Life or death in Asuncion - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

rossman · 03-06-2015, 11:17 AM

Wow! I just had an altercation with a very aggressive sea lion that scared the crap out of me. I was fishing in 100 feet of water off a high spot and all of sudden there was this big splash behind and to the left of me. I sort of turned and looked and then this sea lion started to try to board my kayak on the left side between my rod holder with a rod in it and my seat. Just about tipped me. I elbowed him in the ribs and he sort of slipped back into the water next to me. I gave him a good swat withe the rod I was holding and he swam under the kayak towards the front, circled and came back to the left side and launched himself, mouth wide open right at my effen face. I don't know if I got my arm up or how I repelled him but he did knock my glasses off, into the yak thankfully. He then went to the bow of the yak and started gnawing on it. It seemed life or death to me at that point and he was right in my wheelhouse so I took a full swing with my paddle and caught him right between the eyes and stunned the hell out of him. He laid motionless in the water for about a minute and then started coming around but not with all of his faculties. He did seem to think that he had enough of me and started moving away, and so did I. Discovered later that he actually broke the blank inside of foam grip on my spinning rod trying to climb on board. Man that spooked me.

So that this is in the correct forum, I caught 4 yellows this morning but all 10 lbs or less.

cabojohn · 03-06-2015, 11:25 AM

local thugs...way to smack em down.

glad yer okay Rossman.

Dannowar · 03-06-2015, 11:25 AM

Bastard sea lion!!! Way to whack em!!!

Bert Vega · 03-06-2015, 11:35 AM

Cant you just shoot them down there?

makobob · 03-06-2015, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bert Vega

Cant you just shoot them down there?

ONLY with an illegal fire arm. Ross sorry about the rod, glad it turned out ok.

EastLosYaker · 03-06-2015, 12:06 PM

Wow, that's quite a story. What'd you do to piss him off so bad? Seem like those self defense classes paid off.

ful-rac · 03-06-2015, 12:28 PM

Is proudly brought to you by....Rossman.

"Remember, you didn't have a close encounter with a seal unless you elbowed it, in the ribs."

Wow glad everything is ok rossman! Sounds like an intense encounter!

rossman · 03-06-2015, 12:41 PM

I'm trying to figure that out. I had no fish on board. Had some snacks in the back but not sure he would go through all that for a snickers bar. Had to be some kind of territorial issue

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastLosYaker

Wow, that's quite a story. What'd you do to piss him off so bad? Seem like those self defense classes paid off.

AngryTurtle · 03-06-2015, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastLosYaker

Wow, that's quite a story. What'd you do to piss him off so bad? Seem like those self defense classes paid off.

I dont know about Seals, but some bears will figure out that a hiker is a potential source of food and act aggressively to get them to drop it and run off.

Perhaps this Seal has learned that by acting aggressive to a kayaker they can get fed.

HBOUND808 · 03-06-2015, 03:11 PM

Sounds like one pissed off sea lion, way to wack em!!!

T-Rex · 03-06-2015, 04:12 PM

Holey cow that must have been insane! Sounds like he may think twice before trying to board your kayak next time.

Amish Ed · 03-06-2015, 06:30 PM

Man, glad you're safe Rossman. I hate Sea Lions! I'm always afraid I'll have a situation like yours.

taggermike · 03-06-2015, 07:36 PM

Glad to hear you're all right. Those dogs suck in LJ but getting bitten or hurt by one at an end of the road place like Asuncion could be life threatening. When you see how hard the big males thrash each other on their breeding beaches I doubt a man seated in kayak could swing a paddle hard enough to do any harm. Maybe Bring more than a paddle next time. Mike

roby · 03-06-2015, 07:58 PM

Hmmm...this smells fishy.
Sea Lion attacks kayaker? 4 Yellows under 10lbs?
Translation: It's beautiful here. I caught 4 Yellows - all over 40lbs.

Glad to see you made it out in one piece. Sea Lions scare me more than sharks or whales, especially at night. I had a Sea Lion almost jump in to my lap one time while it tried to bite the bait cage in my hoopnet.

beardedguy · 03-08-2015, 08:38 AM

Aren't fireworks legal down there.
Maybe an M80 would do the trick.

FlyFishinYakr · 03-06-2015, 04:29 PM

Just glad to hear you're OK!
Sounds like we need to "round up" some of the gang (would like to see him try to mess with Team Sewer) and head out and teach that seal not to mess with Kayakers

FFY

buddha · 03-06-2015, 04:38 PM

I think this story needs to be put in a national fishing magazine or contact Paul Lebowitz and he can publish it in his magazine.

That is just crazy and I have never heard of a story like this anywhere regarding a sea lion where they were that aggressive.

When we were in Bahia Asuncion it seemed like the sea lions were more curious or actually kept their distance around San Roque.

momo fish · 03-06-2015, 04:52 PM

Wow sucks to hear and sure would make me bring something for protection...

When I fished bola.. We did have a male bull sealion charge at our panga as if to tell us to leave the area.. Very aggressive but we had a bigger boat and not much he could of done besides bark and charge the boat.. But this was Cortez..

Pinhead · 03-07-2015, 10:46 PM

Glad this story has a happy ending for you.

