Ice fishing...close enough. - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

THE DARKHORSE · 12-19-2008, 11:30 PM

Besides last weekend, I haven't been able to fish this month as much as I would have liked. A couple of nice swells paired up with perfect conditions kept me buisy, and finally winter is here (58 degree water). After watching the rain for days on end, and considering running off to the local mountains and snowboarding some fresh powder (a few feet in some places), I had a dilemma

. The only thing I knew was sitting in my house any longer might freaking kill me. After much thought, I decided to just freeze my ass off and go fishing instead. On my way to the launch this morning the car temp read thirty seven degrees, and the 15 mph offshore winds made me snuggle with my coffee mug while watching the surf in the dark. I layered up in full snowboard gear under my waders and splash-jacket, then set off right about greylight. I watched the meter heading to the grounds, but all the giant Mackerel schools from a week ago were gone. I noticed a couple of Spanish Mackerel schools cruising the lower column, but didn't bother trying to make bait. I have a few awesome irons right now (surface and yo-yo), that are kinda fueling my fire. Watching these guys swim, it's hard to imagine a Yellowtail turning off. I bounced around looking all over the place, but it was pretty dead. I had yo-yo'd till I was blue in the face, and had settled in an area that atleast had a little life on the meter. It didn't look anywhere near as fishy as last week (bait everywhere), but had a few larger marks on the meter with a scattered tight ball of bait here and there. I was parked talking to an old-timer, without a line in the water, then I heard a couple of ferocious fish terrorizing some bait on the surface. I pulled Excalibur out of her sheath (Seeker Ulua 93H

), and made a long cast right where the fish broke the surface. I had fears while my jig was in the air that it could of just been another Thresher Shark (only two boils broke the surface), but this was a shoot first and ask questions later situation. After a few cranks of the handle I'm bumped first, then line is ripping off the reel I'M ON! I had just re-spooled with 40 lb P-Line hours before (they were out of Izorline), so I made an attempt to put the wood to this fish, but she had other ideas. I spent half of the fight trying to drag her away from the two lobster pots I was between (love the Hobie), but ended up having to end the battle 20' from the float, too close for comfort.

Long and fat, just shy of 35 lbs....but felt like a 80 lb Wahoo when she ate my iron on the long rod, FUN!

I was stoked to have a fish like this on deck, but a little pissed to not be able to fish the rest of the day. I had packed an awesome lunch with plenty to drink, but I really like to take care of the fatty Hamachi (Put on ice as soon as possible for 24 hours). With intentions of coming back for the afternoon, I headed back to the launch for a quick trip home. At home I decided to treat myself, and packed a couple of beers on ice for the afternoon session. By the time I made it back to the launch, the 15 mph offshore wind had switched to 15 mph onshore wind, and I almost turned around. Then I looked at those glistening cold-ones in the back, and thought about my crazy Tady 45 that swims like a mermaid, what the hell. I made bait this time and moved back to the scene of the crime, but it didn't look the same. Around 3:00 p.m. a pile of birds stacked in the distance, but even with the bino's I couldn't see with the heavy glare of the sun in my eyes. I did the fire drill, releasing my mackerel off the bottom and letting my flyline bait swim off, before racing into the distance. After a five minute pursuit, I figured out with the bino's it was just porps. I'm way off my zone, but thirty minutes later I see my intended target breezing by. Out comes Excalibur again, a long cast and one more pissed off Yellowtail inhales my jig.

Not a lobster pot in sight, so I made quick work of this little guy...but he still kicked my ass on the long rod

. Pedaling in while enjoying an ice-cold beer, with the sun just starting to set on the horizon was a majical experience. I can't wait to do this again, too much fun!

bigbarrels · 12-19-2008, 11:43 PM

Josh, you are the man! Thanks for sharing

steamroll · 12-20-2008, 06:24 AM

PORN

Arne · 12-20-2008, 07:17 AM

Damn - nice duo o'

!

Dennis · 12-20-2008, 07:37 AM

PIMP!!!

Geoffkoop · 12-20-2008, 07:50 AM

Holy S! You are the man. Incredible yellows.

