What’s this fish? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

DragginPanda · 07-23-2019, 06:44 PM

Two anglers in Alamitos Bay, different days, had pretty much the same experience.

Quick hard bite, zig zag run, some straight runs, a drag burner, and no color seen.

The bay does have sea turtles, but I don’t know if they zig zag.

I plan on going Saturday to catch the beast. Both fights were in the fifteen minute range.

jruiz · 07-23-2019, 06:47 PM

Shark or mud marlin

Mahigeer · 07-23-2019, 07:07 PM

Leopard shark?

sharjak · 07-24-2019, 07:52 AM

Probably a bat ray, thick in places right now...

GregAndrew · 07-24-2019, 03:36 PM

If they were still having good runs more than 6 or 7 minutes into the fight, I would go with Batray, BSB or possibly Thresher. Although BSB is less likely than the other two. Probably not Leopard shark or Halibut. Soupfin is another possibility but also less common in the bays.

FullFlavorPike · 07-24-2019, 03:37 PM

Unless you were flylining some eel grass it probably wasn't a turtle

YakDout · 07-25-2019, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FullFlavorPike

Unless you were flylining some eel grass it probably wasn't a turtle

I know a guy who’s hooked two turtles In his kayak fishing career, and I don’t believe he was using eel grass for bait.

FullFlavorPike · 07-25-2019, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

I know a guy who’s hooked two turtles In his kayak fishing career, and I don’t believe he was using eel grass for bait.

that's wild; but then again it's a big ocean and anything's possible

would not be happy to see it at color!

YakDout · 07-25-2019, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FullFlavorPike

that's wild; but then again it's a big ocean and anything's possible

would not be happy to see it at color!

Both times we thought they were giant grouper! I’ve also caught a few giant snapping turtle at my grandparents farm house in Ohio, back in the day. Fishing plastic worms. Here’s an old pic of one That I caught.

And here is a picture of a free swimming sea turtle in La Jolla back in 2014

FullFlavorPike · 07-26-2019, 08:44 AM

That snapper is nuts. I have seen some big ones swimming in the NH lakes and rivers of my childhood, and even hooked one in a trout stream one time (although not quite that big!). They look like straight up dinosaurs.

YakDout · 07-26-2019, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FullFlavorPike

That snapper is nuts. I have seen some big ones swimming in the NH lakes and rivers of my childhood, and even hooked one in a trout stream one time (although not quite that big!). They look like straight up dinosaurs.

My grandfather used to pluck them off with a 30/30 every couple mornings so us kids wouldn’t lose a toe while we were swimming.

07-23-2019, 06:44 PM	#1
DragginPanda Junior Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 18	What’s this fish? Two anglers in Alamitos Bay, different days, had pretty much the same experience. Quick hard bite, zig zag run, some straight runs, a drag burner, and no color seen. The bay does have sea turtles, but I don’t know if they zig zag. I plan on going Saturday to catch the beast. Both fights were in the fifteen minute range.

07-23-2019, 06:47 PM	#2
jruiz Large Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: La Verne, CA Posts: 1,011	Shark or mud marlin

07-23-2019, 07:07 PM	#3
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,897	Leopard shark?

07-24-2019, 07:52 AM	#4
sharjak Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South OC Posts: 102	Probably a bat ray, thick in places right now...

07-24-2019, 03:36 PM	#5
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	If they were still having good runs more than 6 or 7 minutes into the fight, I would go with Batray, BSB or possibly Thresher. Although BSB is less likely than the other two. Probably not Leopard shark or Halibut. Soupfin is another possibility but also less common in the bays.

07-24-2019, 03:37 PM	#6
FullFlavorPike Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 809	Unless you were flylining some eel grass it probably wasn't a turtle

07-26-2019, 08:44 AM	#10
FullFlavorPike Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 809	That snapper is nuts. I have seen some big ones swimming in the NH lakes and rivers of my childhood, and even hooked one in a trout stream one time (although not quite that big!). They look like straight up dinosaurs.