Catch and Release Yellowtail - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

chris138 · 07-21-2020, 10:17 AM

Poll for you guys going into this summer:

Who on here has released a yellowtail from the kayak? This time of year those fish are getting heavily fished by sportboats, commercial boats, and kayaks alike. The big mossbacks we target are all important breeders, so why not? In the age of gopros and smart phones, you're going to be able to document the catch. And I know many of you have a bunch of fish just sitting in a freezer somewhere...

Not counting tiny rats (which I hope all of you would release) how many can say they have let go a big yt?

socal.beach.bum · 07-21-2020, 10:36 AM

Gotta catch one first before I can make that decision 😒

FullFlavorPike · 07-21-2020, 12:14 PM

I would do it if I had more than I could use, and if it obviously wasn't a new PR. But first I need to get this stinky, stinky skunk stench off of me :/

fishnfoool · 07-21-2020, 12:37 PM

I never voluntarily release them because my friends, family and I eat them.

jkim0130 · 07-21-2020, 12:53 PM

Yes, if I had enough in the freezer.

Thanks for the video. I was wondering how I would release a YT.

kurt · 07-21-2020, 01:10 PM

Absolutely. But if you release a tired one when a sealion is around, they won't last long.

GregAndrew · 07-21-2020, 01:57 PM

Caught and kept one on Saturday a few weeks ago. Caught and released 3 more on Sunday, and left them biting. The one I kept was #27, and the ones I released were around the same size. I don't keep any more than I am willing to professionally vacuum seal myself, or than I can fit in my freezer. In my experience, giving away fish to friends in general, you might as well throw away about 50%. I try to stick with the ones that can tell me what species they like to eat, and how they like to prepare it.

Oolie · 07-21-2020, 09:02 PM

Highly situational. I've released fish before, but most of the time there's someone out there who's hungry.

With proper care you can sit on a dead fish for 5 days before it is too late, though this is species and size dependent.

Good fighting technique, dispatch technique, and good care will help the fish last to it's maximum potential, and you can share it.

Then again I can't buy fish anywhere remotely close to the quality I can produce myself. That's probably the biggest motivator for keeping a fish.

FISH11 · 07-21-2020, 11:28 PM

I have released many in the last 4 years. Last year I released all the yellowtail I caught, mostly due to being the only one in the household that eats fish and still had some in the freezer. Than in late october 2019, I said to myself the next yellowtail over 25 lb I will keep. So you provably guessed what happened next. I have had multiple hits and not a single l landed yellowtail since then. I thought I had built up a lot of good karma. Still working on the next harvest, but yellowtail fishing has been very slow. It appears that in the last 8 months, "It's been more about being in the right place at the right time". One thing is for sure, the couch at home, IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE!

ctfphoto · 07-22-2020, 08:38 AM

Yes, if you plan on doing this, you can grab the yellowtail by the tail.

Last fall, on a private boat, we (had to) release over 10 Yellowfin Tuna

SoCalEDC · 07-22-2020, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

Caught and kept one on Saturday a few weeks ago. Caught and released 3 more on Sunday, and left them biting. The one I kept was #27, and the ones I released were around the same size. I don't keep any more than I am willing to professionally vacuum seal myself, or than I can fit in my freezer. In my experience, giving away fish to friends in general, you might as well throw away about 50%. I try to stick with the ones that can tell me what species they like to eat, and how they like to prepare it.

This is good advise. I Haven't landed a YT from the yak so I cant say that I have had the chance to release one, but I would likely keep one or two (if smaller grade) and turn the others back to fight again. I know that I eat/use all of the fish I keep, even it means it might get a little frost bite if I have a large stock. I don't like to kill fish if im being honest, so when I do, I want that fish to be eaten and not just die in vain.

Harry Hill · 07-22-2020, 09:17 AM

I haven't been fishing for them yet from my kayak so if I caught one when I get out there I won't release it unless it's too small. I don't give fish away unless I know the person will actually eat it and not take it just to be polite. I don't fish enough to have a freezer full. If I had one on the stringer though I would release any others I caught that day. So yes and no, it all depends on the situation.

chris138 · 07-22-2020, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

Caught and kept one on Saturday a few weeks ago. Caught and released 3 more on Sunday, and left them biting. The one I kept was #27, and the ones I released were around the same size. I don't keep any more than I am willing to professionally vacuum seal myself, or than I can fit in my freezer. In my experience, giving away fish to friends in general, you might as well throw away about 50%. I try to stick with the ones that can tell me what species they like to eat, and how they like to prepare it.

Hey Greg,

I know it's been in a thread before, but what vacuum sealer do you use?

katchfish · 07-22-2020, 11:42 AM

Iceman · 07-22-2020, 12:08 PM

Love that shot Ken, think that was after striking out looking for tuna off La Jolla, I highly recommend this hands free technique for juvenile WSB as they are super fragile!

Salty Paw · 07-22-2020, 03:15 PM

Question - I've always been operating under the rule that you couldn't take YTs <24", but someone recently pointed out the full language of the regs, which state:

"The minimum size limit is 24 inches fork length, except that up to five fish less than 24 inches fork length may be taken or possessed."

Does that really mean there is no size limit if you're taking <5 fish? Do people actually keep small ones?

