La Jolla 3-13-17 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

FISH11 · 03-13-2017, 09:54 PM

I have been spending time on the water, but had not had such a long dry spell. I know it's been tough at times even for bait, let alone a trophy fish. Lately the action has been picking up and I know, not everyone has been posting, and you all have your reasons. Today was tough out there because the heavy fog made it really hard to see at times more than 100'. Had to constantly look at the GPS to know what direction you were going or to know were you were. Found the bait area and the areas I had been fishing the last few times. Drifted and trolled some large greenbacks. No luck even when drifting over areas with unreal marks. Saw several patterns that looked like wolf packs or even around bait with Yellow Tail marks around the perimeter, but no love. Chased some birds and even bait being crashed on the surface by large fish. The amount of water displaced and speed told me they were Yellows. Each time I though I got there in time and started trowing a Shimano flat fall, each time it seem to stop just as I got there. Finally throwing the flat fall on some bait marks and I hit pay dirt. Had already lost 4 large macs to the fur bags and I see one coming towards me when I'm fighting the fish. I put the reel in free spool and thumb on the spool, so the Yellow can run if it gets close. After not having any runs I start re-gaining line and trying to bring it in as fast as I could I had to even use low gear just to gain line because he was pulling hard. Finally got it to the yak and gaffed it right behind the gill plate. I felt sooooo.. sweeeeet to finally get one on board after so many months. Back at the truck it weighed 31.2 LBS. This baby is going to be donated to Heroes On The Water for the fish taco lunches for the Vets during the HOW events. Hope there are more guys out there, that can spare some to help out HOW.

Aaron&Julie · 03-13-2017, 10:29 PM

Nice fish! Congrats. That's the most symmetrical yellow we've ever seen come out of LJ. We usually see skinny and long or one with big shoulders. Your's is one well balanced yellowtail.

stevie951 · 03-14-2017, 06:16 AM

Thanks for the post and even nicer of you to donate the catch.. Yes the yellows are here for sure thanks for breaking the ice and being the first one to post catch this spring! Hopefully some of that luck comes this way!!

MITCHELL · 03-14-2017, 07:37 AM

I was out there to for only a big mix of mac's and a long paddle back with just a compass....when I come back I'll have my hook 5 hooked up...beware of current and fog...lol

LSmoot · 03-14-2017, 08:34 AM

Nice Fish! Congrats, and thanks for the report.

blitzburgh · 03-14-2017, 08:42 AM

Toad! Congrats!!!

YakDout · 03-14-2017, 11:58 AM

That awesome mark, and so much more rewarding on a jig. Save the whales, screw the seals

Deamon · 03-14-2017, 02:22 PM

Way to go Mark!

03-13-2017, 09:54 PM	#1
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	La Jolla 3-13-17 I have been spending time on the water, but had not had such a long dry spell. I know it's been tough at times even for bait, let alone a trophy fish. Lately the action has been picking up and I know, not everyone has been posting, and you all have your reasons. Today was tough out there because the heavy fog made it really hard to see at times more than 100'. Had to constantly look at the GPS to know what direction you were going or to know were you were. Found the bait area and the areas I had been fishing the last few times. Drifted and trolled some large greenbacks. No luck even when drifting over areas with unreal marks. Saw several patterns that looked like wolf packs or even around bait with Yellow Tail marks around the perimeter, but no love. Chased some birds and even bait being crashed on the surface by large fish. The amount of water displaced and speed told me they were Yellows. Each time I though I got there in time and started trowing a Shimano flat fall, each time it seem to stop just as I got there. Finally throwing the flat fall on some bait marks and I hit pay dirt. Had already lost 4 large macs to the fur bags and I see one coming towards me when I'm fighting the fish. I put the reel in free spool and thumb on the spool, so the Yellow can run if it gets close. After not having any runs I start re-gaining line and trying to bring it in as fast as I could I had to even use low gear just to gain line because he was pulling hard. Finally got it to the yak and gaffed it right behind the gill plate. I felt sooooo.. sweeeeet to finally get one on board after so many months. Back at the truck it weighed 31.2 LBS. This baby is going to be donated to Heroes On The Water for the fish taco lunches for the Vets during the HOW events. Hope there are more guys out there, that can spare some to help out HOW. Attached Images __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids ) Last edited by FISH11; 03-14-2017 at 08:29 AM. Reason: added another picture

03-13-2017, 10:29 PM	#2
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	Nice fish! Congrats. That's the most symmetrical yellow we've ever seen come out of LJ. We usually see skinny and long or one with big shoulders. Your's is one well balanced yellowtail. __________________ "Never say die"

03-14-2017, 06:16 AM	#3
stevie951 Lurker Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Riverside Posts: 431	Thanks for the post and even nicer of you to donate the catch.. Yes the yellows are here for sure thanks for breaking the ice and being the first one to post catch this spring! Hopefully some of that luck comes this way!! __________________ "A Reel expert can Tackle anything " ~Malibu Stealth-14 ~Malibu X-13

03-14-2017, 07:37 AM	#4
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,277	Good for you.... I was out there to for only a big mix of mac's and a long paddle back with just a compass....when I come back I'll have my hook 5 hooked up...beware of current and fog...lol __________________ Duke Mitchell

03-14-2017, 08:34 AM	#5
LSmoot Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 115	Congrats Nice Fish! Congrats, and thanks for the report.

03-14-2017, 08:42 AM	#6
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Toad! Congrats!!! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

03-14-2017, 11:58 AM	#7
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	That awesome mark, and so much more rewarding on a jig. Save the whales, screw the seals

03-14-2017, 02:22 PM	#8
Deamon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,972	Way to go Mark! __________________ 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"