Persistence is Key - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

fresh to salt · 02-08-2016, 10:29 AM

Finally, after 3 years of fishing la jolla from my kayak and learning the ins and outs, all my effort finally come to fruition!

Left my house in Menifee a little later than I wanted but made it to the launch just after first light. Launched in beautiful conditions and once I made it to the corner, I was able to easily make bait. Mostly GB but a couple of spanish that I kept just in case. Put 6 macs in the bait tank and I was off to the races. Once I got out of the pack at the corner and found my own ground about 200 yards south, I marked a good one. Dropped my brand new purple squid Tady 4/0 and it must have hit this fish right on the forehead. The second it hit something hard I had enough time to move the lever to strike the rod was almost ripped out of my hands and a split second later it was gone... No time to waste as the mark was still there so I grabbed my trusty Penn Jigmaster 500 with a dropper loop set up and sent one of the spanish down to depth. Clicker on and freespool I set the rod in the rod holder and looked at the 40 lb fluoro leader from my yoyo rod. The line was sliced just above where the iron would have been... The knot didnt fail but Im not sure what could have happened unless a fish rocked me instantly or if it was a shark down there... No time to think as I see my ff light up with a solid worm around my bait. Click click zzzzzz and were off to the races with the right kind on. I had the biggest smile on my face as I enjoyed my first sleigh ride until I started to feel the line sliding through kelp and my smile immediately started to fade as I made the realization that my Penn had mono and not braid. Luckily another kayaker was out there to keep me calm and encouraged me to just relax and take my time with it. This guy cut extra stringers of kelp that I accumulated on my line, while I was trying to keep pressure and stay calm... Finally after about 25 minutes of excitement and the fear of losing this fish, I bring the fish to color, along with about 40 lbs of kelp just above the fish. Aaron (spelling?) the other kayaker helping me out was able to get a perfect gaff shot on my first kayak yellowtail!

I have caught plenty of yellowtail, tuna, and dorado of varying sizes but this fish had to have been the fish that I am most proud of! Putting in my time on the kayak and learning what to look for and to understand the conditions finally allowed me to land this fish and I couldnt be happier! Thanks Aaron for keeping me calm and helping me land this fish, and of course for the OTW shots! Tight lines to all!

chancy94 · 02-08-2016, 10:32 AM

Sick story! Congrats on the first off your yak! You're gonna be hooked on it even more now!

Murray · 02-08-2016, 11:02 AM

Congrats and enjoy your catch. Nothing better than eating fresh fish. Make sure to check out Yani's website at fishermansbelly.com for some super recipes.

Geno Machino · 02-08-2016, 11:04 AM

Great Work and Percistances!!!

That one reason I enjoy this community, most of us try and help and encourage each other.

Get post and it goes to show - you don't have to always fish the pack to catch fish.

WTG!!!

You too Aaron!

Geno

Zfish03 · 02-08-2016, 11:58 AM

Solid fish Matt! Starting off the year right

I'll be home in March and June, lets get some some

blitzburgh · 02-08-2016, 12:29 PM

Nice work!

Fish Taco · 02-08-2016, 01:08 PM

Congrats and an awesome post!

fresh to salt · 02-09-2016, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zfish03

Solid fish Matt! Starting off the year right

I'll be home in March and June, lets get some some

Absolutely! Ill be ready!

kayakfisherman · 02-08-2016, 03:48 PM

Love your story Matt!! Way to go and keep at it.
You're right on tract. Beautiful fish and story.

maquinapescado · 02-08-2016, 08:12 PM

Nice one and you title is the key.

FISH11 · 02-08-2016, 08:55 PM

Congrats on your first kayak yellow, and in putting in the time on the water and learning all you could to make it happen. Most kayak anglers on this site are awesome and more than willing to help others in the community. Enjoy the fruit of your effort, it will most likely be the best tasting Yellow you ever had, because of the work and enjoyment of catching it in a kayak. Tight Lines

Deamon · 02-09-2016, 07:29 AM

Well, if the Menifee guys are getting...it must be WFO! JOKE. Well earned!

Jim

taggermike · 02-09-2016, 08:16 AM

Congrats and way to stay focussed. Your iron bite my have been from a shark. Its rare but they will bite iron. A buddy of mine caught a big soup fin on the yoyo and I've hooked makos on both light and heavy iron.

