A FEBRUARY TO REMEMBER.... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

THE DARKHORSE · 03-03-2008, 04:32 PM

Unless you are lucky enough to be around the week or so the squid spawn, February is usually on the slow side.I'll remember this month as the best February in history. I was lucky to have a few squid latch onto my iron just after a fresh rain. I say lucky because I didn't have my sonar on and the large group of anglers had drifted off the grounds with the help of stiff offshore winds. I kept my excitement to a minimum to not alert the herd. I paddled over to one lucky angler and whispered to come with me. We made a short move, quietly made a few more pieces, and prepared to do a quick exchange for the "right-kind". It wasn't long before my partner in crime was flying past me and my anticipation grew to a feverish pitch. Just about the time his fish found the gaff my squid got slammed. Shortly there after I had my largest Yellowtail of the winter in my lap. I put another bait down and was hit again in no time. The fish was strong, a little too strong to be a Yellowtail. The mystery was over ten minutes later with a big Black Seabass that was easily revived. The next morning would prove to be a good day as plenty of anglers enjoyed the happy-paddle in with Yellowtail in their lap. I was fortunate to have caught a #34 10 oz Yellowtail and a #33 6 oz Yellowtail my first two days of the bite. I was satisfied with the two strong submissions for WCW and was prepared to release everything under #33 or 44".

I've only fished La Jolla for eleven-years, but I have friends that have fished here for fifty. Those that were the lucky few to witness the "White Seabass Show" will agree that this was the best White Seabass bite ever. I've been in the middle of quite a few wide-open bites, but nothing like this. La Jolla isn't Catalina and our idea of a wide-open White Seabass bite is six fish caught for thirty anglers. The two main days of the "ghost-bite" were absolutely ridiculous. You would of been hard pressed to get a squid through that school without a big fish nailing your bait. The crowd was fairly light the first day of this bite and nearly everyone had a chance at a trophy ghost. Satisfied with my two ghosts and a couple of released #30 class Yellowtail everyone including myself went in. My big fish of the day was a #46 12 oz ghost.

I can't help but wonder what would of happened if more people stayed out. I say this because of my experience the next day. The entire fleet was on the grounds and prepared to do battle. I had gotten a late start and was relieved when the bite started a little later than usual around 9:00. I had an opportunity to release a couple of Yellowtail over 40" (good practice). I was annoyed by all of the bi-catch (Calico's, Sandie's, Sheepshead, giant red rock cod, Yellowtail). I re-tied my flouro leader at least eight times anticipating the trophy-ghost. My biggest blessing came when I was testing my knot-strength and my #100 swivel snapped in two pieces. I was stoked this didn't happen at the wrong time. I re-tied my spectra knot and borrowed more bait. Most everyone was leaving by now. It was around 10:30 and most thought it was over. The wind was howling and it was a challenge to stay in one place (constant paddling). I was determined and remember telling one angler that "you couldn't pay me to leave". My next bite was the one I had been looking for. A deceiving fight that had me thinking big-Yellowtail all the way to the gaff. Multiple big runs and planted to the bottom for a while. I was relieved when I saw my large hook buried in the corner of a trophy-ghost. This is when it got a little crazy. For the next couple of hours every direction I looked and as far as I could see there were multiple anglers per boat with bent rods. I mean quads and doubles of straight White Seabass on every drift. I was a little tired by now and made the mistake of staying in my spot. Constantly paddling against the 20-30mph wind and rain. I'm sure if I made the tiring move up-current a couple hundred yards and drifted through the school again I could of continued my success. My fish looked pretty solid and I decided to take her down to OEX-rosecrans to get the certified weight. Everyone who saw this fish including myself thought it would be close to #60. I gasped with disappointment when it quickly buried the scale to #53 and a half. I took a step back and questioned the scale for a second. It's hard to tell on that scale, but after calming my disappointed heart of not beating my #55 personal best and taking a closer look it was a little left of the pin, so #53 9oz to be exact.

I know, I need to go to the gym. Not only because of the "double-chin", but because I could barely lift this girl into the kayak.

Ahhhhh, that's more like it. A properly documented trophy-ghost with a photo to look back on when I'm old and grey myself.

All in all a "February to remember" with a total of three Yellowtail kept, six #30 class Yellowtail released, and three white Seabass kept. I was prepared to release any ghost under #50 for the rest of the month and pounded sand till I was blue in the face. I guess the slam wasn't meant to be so I'll have to settle for my measly 101 points.

TO ALL WHO PURSUE THE COVETED CROWN.

nmbrinkman · 03-03-2008, 04:47 PM

Ummmm.... Wow is all I can muster!

Holy Mackerel · 03-03-2008, 04:54 PM

Amazing, speechless, nice job Josh!

steamroll · 03-03-2008, 04:55 PM

Happy February Josh

spooky007 · 03-03-2008, 05:21 PM

Awesome!! Great looking fish!!

Al

Handymansd · 03-03-2008, 05:37 PM

For some reason I'm feeling really inadequate!

