In the Beginning. . . - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

JOHN K · 02-27-2009, 10:39 AM

Looks like Sunday was the start of a crazy week of fishing (sorry for the late post). It was also the day I got my first YT!!! I hit the launch around at 8:00 and before I left the beach I knew the bite was good. There was a big crowd gathered just west of the kelp, a strange smell in the air and I got a good report from Randy on my way out. I was stoked and running from the car to the yak to get out in the fray.

By the time I reached the crowd I noticed Josh was already hooked up, working on what looked like a really nice fish. I kept my distance and circled the crowd to set up on the south side the action. On my second drop, about 10 cranks off the bottom – BENDO – it was time to hold on. After the first solid run my heart was poundin but I was feeling great. I heard someone off to my right yelling my way “Hey Alabama”. Josh had his fish in the boat and was there to make sure I got mine too. After some good advice on how to keep a big fish out of the kelp, I made it into some deeper water and brought my first YT up to a swift gaff from Josh. The fight was short, but what a rush. Thanks to Josh for making sure I got my first fish in the yak and sharing some pearls about how he makes it look so easy. Also, thanks to Casey for sending through all the pictures and John for hooking me up with a scale on the beach (33 lbs). Congrats to all you guys who had a on a great week of fishing.

Tight Lines - John

Iceman · 02-27-2009, 11:55 AM

Congrats, you were definitely skirtin' the kelp when I saw ya BENDO!

Aaron&Julie · 02-27-2009, 12:09 PM

That's one helluva first fish. Congratulations!

dorado50 · 02-27-2009, 12:36 PM

congrats!! I see that yeller riped the pants right off of you!!!! Burrrrr...

B Slate · 02-27-2009, 01:00 PM

Nice yellow John

nabeeko · 02-27-2009, 04:00 PM

These reports are killing me.
Just got back from a business trip... now I gotta tell the wife and kids I have another trip coming up shortly!

THE DARKHORSE · 03-01-2009, 03:12 PM

"Hey Alabama"

...I hope you don't mind the nickname.

No doubt, at the right time Alabama John put the wood to that fish. You would of made any long-range deckhand proud with that performance. John fought that fish like a night-bite 80 lb dropper-loop Yellowtail at Cedros, but on straight 30 lb mono. I watched his fish brought to the surface with an old-school reel (2 to 1 gear ratio) in two minutes flat

. I was a little embarrased watching that toad fly to the surface on my sonar, especially after just getting my a$$ kicked during an extended battle.

Big fish and straight mono don't go well with heavy kelp. I'm not sure which fish this week is responsible for my sore arms today, but I know which one started the good kind of pain

.

JOHN K · 03-02-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

"Hey Alabama"

...I hope you don't mind the nickname.

No problem with the Nickname I can live with 'bama for a while. When I first moved down south a few years back my buddies there decided "blue-neck" was a fitting nickname for a yankee transplant who liked to fish and drove an old K-5 Blazer, I never got rid of that one.

Thanks for the posts and the nice driveway shot from Josh, and before it goes any farther I want to warn you about a BWE rookie mistake I just made. DON'T GIVE WOMEN IN YOUR FAMILY ACCESS TO YOUR USER NAME.

I thought it would be cool for them to see what kayak fishing is all about and check out my first legit post, and now. . . well you see what happened. Your have been warned. See y'all out there soon.

buttchaser · 03-03-2009, 04:19 AM

Great catch John , Nice Meeting you

THE DARKHORSE · 03-03-2009, 12:56 PM

"By the time I reached the crowd I noticed Josh was already hooked up, working on what looked like a really nice fish. I kept my distance and circled the crowd to set up on the south side the action."

What I found to be most impressive was Bama's patience in pedaling around the whole fleet of kayaks (all six of them spread out over a few hundred yards

), especially with my rod bent in half while I was gunting like a wild Boar.

Try finding a photo from the rest of the week without someone in the background...looks crowded

.

DESTROYER · 03-03-2009, 01:27 PM

Nice Fish Bro

JOHN K · 03-02-2009, 12:49 PM

Yikes! John - your fish is as big as your kayak!...yak! Jo

JOHN K · 03-02-2009, 01:52 PM

Congrats, great looking YT! I knew you were A DIE HARD FISHERMAN FORM DAY ONE. Love your Momma

aftahour · 03-02-2009, 07:00 PM

nice going on ur first yt..