Dan · 12-20-2008, 04:19 PM

Double double animal style. Killer!

steveooo · 12-20-2008, 04:48 PM

Wow. Nice pair of monster yellowtail.

yakrider · 12-20-2008, 06:35 PM

I love yer stories...makes me live it...
(except for the cold, it's nice and warm at the computer)
can't wait to get one of those big mofo's....

j mo · 12-20-2008, 07:40 PM

What no hat trick?????? Way to man up in the cold

Tman · 12-20-2008, 07:45 PM

I admit, I had to do a double take....your expression seemed the same in both pics...smile bro, the majority of us would be ecstatic. But there you are, ho hum, another day at the office...

(So I checked the feeeshies out, size, tail, lines under the dorsal, etc...)

Came to the conclusion that they ARE two different lalandis, congrats, hell of a feat this time of year.

But please, next photo op, at least let out a toothy grin in ONE of the pics...

Dang nice

...

jscott · 12-20-2008, 08:30 PM

Very impressive! All I can say is

with those

!!

THE DARKHORSE · 12-20-2008, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tman

I admit, I had to do a double take....your expression seemed the same in both pics...smile bro, the majority of us would be ecstatic. But there you are, ho hum, another day at the office...

(So I checked the feeeshies out, size, tail, lines under the dorsal, etc...)

Came to the conclusion that they ARE two different lalandis, congrats, hell of a feat this time of year.

But please, next photo op, at least let out a toothy grin in ONE of the pics...

Dang nice

...

Keep in mind these pictures are taken with my girlfriend yelling at me in the background

...."I'm freezing, lift them up sissy, I can't get both of their tales in the frame". I was aiming for the shot of me holding both trophies up, but after trying to get a nice shot with both fish a few times, they all looked like I was in labor.

Trust me, you wouldn't be smiling taking pictures with my girlfriend....Oh that didn't sound right

blackcloud9 · 12-21-2008, 12:17 PM

Good catching.

the

Smokey · 12-21-2008, 05:07 PM

Nice job as usual, good pics and a great story.

My wife wants to know why you always come home with fish and I seldom do. You are making the rest of us look bad. Thanks.
Next she will want to check my gps track log when I go fishing.

roosta · 12-21-2008, 09:02 PM

Damn...! What an awesome day!
Once again congrats Josh!

GHOSTHUNTR · 12-22-2008, 06:14 AM

Ho Hum, just another day on the water for Josh. Un-freaking believable.

ezcompany · 12-22-2008, 10:42 AM

oh great La Jolla master how i worship thee~~~~
awesome job as usual~~!

12-19-2008, 11:30 PM	#1
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	Ice fishing...close enough. Besides last weekend, I haven't been able to fish this month as much as I would have liked. A couple of nice swells paired up with perfect conditions kept me buisy, and finally winter is here (58 degree water). After watching the rain for days on end, and considering running off to the local mountains and snowboarding some fresh powder (a few feet in some places), I had a dilemma . The only thing I knew was sitting in my house any longer might freaking kill me. After much thought, I decided to just freeze my ass off and go fishing instead. On my way to the launch this morning the car temp read thirty seven degrees, and the 15 mph offshore winds made me snuggle with my coffee mug while watching the surf in the dark. I layered up in full snowboard gear under my waders and splash-jacket, then set off right about greylight. I watched the meter heading to the grounds, but all the giant Mackerel schools from a week ago were gone. I noticed a couple of Spanish Mackerel schools cruising the lower column, but didn't bother trying to make bait. I have a few awesome irons right now (surface and yo-yo), that are kinda fueling my fire. Watching these guys swim, it's hard to imagine a Yellowtail turning off. I bounced around looking all over the place, but it was pretty dead. I had yo-yo'd till I was blue in the face, and had settled in an area that atleast had a little life on the meter. It didn't look anywhere near as fishy as last week (bait everywhere), but had a few larger marks on the meter with a scattered tight ball of bait here and there. I was parked talking to an old-timer, without a line in the water, then I heard a couple of ferocious fish terrorizing some bait on the surface. I pulled Excalibur out of her sheath (Seeker Ulua 93H ), and made a long cast right where the fish broke the surface. I had fears while my jig was in the air that it could of just been another Thresher Shark (only two boils broke the surface), but this was a shoot first and ask questions later situation. After a few cranks of the handle I'm bumped first, then line is ripping off the reel I'M ON! I had just re-spooled with 40 lb P-Line hours before (they were out of Izorline), so I made an attempt to put the wood to this fish, but she had other ideas. I spent half of the fight trying to drag her away from the two lobster pots I was between (love the Hobie), but ended up having to end the battle 20' from the float, too close for comfort. Long and fat, just shy of 35 lbs....but felt like a 80 lb Wahoo when she ate my iron on the long rod, FUN! I was stoked to have a fish like this on deck, but a little pissed to not be able to fish the rest of the day. I had packed an awesome lunch with plenty to drink, but I really like to take care of the fatty Hamachi (Put on ice as soon as possible for 24 hours). With intentions of coming back for the afternoon, I headed back to the launch for a quick trip home. At home I decided to treat myself, and packed a couple of beers on ice for the afternoon session. By the time I made it back to the launch, the 15 mph offshore wind had switched to 15 mph onshore wind, and I almost turned around. Then I looked at those glistening cold-ones in the back, and thought about my crazy Tady 45 that swims like a mermaid, what the hell. I made bait this time and moved back to the scene of the crime, but it didn't look the same. Around 3:00 p.m. a pile of birds stacked in the distance, but even with the bino's I couldn't see with the heavy glare of the sun in my eyes. I did the fire drill, releasing my mackerel off the bottom and letting my flyline bait swim off, before racing into the distance. After a five minute pursuit, I figured out with the bino's it was just porps. I'm way off my zone, but thirty minutes later I see my intended target breezing by. Out comes Excalibur again, a long cast and one more pissed off Yellowtail inhales my jig. Not a lobster pot in sight, so I made quick work of this little guy...but he still kicked my ass on the long rod . Pedaling in while enjoying an ice-cold beer, with the sun just starting to set on the horizon was a majical experience. I can't wait to do this again, too much fun! __________________ Last edited by THE DARKHORSE; 12-20-2008 at 08:24 PM.