I would call it a good year with those catches in my lap!!

Beautiful post ,and pictures, to document an awesome month. Congrats!

wavster · 03-03-2008, 05:59 PM

Josh, great post to an equally great month.

You did good and you are positioned in the WCW where you should be...

Dan · 03-03-2008, 07:45 PM

WOW

gotz togo fishin · 03-03-2008, 08:04 PM

I hate to ask, but, tennis shoes? thats a first!

rastrev · 03-03-2008, 08:10 PM

Very impressive month Josh

esdees · 03-03-2008, 08:57 PM

Only 53.5#!? I guess I was over estimating left and right that day. Damn nice fish, though. Congrats.

Matt · 03-03-2008, 09:29 PM

It's gotta to be the shoes!!! Nice job Kanye "it's time to shine"!

Beautiful fish Josh!!!

steveooo · 03-03-2008, 09:37 PM

Great read. Solid fishes too. I like

in a month too, especially the grade they were

lambadmin · 03-04-2008, 01:16 AM

Congrats Josh, unbelievable month for you.

I had to put it on the front page - too impressive of a catch and a kayak fishing story to be missed.

Some kick ass fishing for you this month.

frugalfisher · 03-04-2008, 07:48 AM

Kick ass!

gary sullivan · 03-04-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lambadmin

Congrats Josh, unbelievable month for you.

I had to put it on the front page - too impressive of a catch and a kayak fishing story to be missed.

Josh, you can run but you can't hide from the front page.
Do you retie your knots after every fish caught?
Just trying to learn from the best.

tylerdurden · 03-04-2008, 08:18 AM

Now that's a great month

. Nice.

GHOSTHUNTR · 03-04-2008, 08:22 AM

That has to be one of the (if not THE) best months in WCW history, if you consider all the big releases as well.

Just goes to show you that the people who work the hardest at this tend to have a ton of success. WTG Josh, congrats on an epic month! I still can't believe that I fished Monday and Thursday that week and missed the Tuesday- Wednesday bites. Grippin' HARD about that still.

dmr · 03-04-2008, 09:24 AM

Great month and write up Josh.

dorf · 03-04-2008, 09:41 AM

Wow!!!

That post motivates me.
Thanks for the inspiration.

03-04-2008, 07:48 AM	#15
frugalfisher Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 190	Stoked for you! Kick ass! __________________ James Caldwell Yellow Prowler

03-04-2008, 08:18 AM	#17
tylerdurden Bad Clone Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 874	Now that's a great month . Nice. __________________ MLPA, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem Let the Fish and Game Commission know what you think about the proposed maps. Be ready for December 9th and 10th.

03-04-2008, 09:41 AM	#20
dorf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 279	Wow!!! That post motivates me. Thanks for the inspiration. __________________ Don't try to confuse me with facts! I hereby reject your reality and submit my own.