I have a small Mustad aluminum fish bat from WallyMart. I would think with that much aggression being demonstrated, a guy could justify putting some X's in a seals eyes. Or just send him on his way with a well placed gaff in his butt......sorry PETA supporters.

03-06-2015, 11:17 AM	#1
rossman Marginally Irrelevant Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bahia Asuncion Posts: 936	Life or death in Asuncion Wow! I just had an altercation with a very aggressive sea lion that scared the crap out of me. I was fishing in 100 feet of water off a high spot and all of sudden there was this big splash behind and to the left of me. I sort of turned and looked and then this sea lion started to try to board my kayak on the left side between my rod holder with a rod in it and my seat. Just about tipped me. I elbowed him in the ribs and he sort of slipped back into the water next to me. I gave him a good swat withe the rod I was holding and he swam under the kayak towards the front, circled and came back to the left side and launched himself, mouth wide open right at my effen face. I don't know if I got my arm up or how I repelled him but he did knock my glasses off, into the yak thankfully. He then went to the bow of the yak and started gnawing on it. It seemed life or death to me at that point and he was right in my wheelhouse so I took a full swing with my paddle and caught him right between the eyes and stunned the hell out of him. He laid motionless in the water for about a minute and then started coming around but not with all of his faculties. He did seem to think that he had enough of me and started moving away, and so did I. Discovered later that he actually broke the blank inside of foam grip on my spinning rod trying to climb on board. Man that spooked me. So that this is in the correct forum, I caught 4 yellows this morning but all 10 lbs or less. __________________ "When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean’s skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang. " — Herman Melville Y'all come see me now, hear!

03-06-2015, 11:25 AM	#3
Dannowar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,823	Bastard sea lion!!! Way to whack em!!! __________________ "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever." — Brian Wilson

03-06-2015, 11:35 AM	#4
Bert Vega Tail Chaser! Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Murrieta Posts: 627	Cant you just shoot them down there? __________________ I hate seals!!!

03-06-2015, 12:28 PM	#7
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	This week's I almost died story.... Is proudly brought to you by....Rossman. "Remember, you didn't have a close encounter with a seal unless you elbowed it, in the ribs." Wow glad everything is ok rossman! Sounds like an intense encounter! __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

03-06-2015, 04:12 PM	#11
T-Rex Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita Posts: 770	Holey cow that must have been insane! Sounds like he may think twice before trying to board your kayak next time. __________________

03-06-2015, 11:25 AM	#2
cabojohn PROBATION Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 656	local thugs...way to smack em down. glad yer okay Rossman.

03-06-2015, 12:06 PM	#6
EastLosYaker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: East Los Angeles Posts: 220	Wow, that's quite a story. What'd you do to piss him off so bad? Seem like those self defense classes paid off.

03-06-2015, 03:11 PM	#10
HBOUND808 Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 51	Sounds like one pissed off sea lion, way to wack em!!!

03-06-2015, 06:30 PM	#12
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,903	Man, glad you're safe Rossman. I hate Sea Lions! I'm always afraid I'll have a situation like yours. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

03-06-2015, 07:36 PM	#13
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Glad to hear you're all right. Those dogs suck in LJ but getting bitten or hurt by one at an end of the road place like Asuncion could be life threatening. When you see how hard the big males thrash each other on their breeding beaches I doubt a man seated in kayak could swing a paddle hard enough to do any harm. Maybe Bring more than a paddle next time. Mike

03-06-2015, 07:58 PM	#14
roby CEO of Team Roby Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 905	Hmmm...this smells fishy. Sea Lion attacks kayaker? 4 Yellows under 10lbs? Translation: It's beautiful here. I caught 4 Yellows - all over 40lbs. Glad to see you made it out in one piece. Sea Lions scare me more than sharks or whales, especially at night. I had a Sea Lion almost jump in to my lap one time while it tried to bite the bait cage in my hoopnet.

03-08-2015, 08:38 AM	#15
beardedguy gurmpy old one Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: El Cajon Posts: 80	Aren't fireworks legal down there. Maybe an M80 would do the trick.

03-06-2015, 04:29 PM	#16
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	Just glad to hear you're OK! Sounds like we need to "round up" some of the gang (would like to see him try to mess with Team Sewer) and head out and teach that seal not to mess with Kayakers FFY

03-06-2015, 04:38 PM	#17
buddha Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: chula vista Posts: 907	I think this story needs to be put in a national fishing magazine or contact Paul Lebowitz and he can publish it in his magazine. That is just crazy and I have never heard of a story like this anywhere regarding a sea lion where they were that aggressive. When we were in Bahia Asuncion it seemed like the sea lions were more curious or actually kept their distance around San Roque.

03-06-2015, 04:52 PM	#18
momo fish Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Camarillo Posts: 1,491	Wow sucks to hear and sure would make me bring something for protection... When I fished bola.. We did have a male bull sealion charge at our panga as if to tell us to leave the area.. Very aggressive but we had a bigger boat and not much he could of done besides bark and charge the boat.. But this was Cortez..

03-07-2015, 10:46 PM	#19
Pinhead We all Stink Sometimes! Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 171	Glad this story has a happy ending for you. I have a small Mustad aluminum fish bat from WallyMart. I would think with that much aggression being demonstrated, a guy could justify putting some X's in a seals eyes. Or just send him on his way with a well placed gaff in his butt......sorry PETA supporters.