Is it better to have hooked and lost or to have never have hooked at all? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

easyday · 06-08-2013, 08:23 PM

Hit up newport today. Launched at the coast guard station around 0630 with a biddy and jim. Got to the spot we were going to fish hooked up with something big on my light tackle, rod was completely bendo in the water drag was buttoned down and it was still peeling line gained the upper hand started bringing it up and boom spit the hook. About another 15 minuted and my other rod starts screaming I get him tired out finally start making progress in my line back then boom fish was gone. Then my heavy rod loaded up and the fish was tearing drag fast grabbed the rod and just held on took me for a nice little ride then let go of the mack. I pulled it up deffinately teeth marks all over the mak I drop it down and boom instantly hit again, went for another ride and then ended up just shredding the mack never even got hooked. Then I had another huge hit and spit. My buddy hooked up aboit an hour later and he got a big wsb to about 5 feet then it just magically spit his hook. Im guessing mine were wsb as well but not sure. Yes it was a disappointing day esp after losing what would have been my first halibut last sunday and now losing what woukd have been my first wsb, but the thrill of that line peeling of and getting a ride makes it all worth ir in the end. I will return to that spot and I will take him home with me next time....

bad brady · 06-08-2013, 09:00 PM

Bummer bro. You keep putting all this time and it'll pay off soon.

Raskal311 · 06-08-2013, 09:02 PM

Definitely better to hook; been out six times this season so far and still nothing bigger than a sandy. I'm going to have to stock you on the water one day to see what I'm doing wrong

.

easyday · 06-08-2013, 09:43 PM

Ill be heading down to Dana Point tomorrow to attempt another go around with the hali.

bubblehide · 06-08-2013, 10:04 PM

Easyday, what your describing is a typical WSB bite. Most often with WSB, you need to let them run with your bait, until they take it in. There is no hard and fast time of how long to let them run before setting the drag; I usually let them run for at least 5 seconds before setting the drag (yes I actually count it out). When fishing WSB, the pole is in my hands in free spool, I seldom fish a second rod.

Pay attention to those teeth marks on your baits, you can often tell what type of fish bites your bait, once you learn the teeth marks they leave on bait.

Obviously your doing a lot of things right if your getting bit. It's only a matter of time before you fill the freezer.

Iceman · 06-08-2013, 10:10 PM

I am going to have to spend some time out there this week! thanks for sharing.

FlyFishinYakr · 06-08-2013, 10:40 PM

The not knowing is the part that always sucks, but given the amount of strikes you had I'd venture to guess you might have run into a wayward school of WSB & that would have me kicking myself from here to St.Swizzin's day!!!
I feel for you sir, you have my deepest condolences.
FFY

captnblood34 · 06-09-2013, 08:22 AM

Better to have hooked and lost.

steveooo · 06-09-2013, 08:53 AM

How frustrating! I say better to hook. WSB is my guess for your encounter. If it happened to me I'd try to convince myself that it was a big school of bat rays

bigbarrels · 06-09-2013, 09:19 AM

sounds like a blast! I think you should hit that same area again rather than Dana Point

rieffer · 06-09-2013, 01:01 PM

What a bummer! I would have loved to seen that. Sorry I had to leave early. I've caught PB's of WSB and Halibut there. Let's do it again.

Poxy Boggards · 06-10-2013, 03:01 PM

Sounds like you had fun out there! You did better then I did down at Dana Point on Saturday. The fishing was turned off big time from a couple of weeks ago. Probably had soemthing to do with the large swell the few days prior to Saturday churning up the water.