Your '16 is off to a great start. Keep up the good work.
Mike

02-08-2016, 10:29 AM	#1
fresh to salt Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 53	Persistence is Key Finally, after 3 years of fishing la jolla from my kayak and learning the ins and outs, all my effort finally come to fruition! Left my house in Menifee a little later than I wanted but made it to the launch just after first light. Launched in beautiful conditions and once I made it to the corner, I was able to easily make bait. Mostly GB but a couple of spanish that I kept just in case. Put 6 macs in the bait tank and I was off to the races. Once I got out of the pack at the corner and found my own ground about 200 yards south, I marked a good one. Dropped my brand new purple squid Tady 4/0 and it must have hit this fish right on the forehead. The second it hit something hard I had enough time to move the lever to strike the rod was almost ripped out of my hands and a split second later it was gone... No time to waste as the mark was still there so I grabbed my trusty Penn Jigmaster 500 with a dropper loop set up and sent one of the spanish down to depth. Clicker on and freespool I set the rod in the rod holder and looked at the 40 lb fluoro leader from my yoyo rod. The line was sliced just above where the iron would have been... The knot didnt fail but Im not sure what could have happened unless a fish rocked me instantly or if it was a shark down there... No time to think as I see my ff light up with a solid worm around my bait. Click click zzzzzz and were off to the races with the right kind on. I had the biggest smile on my face as I enjoyed my first sleigh ride until I started to feel the line sliding through kelp and my smile immediately started to fade as I made the realization that my Penn had mono and not braid. Luckily another kayaker was out there to keep me calm and encouraged me to just relax and take my time with it. This guy cut extra stringers of kelp that I accumulated on my line, while I was trying to keep pressure and stay calm... Finally after about 25 minutes of excitement and the fear of losing this fish, I bring the fish to color, along with about 40 lbs of kelp just above the fish. Aaron (spelling?) the other kayaker helping me out was able to get a perfect gaff shot on my first kayak yellowtail! I have caught plenty of yellowtail, tuna, and dorado of varying sizes but this fish had to have been the fish that I am most proud of! Putting in my time on the kayak and learning what to look for and to understand the conditions finally allowed me to land this fish and I couldnt be happier! Thanks Aaron for keeping me calm and helping me land this fish, and of course for the OTW shots! Tight lines to all! Attached Images

02-08-2016, 10:32 AM	#2
chancy94 Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 62	Sick story! Congrats on the first off your yak! You're gonna be hooked on it even more now! __________________ Explore More http://voidventure.blogspot.com/

02-08-2016, 11:04 AM	#4
Geno Machino "Relax" Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: O'side Posts: 553	Great Work and Percistances!!! That one reason I enjoy this community, most of us try and help and encourage each other. Get post and it goes to show - you don't have to always fish the pack to catch fish. WTG!!! You too Aaron! Geno __________________

02-08-2016, 12:29 PM	#6
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Nice work! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

02-08-2016, 01:08 PM	#7
Fish Taco Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bozeman, Montana Posts: 164	Congrats and an awesome post! __________________ - Ken Redondo Beach, CA 2011 Malibu Stealth 14

02-08-2016, 11:02 AM	#3
Murray Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Vista Posts: 326	Congrats and enjoy your catch. Nothing better than eating fresh fish. Make sure to check out Yani's website at fishermansbelly.com for some super recipes.

02-08-2016, 11:58 AM	#5
Zfish03 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oceanside Posts: 197	Solid fish Matt! Starting off the year right I'll be home in March and June, lets get some some

02-08-2016, 03:48 PM	#9
kayakfisherman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 715	Love your story Matt!! Way to go and keep at it. You're right on tract. Beautiful fish and story.

02-08-2016, 08:12 PM	#10
maquinapescado Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 326	Nice one and you title is the key. __________________ Climb, Surf, Fish, Repeat

02-08-2016, 08:55 PM	#11
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	Congrats on your first kayak yellow, and in putting in the time on the water and learning all you could to make it happen. Most kayak anglers on this site are awesome and more than willing to help others in the community. Enjoy the fruit of your effort, it will most likely be the best tasting Yellow you ever had, because of the work and enjoyment of catching it in a kayak. Tight Lines __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

02-09-2016, 07:29 AM	#12
Deamon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,972	Well, if the Menifee guys are getting...it must be WFO! JOKE. Well earned! 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"

02-09-2016, 08:16 AM	#13
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Congrats and way to stay focussed. Your iron bite my have been from a shark. Its rare but they will bite iron. A buddy of mine caught a big soup fin on the yoyo and I've hooked makos on both light and heavy iron. Your '16 is off to a great start. Keep up the good work. Mike