La Jolla 11-16-2020 Big Fish hookup on the Solo Skiff and........ - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

FISH11 · 11-19-2020, 10:31 PM

Sorry the post is a little late, between fishing and issues using the windows software to edit the GoPro9 video, it took several attempt to get video finished. Went out on Monday the 16th and after trolling and drifting I saw nice mark on the FF that where on the bottom so I switched to my Shimano 7' Terez rod with the Avet MXL 2sp reel that had a Carolina type of rig and 6'+ 40 lb fluorocarbon leader with circle hook and a nice greenback mac. After drifting over the marks in 100' of water a couple of times, the rod in the rod holder starts pulling line. I grab the rod wait a couple seconds and engage the lever drag to strike. At that point the fight of trying to gain line begins. I kept having to increase the drag until it was on full. I even put the reel in low gear and sometimes the handle could turn and the drag would just slip. It seemed that every time I thought I gained line it would just pull it back and the marks on the FF would stay near the bottom. After approx. 10 minutes the braid ended up breaking. That's where the Profanity really starts. So if you are offended, sorry, just hit mute. Went back out on Wednesday to try again and although I saw the same marks, I could not get another strike. Next time I hope to have better luck and a little more patience. It did feel good to have such a nice tug of war with a big fish on the Solo Skiff.

JohnMckroidJr · 11-19-2020, 11:03 PM

Always nice to have something to pull on! Patience can be tough to maintain when the adrenaline is pumping. If you had to guess, what do you think it was?

FISH11 · 11-19-2020, 11:58 PM

My guess is that it was a large Hali. The spot I was at, I have fished that area many times in the last 6 years. I have been fishing within 30-40 yards of others, doing the same thing and been there when twice a 30-40 lb Hali was caught and another when guy I met and took his picture on the water after he caught a 50ish lb WSB.

katchfish · 11-20-2020, 03:33 AM

Looks like a BSB.

Ggiannig89 · 11-20-2020, 06:05 AM

Fish don’t just break your line, they break your heart!!!

mrlar13 · 11-20-2020, 07:05 AM

Thanks for the video. Better luck to you on future tries and maybe next time we will see a video of that HUGE hali.

jruiz · 11-20-2020, 07:22 AM

Doubt that's a halibut. I've brought up 50+lb pacific halibut on single speed reels with reels only capable of 10-15lbs of drag. What you get alot of times with a sizeable halibut is an initial run along the bottom but once you get them turned around it just like a wet blanket with headshakes. You occasionally get a second run if they see the boat or if you let up on the pressure. I agree with another posters assessment that it is likely a BSB. But hey, if you feel good about saying it's a halibut, go ahead.

FISH11 · 11-20-2020, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katchfish

Looks like a BSB.

Thanks for the input, I think you are right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jruiz

Doubt that's a halibut. I've brought up 50+lb pacific halibut on single speed reels with reels only capable of 10-15lbs of drag. What you get alot of times with a sizeable halibut is an initial run along the bottom but once you get them turned around it just like a wet blanket with headshakes. You occasionally get a second run if they see the boat or if you let up on the pressure. I agree with another posters assessment that it is likely a BSB. But hey, if you feel good about saying it's a halibut, go ahead.

I appreciate the input, I tend to agree with you guys, at this point. When I think about how at the start I was able to get it up a little and thought I was making headway, but each time it was totally over powering to just get back to were it was. I have fought and lost 40 lb Yellowtail at the surface and as strong as they are, they could never pull like that. The only thing I've fought that pulled that strong for a long time, was a approx. 130 lb Thresher, that broke a Terez rod as I cut the leader when it was up against the side of my kayak. It sure would have been great to see it and get a picture.

