5th Annual Alaska Yak Classic video

[Kardinal_84]

Well it's been a while since I posted last. Its been a cold spring with weather keeping us off the water more than we would like up here in Alaska.

But on June 24the, we got lucky on a crazy beautiful day and held our 5th annual Alaska Yak Classic derby for halibut. Turnout was great with nearly 40 kayakers showing up to fish!

With huge tides (27.5 VERTICAL feet difference between high and low) the fishing was tough with some raging currents. We did manage some quality fish though.

The winner was 69lbs 9oz. I got lucky and finished 2nd with a 68lbs 13oz fish.

Here's a video of the day. It's a little longer than normal. Its mainly me fighting the 2nd place fish.

Got to fly my new DJI Spark Drone for a little footage at the beginning and end. Not bad for the cheapest drone DJI makes. Also a big thanks to my daughter for the DSLR shots and my son Ryu for contributing some footage with his Gopro mounted on a YakAttack Broomstick.

Thanks as always for letting me post here!! It definitely looks better on HD then what seems like the default 360.

https://youtu.be/7FOl0l7g71M

[blitzburgh]

What a cool video! The guy that came in second place with only a 68lb butt must be so embarrassed . 27' tide swing!?!? Jeebuss!!! Thanks for sharing!

[PapaDave]

Nice fish!

That surf looks knarly though....

[jruiz]

Do not apologize about making a video too long on Alaska kayak fishing. Can I see the uncut NC17 version?

[goldenglory18]

Great fish. I can only imagine how much of a PITA it is to manage a catch that big/powerful on a yak.

Congrats!

[JohnMckroidJr]

Where was that held - specifically ? Somewhere in Cook Inlet ? What an awesome calm day to kayak fish. Congratulations on second place, just a meal in the gut away from first -- close competition. I was on the Valdez/Nikiski tanker run a few years back, so I appreciate those calm days as I got to experience much of the opposite(iced up decks and blistering cold wind). I have enjoyed your previous reports, and like the way you video documented the harpooning method to subdue big halibut. A fish of that size cannot be just gaffed in the head and clubbed into submission without a risk of capsizing into deadly cold water. Looked like the harpoon pole was a converted golf club ? Do you ever target Kenai river class trophy Kings from the kayak ?

[Kardinal_84]

Originally Posted by JohnMckroidJr

Where was that held - specifically ? Somewhere in Cook Inlet ? What an awesome calm day to kayak fish. Congratulations on second place, just a meal in the gut away from first -- close competition. I was on the Valdez/Nikiski tanker run a few years back, so I appreciate those calm days as I got to experience much of the opposite(iced up decks and blistering cold wind). I have enjoyed your previous reports, and like the way you video documented the harpooning method to subdue big halibut. A fish of that size cannot be just gaffed in the head and clubbed into submission without a risk of capsizing into deadly cold water. Looked like the harpoon pole was a converted golf club ? Do you ever target Kenai river class trophy Kings from the kayak ?

Thanks all.

The weather has been brutal this year. But we did get lucky on derby day.

I have drifted the Kenai on several occasions. Mainly the Upper and Middle for trout. The returns of King Salmon on the Kenai have been terrible the past 5 or so years so I have not targeted them. However, this year, the early run king escapement appears much better than forecasted. If the second run is as good, I do plan on trying once or twice.

With the boat traffic on the Kenai though, I am not sure how I am going to land a large Kenai king. In the past I have caught several pinks and large trout and they were more difficult to land than a large halibut due to boat traffic and current.

We have a kayak angler that lives in Slat Lake City and comes up every summer to fish. As a machinist, he fabricated the golf club based harpoons and tips as a prizes for one of the derbies. they work great!

As always, if anyone on this forum is planning to come up and fish, give me a shout. The bad news is I am not a guide. Meaning that work and family take priority. The good news is that if you can hook up with me, its free! We go fishing a lot and we are more than happy to help where we can!

[jorluivil]

BUCKET LIST!

[Kardinal_84]

Originally Posted by JohnMckroidJr

Where was that held - specifically ? Somewhere in Cook Inlet ?

Oh, the first question. It was held at Whiskey Gulch in Lower Cook Inlet about 5 miles North of Anchor Point.

[GTboosted]

The drone shots are beautiful. Nice work

[JohnMckroidJr]

Originally Posted by Kardinal_84

Thanks all.

The weather has been brutal this year. But we did get lucky on derby day.

I have drifted the Kenai on several occasions. Mainly the Upper and Middle for trout. The returns of King Salmon on the Kenai have been terrible the past 5 or so years so I have not targeted them. However, this year, the early run king escapement appears much better than forecasted. If the second run is as good, I do plan on trying once or twice.

With the boat traffic on the Kenai though, I am not sure how I am going to land a large Kenai king. In the past I have caught several pinks and large trout and they were more difficult to land than a large halibut due to boat traffic and current.

We have a kayak angler that lives in Slat Lake City and comes up every summer to fish. As a machinist, he fabricated the golf club based harpoons and tips as a prizes for one of the derbies. they work great!

As always, if anyone on this forum is planning to come up and fish, give me a shout. The bad news is I am not a guide. Meaning that work and family take priority. The good news is that if you can hook up with me, its free! We go fishing a lot and we are more than happy to help where we can!

Very interesting and cool offer -- with so many possibilities -- a bucket list destination. Wish I still had the free transportation up there via work. Some Kenai river fishing days were reserved for non-guide fishing, but appears like that river has a lot of pressure on it. Wish they had a program of hatching the trophy fish roe -- Kept trophies weed out the spawning stock of trophies for future generations. Sounds like current and boat traffic are too much to try to target the big kings in that river by kayak -- maybe off the entrance or along the inlet coast just before they arrive ? The Salmon build up at the hatchery mouth in Valdez was amazing -- imagine it is similar at other choke points throughout the state -- what an amazing fishery !

[JohnMckroidJr]

Originally Posted by Kardinal_84

Oh, the first question. It was held at Whiskey Gulch in Lower Cook Inlet about 5 miles North of Anchor Point.

Thanks, transited that area a few times, and was working on pilotage until I got transferred to a different run.

[FullFlavorPike]

nice hali!!!! looks like an amazing day on the water up there. thanks for sharing.

[Kardinal_84]

A video of Homer plus a king salmon Ryu manged using an ultralight set up with 8lbs test.


https://youtu.be/miQXf8kfLgA


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

[FISH11]

Congrats on placing 2nd. That is a beautiful Hali. Thanks for sharing.

[Sivak]

Awesome video, thanks for sharing! What a perfect day to be on the water...