First Leagal Butt!!! - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

fearlessfiasco · 06-01-2013, 10:48 PM

Did some time at Mission Bay today after work. Launched from Mariner's Point at 1615 and picked up some large but not amazing sardines. Got sagged on the first drop that resulted in a broken walmart rod. 15 minutes later I get bendo big time and pull up a ray that was around 24" in diameter. While fun to pull on it wasn't what I was looking for. Around 1800 I see a little tug on the rod and do all that I can to let it sit for what seemed like eternity. Eternity was probably 20 seconds in this case. So I start reeling it in and could tell there was something fun on the other end. When it came to color I could tell it was the right kind and legal. I then proceed to dick around and nearly fail with the gaff. This fish went down 3 times before I could get it gaffed. Every time I was freaking out and hoping it wouldn't break or spit. Third time up I finally get it gaffed and game clipped.

First legal Halibut 34+ inches...weight to be determined...

JeffB · 06-01-2013, 11:09 PM

Nicely done! Not a bad size for your first legal!

StinkyMatt · 06-01-2013, 11:15 PM

Cherry popper!

easyday · 06-01-2013, 11:19 PM

Nice :beer::thumbup:

skrilla · 06-01-2013, 11:22 PM

Nice first one indeed. Congrats!

PE.rider · 06-01-2013, 11:32 PM

Congrats on landing that thick Halibut. That's some good eats right there...

sanjuancapokayak · 06-01-2013, 11:57 PM

Congratulations! Way to go man, still looking for my first... stoked for ya-
Whit-

Deamon · 06-02-2013, 07:20 AM

Pop! Way to get it done!. Jim

radastaff · 06-02-2013, 07:24 AM

congrats
that's a nice eating and cleaning size

I like to bleed em
and pull out the guts otw

P

fearlessfiasco · 06-02-2013, 09:13 AM

Big thanks to all for the kind comments. Me and the lady had some this fish last night and it was awesome! I didn't have the correct scale but using the "bathoom scale technique" this was 13.5 lbs. That seem to be about right based on the lenght / weight charts that I've seen.

As a "new guy" to Salt water and kayak fishing I really want to thank everyone that shares their knowledge in forums like this one. This site and forum is an amazing resource and wealth of information and I cannot thank everyone that posts here enough. I'm pretty sure a lot of my catches are part luck but I know that I've been able to take the info provided here and use it to increase my odds. This place is amazing!!!

bad brady · 06-02-2013, 10:10 AM

Nice catch.

T-Rex · 06-02-2013, 12:14 PM

Congrats on a nice flatty!

StinkyMatt · 06-02-2013, 02:36 PM

Part luck?

ALL of my catches are ALL luck!

lamb · 06-02-2013, 08:26 PM

Congrats on your 1st!

That's a very nice halibut for Mission Bay!

Thanks for your kind words! It's good to hear people are appreciating the forum. All of us that work on tightening its screws greatly appreciate it.

Hondatom · 06-06-2013, 01:15 PM

Congratulations! I am part happy for you and part jealous of you. I am still looking for my first decent ANYTHING!

Fish on brother!

Vikingj · 06-06-2013, 01:28 PM

Hoorah! Nice size flattie and good report. May this be the 1st of many!

06-01-2013, 10:48 PM	#1
fearlessfiasco Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: A3 Anchorage SD Bay Posts: 36	First Leagal Butt!!! Did some time at Mission Bay today after work. Launched from Mariner's Point at 1615 and picked up some large but not amazing sardines. Got sagged on the first drop that resulted in a broken walmart rod. 15 minutes later I get bendo big time and pull up a ray that was around 24" in diameter. While fun to pull on it wasn't what I was looking for. Around 1800 I see a little tug on the rod and do all that I can to let it sit for what seemed like eternity. Eternity was probably 20 seconds in this case. So I start reeling it in and could tell there was something fun on the other end. When it came to color I could tell it was the right kind and legal. I then proceed to dick around and nearly fail with the gaff. This fish went down 3 times before I could get it gaffed. Every time I was freaking out and hoping it wouldn't break or spit. Third time up I finally get it gaffed and game clipped. First legal Halibut 34+ inches...weight to be determined... Attached Images Last edited by fearlessfiasco; 06-01-2013 at 10:56 PM. Reason: Typos

06-01-2013, 11:09 PM	#2
JeffB Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: La Jolla Posts: 1,216	Nicely done! Not a bad size for your first legal! __________________ If you're looking for me I'm

06-01-2013, 11:19 PM	#4
easyday Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,470	Nice :beer::thumbup: __________________

06-01-2013, 11:22 PM	#5
skrilla Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 664	Nice first one indeed. Congrats! __________________ Urban Camo Trident 13

06-02-2013, 07:20 AM	#8
Deamon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,972	Pop! Way to get it done!. Jim __________________ Recreational Fisherman's Catch...2% Commercial Fisherman's Catch- 98% Recreational Fishing Kayakers Catch- .00001% "The reality is that the wall was built to keep all Asians ~specifically Japanese and those that think they're japanese~ out of the U.S"

06-01-2013, 11:15 PM	#3
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	Cherry popper!

06-01-2013, 11:32 PM	#6
PE.rider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: OC, CA Posts: 234	Congrats on landing that thick Halibut. That's some good eats right there...

06-01-2013, 11:57 PM	#7
sanjuancapokayak Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: San Juan Capistrano Posts: 69	Congratulations! Way to go man, still looking for my first... stoked for ya- Whit-

06-02-2013, 07:24 AM	#9
radastaff Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 314	congrats that's a nice eating and cleaning size I like to bleed em and pull out the guts otw P

06-02-2013, 09:13 AM	#10
fearlessfiasco Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: A3 Anchorage SD Bay Posts: 36	Big Thanks To All Big thanks to all for the kind comments. Me and the lady had some this fish last night and it was awesome! I didn't have the correct scale but using the "bathoom scale technique" this was 13.5 lbs. That seem to be about right based on the lenght / weight charts that I've seen. As a "new guy" to Salt water and kayak fishing I really want to thank everyone that shares their knowledge in forums like this one. This site and forum is an amazing resource and wealth of information and I cannot thank everyone that posts here enough. I'm pretty sure a lot of my catches are part luck but I know that I've been able to take the info provided here and use it to increase my odds. This place is amazing!!!

06-02-2013, 10:10 AM	#11
bad brady Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Menifee CA Posts: 118	Nice catch.

06-02-2013, 12:14 PM	#12
T-Rex Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita Posts: 770	Congrats on a nice flatty! __________________

06-02-2013, 02:36 PM	#13
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	Part luck? ALL of my catches are ALL luck!

06-02-2013, 08:26 PM	#14
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	Congrats on your 1st! That's a very nice halibut for Mission Bay! Thanks for your kind words! It's good to hear people are appreciating the forum. All of us that work on tightening its screws greatly appreciate it. __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

06-06-2013, 01:15 PM	#15
Hondatom Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 113	Congratulations! I am part happy for you and part jealous of you. I am still looking for my first decent ANYTHING! Fish on brother!

06-06-2013, 01:28 PM	#16
Vikingj Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dana Point area Posts: 438	Hoorah! Nice size flattie and good report. May this be the 1st of many!