Lord Matthew34 · 03-02-2009, 08:04 PM

Nice report way to go on your first yellow!

02-27-2009, 10:39 AM	#1
JOHN K Junior Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Capo Beach Posts: 21	In the Beginning. . . Looks like Sunday was the start of a crazy week of fishing (sorry for the late post). It was also the day I got my first YT!!! I hit the launch around at 8:00 and before I left the beach I knew the bite was good. There was a big crowd gathered just west of the kelp, a strange smell in the air and I got a good report from Randy on my way out. I was stoked and running from the car to the yak to get out in the fray. By the time I reached the crowd I noticed Josh was already hooked up, working on what looked like a really nice fish. I kept my distance and circled the crowd to set up on the south side the action. On my second drop, about 10 cranks off the bottom – BENDO – it was time to hold on. After the first solid run my heart was poundin but I was feeling great. I heard someone off to my right yelling my way “Hey Alabama”. Josh had his fish in the boat and was there to make sure I got mine too. After some good advice on how to keep a big fish out of the kelp, I made it into some deeper water and brought my first YT up to a swift gaff from Josh. The fight was short, but what a rush. Thanks to Josh for making sure I got my first fish in the yak and sharing some pearls about how he makes it look so easy. Also, thanks to Casey for sending through all the pictures and John for hooking me up with a scale on the beach (33 lbs). Congrats to all you guys who had a on a great week of fishing. Tight Lines - John Attached Images

02-27-2009, 11:55 AM	#2
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	Congrats, you were definitely skirtin' the kelp when I saw ya BENDO! __________________

02-27-2009, 12:09 PM	#3
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	That's one helluva first fish. Congratulations! __________________ "Never say die"

03-01-2009, 03:12 PM	#7
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	That's a nice cherry popper! "Hey Alabama" ...I hope you don't mind the nickname. No doubt, at the right time Alabama John put the wood to that fish. You would of made any long-range deckhand proud with that performance. John fought that fish like a night-bite 80 lb dropper-loop Yellowtail at Cedros, but on straight 30 lb mono. I watched his fish brought to the surface with an old-school reel (2 to 1 gear ratio) in two minutes flat . I was a little embarrased watching that toad fly to the surface on my sonar, especially after just getting my a$$ kicked during an extended battle. Big fish and straight mono don't go well with heavy kelp. I'm not sure which fish this week is responsible for my sore arms today, but I know which one started the good kind of pain . __________________

03-03-2009, 12:56 PM	#10
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	You should have seen what it looked like two days later. "By the time I reached the crowd I noticed Josh was already hooked up, working on what looked like a really nice fish. I kept my distance and circled the crowd to set up on the south side the action." What I found to be most impressive was Bama's patience in pedaling around the whole fleet of kayaks (all six of them spread out over a few hundred yards ), especially with my rod bent in half while I was gunting like a wild Boar. Try finding a photo from the rest of the week without someone in the background...looks crowded . __________________

02-27-2009, 12:36 PM	#4
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	congrats!! I see that yeller riped the pants right off of you!!!! Burrrrr...

02-27-2009, 01:00 PM	#5
B Slate Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: La Verne Posts: 92	Nice yellow John

02-27-2009, 04:00 PM	#6
nabeeko Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 68	These reports are killing me. Just got back from a business trip... now I gotta tell the wife and kids I have another trip coming up shortly!

03-03-2009, 04:19 AM	#9
buttchaser Float Tuber Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 243	Great catch John , Nice Meeting you

03-03-2009, 01:27 PM	#11
DESTROYER Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: "The Table" Posts: 976	Nice Fish Bro

03-02-2009, 12:49 PM	#12
JOHN K Junior Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Capo Beach Posts: 21	Yikes! John - your fish is as big as your kayak!...yak! Jo

03-02-2009, 01:52 PM	#13
JOHN K Junior Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Capo Beach Posts: 21	Congrats, great looking YT! I knew you were A DIE HARD FISHERMAN FORM DAY ONE. Love your Momma

03-02-2009, 07:00 PM	#14
aftahour Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: torrance Posts: 155	nice going on ur first yt..

03-02-2009, 08:04 PM	#15
Lord Matthew34 Mad Yakker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: La Mesa Posts: 38	Nice report way to go on your first yellow!