oceanside Posts: 880	Congrats on a very nice first yak butt.

07-22-2012, 04:40 PM	#8
yani Guest Posts: n/a	Nice work big John!! It's always exciting bringing to color a big fat halibut. And, thanks for the details!!

07-22-2012, 04:52 PM	#10
romspacenut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 209	Nice flatty there!

07-22-2012, 05:18 PM	#11
Cbad Mike Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Carlsbad Ca. Posts: 1,206	Congratulations! Great fish and thanks for the report. I don't really like the Philadelphia shirt tho.

07-22-2012, 10:00 PM	#12
theluckypig Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: San Pedro Posts: 694