Good luck on your next trip, keep at it and you will be rewarded!

easyday · 06-10-2013, 03:14 PM

Lol not sure if it was luck

06-08-2013, 08:23 PM	#1
easyday Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,470	Is it better to have hooked and lost or to have never have hooked at all? Hit up newport today. Launched at the coast guard station around 0630 with a biddy and jim. Got to the spot we were going to fish hooked up with something big on my light tackle, rod was completely bendo in the water drag was buttoned down and it was still peeling line gained the upper hand started bringing it up and boom spit the hook. About another 15 minuted and my other rod starts screaming I get him tired out finally start making progress in my line back then boom fish was gone. Then my heavy rod loaded up and the fish was tearing drag fast grabbed the rod and just held on took me for a nice little ride then let go of the mack. I pulled it up deffinately teeth marks all over the mak I drop it down and boom instantly hit again, went for another ride and then ended up just shredding the mack never even got hooked. Then I had another huge hit and spit. My buddy hooked up aboit an hour later and he got a big wsb to about 5 feet then it just magically spit his hook. Im guessing mine were wsb as well but not sure. Yes it was a disappointing day esp after losing what would have been my first halibut last sunday and now losing what woukd have been my first wsb, but the thrill of that line peeling of and getting a ride makes it all worth ir in the end. I will return to that spot and I will take him home with me next time.... __________________

06-08-2013, 09:02 PM	#3
Raskal311 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Santa Ana/Westminster Posts: 1,256	Definitely better to hook; been out six times this season so far and still nothing bigger than a sandy. I'm going to have to stock you on the water one day to see what I'm doing wrong . __________________ Kevin Yellow PA12

06-08-2013, 09:43 PM	#4
easyday Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,470	Ill be heading down to Dana Point tomorrow to attempt another go around with the hali. __________________

06-08-2013, 10:10 PM	#6
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	I am going to have to spend some time out there this week! thanks for sharing. __________________

06-09-2013, 09:19 AM	#10
bigbarrels Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vista Posts: 1,111	sounds like a blast! I think you should hit that same area again rather than Dana Point __________________ The shorter you are, the bigger your fish appear

06-08-2013, 09:00 PM	#2
bad brady Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Menifee CA Posts: 118	Bummer bro. You keep putting all this time and it'll pay off soon.

06-08-2013, 10:04 PM	#5
bubblehide Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 552	Easyday, what your describing is a typical WSB bite. Most often with WSB, you need to let them run with your bait, until they take it in. There is no hard and fast time of how long to let them run before setting the drag; I usually let them run for at least 5 seconds before setting the drag (yes I actually count it out). When fishing WSB, the pole is in my hands in free spool, I seldom fish a second rod. Pay attention to those teeth marks on your baits, you can often tell what type of fish bites your bait, once you learn the teeth marks they leave on bait. Obviously your doing a lot of things right if your getting bit. It's only a matter of time before you fill the freezer.

06-08-2013, 10:40 PM	#7
FlyFishinYakr Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Nor Cal...30 min from Bodega/Tomales Bay, 1hr from Clear Lake, 2+ hr to Berryessa & the Delta Posts: 729	The not knowing is the part that always sucks, but given the amount of strikes you had I'd venture to guess you might have run into a wayward school of WSB & that would have me kicking myself from here to St.Swizzin's day!!! I feel for you sir, you have my deepest condolences. FFY

06-09-2013, 08:22 AM	#8
captnblood34 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Otay Posts: 704	Better to have hooked and lost.

06-09-2013, 08:53 AM	#9
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	How frustrating! I say better to hook. WSB is my guess for your encounter. If it happened to me I'd try to convince myself that it was a big school of bat rays

06-09-2013, 01:01 PM	#11
rieffer Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 91	What a bummer! I would have loved to seen that. Sorry I had to leave early. I've caught PB's of WSB and Halibut there. Let's do it again.

06-10-2013, 03:01 PM	#12
Poxy Boggards Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 146	Sounds like you had fun out there! You did better then I did down at Dana Point on Saturday. The fishing was turned off big time from a couple of weeks ago. Probably had soemthing to do with the large swell the few days prior to Saturday churning up the water. Good luck on your next trip, keep at it and you will be rewarded!

06-10-2013, 03:14 PM	#13
easyday Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,470	Lol not sure if it was luck __________________ Last edited by easyday; 06-10-2013 at 05:11 PM.