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03-03-2008, 04:32 PM	#1
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	A FEBRUARY TO REMEMBER.... Unless you are lucky enough to be around the week or so the squid spawn, February is usually on the slow side.I'll remember this month as the best February in history. I was lucky to have a few squid latch onto my iron just after a fresh rain. I say lucky because I didn't have my sonar on and the large group of anglers had drifted off the grounds with the help of stiff offshore winds. I kept my excitement to a minimum to not alert the herd. I paddled over to one lucky angler and whispered to come with me. We made a short move, quietly made a few more pieces, and prepared to do a quick exchange for the "right-kind". It wasn't long before my partner in crime was flying past me and my anticipation grew to a feverish pitch. Just about the time his fish found the gaff my squid got slammed. Shortly there after I had my largest Yellowtail of the winter in my lap. I put another bait down and was hit again in no time. The fish was strong, a little too strong to be a Yellowtail. The mystery was over ten minutes later with a big Black Seabass that was easily revived. The next morning would prove to be a good day as plenty of anglers enjoyed the happy-paddle in with Yellowtail in their lap. I was fortunate to have caught a #34 10 oz Yellowtail and a #33 6 oz Yellowtail my first two days of the bite. I was satisfied with the two strong submissions for WCW and was prepared to release everything under #33 or 44". I've only fished La Jolla for eleven-years, but I have friends that have fished here for fifty. Those that were the lucky few to witness the "White Seabass Show" will agree that this was the best White Seabass bite ever. I've been in the middle of quite a few wide-open bites, but nothing like this. La Jolla isn't Catalina and our idea of a wide-open White Seabass bite is six fish caught for thirty anglers. The two main days of the "ghost-bite" were absolutely ridiculous. You would of been hard pressed to get a squid through that school without a big fish nailing your bait. The crowd was fairly light the first day of this bite and nearly everyone had a chance at a trophy ghost. Satisfied with my two ghosts and a couple of released #30 class Yellowtail everyone including myself went in. My big fish of the day was a #46 12 oz ghost. I can't help but wonder what would of happened if more people stayed out. I say this because of my experience the next day. The entire fleet was on the grounds and prepared to do battle. I had gotten a late start and was relieved when the bite started a little later than usual around 9:00. I had an opportunity to release a couple of Yellowtail over 40" (good practice). I was annoyed by all of the bi-catch (Calico's, Sandie's, Sheepshead, giant red rock cod, Yellowtail). I re-tied my flouro leader at least eight times anticipating the trophy-ghost. My biggest blessing came when I was testing my knot-strength and my #100 swivel snapped in two pieces. I was stoked this didn't happen at the wrong time. I re-tied my spectra knot and borrowed more bait. Most everyone was leaving by now. It was around 10:30 and most thought it was over. The wind was howling and it was a challenge to stay in one place (constant paddling). I was determined and remember telling one angler that "you couldn't pay me to leave". My next bite was the one I had been looking for. A deceiving fight that had me thinking big-Yellowtail all the way to the gaff. Multiple big runs and planted to the bottom for a while. I was relieved when I saw my large hook buried in the corner of a trophy-ghost. This is when it got a little crazy. For the next couple of hours every direction I looked and as far as I could see there were multiple anglers per boat with bent rods. I mean quads and doubles of straight White Seabass on every drift. I was a little tired by now and made the mistake of staying in my spot. Constantly paddling against the 20-30mph wind and rain. I'm sure if I made the tiring move up-current a couple hundred yards and drifted through the school again I could of continued my success. My fish looked pretty solid and I decided to take her down to OEX-rosecrans to get the certified weight. Everyone who saw this fish including myself thought it would be close to #60. I gasped with disappointment when it quickly buried the scale to #53 and a half. I took a step back and questioned the scale for a second. It's hard to tell on that scale, but after calming my disappointed heart of not beating my #55 personal best and taking a closer look it was a little left of the pin, so #53 9oz to be exact. I know, I need to go to the gym. Not only because of the "double-chin", but because I could barely lift this girl into the kayak. Ahhhhh, that's more like it. A properly documented trophy-ghost with a photo to look back on when I'm old and grey myself. All in all a "February to remember" with a total of three Yellowtail kept, six #30 class Yellowtail released, and three white Seabass kept. I was prepared to release any ghost under #50 for the rest of the month and pounded sand till I was blue in the face. I guess the slam wasn't meant to be so I'll have to settle for my measly 101 points. TO ALL WHO PURSUE THE COVETED CROWN.

03-03-2008, 04:47 PM	#2
nmbrinkman Work Sucks! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 559	Ummmm.... Wow is all I can muster!

03-03-2008, 04:54 PM	#3
Holy Mackerel Señor member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,627	Amazing, speechless, nice job Josh!

03-03-2008, 04:55 PM	#4
steamroll Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 385	Happy February Josh __________________

03-03-2008, 05:21 PM	#5
spooky007 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bakersfield Posts: 56	Awesome!! Great looking fish!! Al

03-03-2008, 05:37 PM	#6
Handymansd Ancient Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: On The Water Posts: 935	For some reason I'm feeling really inadequate! I would call it a good year with those catches in my lap!! Beautiful post ,and pictures, to document an awesome month. Congrats! __________________ All men are equal before fish. -Herbert Hoover

03-03-2008, 05:59 PM	#7
wavster Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Encinitas Posts: 562	Josh, great post to an equally great month. You did good and you are positioned in the WCW where you should be...

03-03-2008, 07:45 PM	#8
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,053	WOW

03-03-2008, 08:04 PM	#9
gotz togo fishin Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 69	I hate to ask, but, tennis shoes? thats a first!

03-03-2008, 08:10 PM	#10
rastrev Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: SD, CA Posts: 173	Very impressive month Josh

03-03-2008, 08:57 PM	#11
esdees The Good Clone Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Clairemont Posts: 520	Only 53.5#!? I guess I was over estimating left and right that day. Damn nice fish, though. Congrats.

03-03-2008, 09:29 PM	#12
Matt Support your local pangas Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lj Posts: 976	It's gotta to be the shoes!!! Nice job Kanye "it's time to shine"! Beautiful fish Josh!!!

03-03-2008, 09:37 PM	#13
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	Great read. Solid fishes too. I like in a month too, especially the grade they were

03-04-2008, 01:16 AM	#14
lambadmin Spam Sanitation Dept Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,375	Congrats Josh, unbelievable month for you. I had to put it on the front page - too impressive of a catch and a kayak fishing story to be missed. Some kick ass fishing for you this month.

03-04-2008, 08:22 AM	#18
GHOSTHUNTR Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Poway Posts: 160	That has to be one of the (if not THE) best months in WCW history, if you consider all the big releases as well. Just goes to show you that the people who work the hardest at this tend to have a ton of success. WTG Josh, congrats on an epic month! I still can't believe that I fished Monday and Thursday that week and missed the Tuesday- Wednesday bites. Grippin' HARD about that still.

03-04-2008, 09:24 AM	#19
dmr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 155	Great month and write up Josh.