GregAndrew · 07-22-2020, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris138

Hey Greg,

I know it's been in a thread before, but what vacuum sealer do you use?

VacMaster, mine is the VP215. They make several models/sizes. large initial investment, but last forever, and bags are pretty inexpensive. Once you see (and taste) the difference between one of these and one of the standard "vacuum" sealers, you will want one.

FoodGeekFish · 07-22-2020, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty Paw

Does that really mean there is no size limit if you're taking <5 fish?

Yes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty Paw

Do people actually keep small ones?

Also, yes

monstahfish · 07-23-2020, 07:03 AM

I'd say I release more than I keep by a good margin. I also only fish circle hooks with bait as it's a cleaner release. My freezer is almost empty though so I may keep my next one if I remember to bring my cooler bag.

globalwad · 07-23-2020, 01:28 PM

I actually don't keep any fish, gross. But man are they fun to catch!

View Poll Results: Have you released a yellowtail from the kayak?
Yes	13	48.15%
No	11	40.74%
I would never do that, are you crazy?	3	11.11%
Voters: 27. You may not vote on this poll

07-21-2020, 10:17 AM	#1
chris138 donkey roper Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 968	Catch and Release Yellowtail Poll for you guys going into this summer: Who on here has released a yellowtail from the kayak? This time of year those fish are getting heavily fished by sportboats, commercial boats, and kayaks alike. The big mossbacks we target are all important breeders, so why not? In the age of gopros and smart phones, you're going to be able to document the catch. And I know many of you have a bunch of fish just sitting in a freezer somewhere... Not counting tiny rats (which I hope all of you would release) how many can say they have let go a big yt?

07-21-2020, 01:10 PM	#6
kurt Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: 2 inches above sea level Posts: 503	Absolutely. But if you release a tired one when a sealion is around, they won't last long. __________________ "All I got was a rock"

07-21-2020, 11:28 PM	#9
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	I have released many in the last 4 years. Last year I released all the yellowtail I caught, mostly due to being the only one in the household that eats fish and still had some in the freezer. Than in late october 2019, I said to myself the next yellowtail over 25 lb I will keep. So you provably guessed what happened next. I have had multiple hits and not a single l landed yellowtail since then. I thought I had built up a lot of good karma. Still working on the next harvest, but yellowtail fishing has been very slow. It appears that in the last 8 months, "It's been more about being in the right place at the right time". One thing is for sure, the couch at home, IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE! __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

07-22-2020, 09:17 AM	#12
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	I haven't been fishing for them yet from my kayak so if I caught one when I get out there I won't release it unless it's too small. I don't give fish away unless I know the person will actually eat it and not take it just to be polite. I don't fish enough to have a freezer full. If I had one on the stringer though I would release any others I caught that day. So yes and no, it all depends on the situation. __________________ you can't eat it if you release it

07-21-2020, 10:36 AM	#2
socal.beach.bum Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Palos Verde, CA Posts: 636	Gotta catch one first before I can make that decision 😒

07-21-2020, 12:14 PM	#3
FullFlavorPike Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 809	I would do it if I had more than I could use, and if it obviously wasn't a new PR. But first I need to get this stinky, stinky skunk stench off of me :/

07-21-2020, 12:37 PM	#4
fishnfoool Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Long beach Posts: 303	I never voluntarily release them because my friends, family and I eat them.

07-21-2020, 12:53 PM	#5
jkim0130 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Irvine Posts: 34	Yes, if I had enough in the freezer. Thanks for the video. I was wondering how I would release a YT.

07-21-2020, 01:57 PM	#7
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Caught and kept one on Saturday a few weeks ago. Caught and released 3 more on Sunday, and left them biting. The one I kept was #27, and the ones I released were around the same size. I don't keep any more than I am willing to professionally vacuum seal myself, or than I can fit in my freezer. In my experience, giving away fish to friends in general, you might as well throw away about 50%. I try to stick with the ones that can tell me what species they like to eat, and how they like to prepare it.

07-22-2020, 08:38 AM	#10
ctfphoto Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 901	Yes, if you plan on doing this, you can grab the yellowtail by the tail. Last fall, on a private boat, we (had to) release over 10 Yellowfin Tuna

07-22-2020, 11:42 AM	#14
katchfish Paddle for Mahi Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Doing the happy paddle! Posts: 849

07-22-2020, 12:08 PM	#15
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	Love that shot Ken, think that was after striking out looking for tuna off La Jolla, I highly recommend this hands free technique for juvenile WSB as they are super fragile! __________________

07-22-2020, 03:15 PM	#16
Salty Paw Junior Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: La Jolla Posts: 9	Question - I've always been operating under the rule that you couldn't take YTs <24", but someone recently pointed out the full language of the regs, which state: "The minimum size limit is 24 inches fork length, except that up to five fish less than 24 inches fork length may be taken or possessed." Does that really mean there is no size limit if you're taking <5 fish? Do people actually keep small ones?

07-23-2020, 07:03 AM	#19
monstahfish Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 421	I'd say I release more than I keep by a good margin. I also only fish circle hooks with bait as it's a cleaner release. My freezer is almost empty though so I may keep my next one if I remember to bring my cooler bag.

07-23-2020, 01:28 PM	#20
globalwad Junior Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Oceanside Posts: 13	I actually don't keep any fish, gross. But man are they fun to catch!