Salty · 11-20-2020, 04:59 PM

I can relate to the profanity... Some lost fish hurt more than others. One in particular haunts me. After a long day on the water, our crew of 3 finally hooked up to a massive bluefin on the kite rig. We saw the strike and it was big. This thing fought harder than any other BFT we've had on a the line and we've landed up to 300lbs. We fought it for an hour and we lost it at color about 20' under the boat due to a tiny abrasion on the 300# braid. There was much profanity from all 3 of us... All you can do is replay any mistakes in your head over and over, then get back out and do it again! Plus, when you land that next big fight, that bit of redemption makes it that much better

Doesn't make it suck any less in the moment through!

pistol · 11-23-2020, 08:57 AM

BSB- caught three last year.

11-19-2020, 10:31 PM	#1
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	La Jolla 11-16-2020 Big Fish hookup on the Solo Skiff and........ Sorry the post is a little late, between fishing and issues using the windows software to edit the GoPro9 video, it took several attempt to get video finished. Went out on Monday the 16th and after trolling and drifting I saw nice mark on the FF that where on the bottom so I switched to my Shimano 7' Terez rod with the Avet MXL 2sp reel that had a Carolina type of rig and 6'+ 40 lb fluorocarbon leader with circle hook and a nice greenback mac. After drifting over the marks in 100' of water a couple of times, the rod in the rod holder starts pulling line. I grab the rod wait a couple seconds and engage the lever drag to strike. At that point the fight of trying to gain line begins. I kept having to increase the drag until it was on full. I even put the reel in low gear and sometimes the handle could turn and the drag would just slip. It seemed that every time I thought I gained line it would just pull it back and the marks on the FF would stay near the bottom. After approx. 10 minutes the braid ended up breaking. That's where the Profanity really starts. So if you are offended, sorry, just hit mute. Went back out on Wednesday to try again and although I saw the same marks, I could not get another strike. Next time I hope to have better luck and a little more patience. It did feel good to have such a nice tug of war with a big fish on the Solo Skiff. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

11-19-2020, 11:58 PM	#3
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	My guess is that it was a large Hali. The spot I was at, I have fished that area many times in the last 6 years. I have been fishing within 30-40 yards of others, doing the same thing and been there when twice a 30-40 lb Hali was caught and another when guy I met and took his picture on the water after he caught a 50ish lb WSB. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

11-19-2020, 11:03 PM	#2
JohnMckroidJr Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 1,945	Always nice to have something to pull on! Patience can be tough to maintain when the adrenaline is pumping. If you had to guess, what do you think it was?

11-20-2020, 03:33 AM	#4
katchfish Paddle for Mahi Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Doing the happy paddle! Posts: 849	Looks like a BSB.

11-20-2020, 06:05 AM	#5
Ggiannig89 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: El Cajon Posts: 512	Fish don’t just break your line, they break your heart!!!

11-20-2020, 07:05 AM	#6
mrlar13 Junior Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Poway Posts: 24	Thanks for the video. Better luck to you on future tries and maybe next time we will see a video of that HUGE hali.

11-20-2020, 07:22 AM	#7
jruiz Large Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: La Verne, CA Posts: 1,011	Doubt that's a halibut. I've brought up 50+lb pacific halibut on single speed reels with reels only capable of 10-15lbs of drag. What you get alot of times with a sizeable halibut is an initial run along the bottom but once you get them turned around it just like a wet blanket with headshakes. You occasionally get a second run if they see the boat or if you let up on the pressure. I agree with another posters assessment that it is likely a BSB. But hey, if you feel good about saying it's a halibut, go ahead.

11-20-2020, 04:59 PM	#9
Salty Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 434	I can relate to the profanity... Some lost fish hurt more than others. One in particular haunts me. After a long day on the water, our crew of 3 finally hooked up to a massive bluefin on the kite rig. We saw the strike and it was big. This thing fought harder than any other BFT we've had on a the line and we've landed up to 300lbs. We fought it for an hour and we lost it at color about 20' under the boat due to a tiny abrasion on the 300# braid. There was much profanity from all 3 of us... All you can do is replay any mistakes in your head over and over, then get back out and do it again! Plus, when you land that next big fight, that bit of redemption makes it that much better Doesn't make it suck any less in the moment through!

11-23-2020, 08:57 AM	#10
pistol Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 37	BSB- caught three last year.