12-20-2008, 06:24 AM	#3
steamroll Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 385	PORN __________________

12-20-2008, 07:17 AM	#4
Arne Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 223	Damn - nice duo o' ! __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

12-20-2008, 07:37 AM	#5
Dennis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South of La Jolla... Posts: 1,193	PIMP!!! __________________ Hmmmm.....

12-20-2008, 07:45 PM	#11
Tman BRTF...bought & paid... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,247	I admit, I had to do a double take....your expression seemed the same in both pics...smile bro, the majority of us would be ecstatic. But there you are, ho hum, another day at the office... (So I checked the feeeshies out, size, tail, lines under the dorsal, etc...) Came to the conclusion that they ARE two different lalandis, congrats, hell of a feat this time of year. But please, next photo op, at least let out a toothy grin in ONE of the pics... Dang nice ... __________________ Adios Tman Gaffer for Clay the Fishcatcher

12-19-2008, 11:43 PM	#2
bigbarrels Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vista Posts: 1,111	Josh, you are the man! Thanks for sharing

12-20-2008, 07:50 AM	#6
Geoffkoop Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: So. Orange County Posts: 302	Holy S! You are the man. Incredible yellows.

12-20-2008, 04:19 PM	#7
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,053	Double double animal style. Killer!

12-20-2008, 04:48 PM	#8
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,922	Wow. Nice pair of monster yellowtail.

12-20-2008, 06:35 PM	#9
yakrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 611	I love yer stories...makes me live it... (except for the cold, it's nice and warm at the computer) can't wait to get one of those big mofo's....

12-20-2008, 07:40 PM	#10
j mo Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Encinitas Posts: 600	What no hat trick?????? Way to man up in the cold

12-20-2008, 08:30 PM	#12
jscott Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 138	Very impressive! All I can say is with those !!

12-21-2008, 12:17 PM	#14
blackcloud9 Kayaker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Big Rock, WindanSea, La Jolla Posts: 413	Good catching. the __________________ Larry. Hobie Revolution 13. 25 years of kayak fishing La Jolla. https://larryl.com/photos

12-21-2008, 05:07 PM	#15
Smokey Junior Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 27	Nice job as usual, good pics and a great story. My wife wants to know why you always come home with fish and I seldom do. You are making the rest of us look bad. Thanks. Next she will want to check my gps track log when I go fishing.

12-21-2008, 09:02 PM	#16
roosta Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 68	Damn...! What an awesome day! Once again congrats Josh!

12-22-2008, 06:14 AM	#17
GHOSTHUNTR Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Poway Posts: 160	Ho Hum, just another day on the water for Josh. Un-freaking believable.

12-22-2008, 10:42 AM	#18
ezcompany Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 30	oh great La Jolla master how i worship thee~~~~ awesome job as usual~~!