LJ-First Yellows - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Geoffkoop · 08-30-2009, 03:05 PM

I called a good friend of mine and asked him if he could share his great fishing knowledge with me and get me on something other than a bass. We headed out to the fishing grounds early and got set up. About 20 minutes into the journey, I hear thrashing behind me and my clicker goes screaming. I grab the rod, click it into gear and start getting towed around while holding on with a death grip with line is screaming off my reel. This was my first experience with a big powerful fish and I just held on and tried to get line back in between his runs. After a short while, I started to get him close to the boat. My buddy tells me "he is a good 25-30 pounder...be careful he may go for another run, ". Sure enough he takes off back down and my line goes POP!

My heart still racing, I backed the drag off a bit, put on another hook and sent my line back out. About 20 minutes later my clicker screams again. This one felt strong, but not the same as the first one. Got this guy to color after a few minutes and finally got to use my gaff! Even these smaller models fight like hell.

Not the largest thing in the world, but I was just pumped that I got a second chance at a yellow. Now I get to take that Calico out of my avatar.

Good friend, if you are reading this, Thanks a million! You taught me stuff that would have taken years!

Also wanted to thank those of you I have PMed with questions!

P.S-I know this is a long shot but I lost some black Oakley Gas Can Sunglasses at the launch

Whizz Bang · 08-30-2009, 04:09 PM

Congratulations. Any yellow, any size, makes for a great day. And that little feller sets you up for all the nigiri you can handle.

dorado50 · 08-30-2009, 04:29 PM

Congrats and wtg!! Anytime a fish is near boatside and maybe ready to gaff always..always backoff drag for that exact reason. Let it take off and line with it slowly tighening drag and start the process all over again! I'm sure it won't happen to you again.Good job.

08-30-2009, 05:51 PM

nice

yakrider · 08-30-2009, 06:02 PM

I had the exact same thing happen to me with my first halibut...
dang fish!...the nerve of him to break the line like that!
at least you were given a second chance...
congrats on the first of many!!!

THE DARKHORSE · 08-31-2009, 08:49 AM

The only way to go is up from here

.

Aaron&Julie · 08-31-2009, 09:45 AM

Congralations!!!
It's great getting the first.
Everything else will feel like gravy, but it's good gravy.
Keep it going and good luck.

A&J

-scallywag- · 08-31-2009, 08:46 PM

Geoff,
Nice One!!!! It was cool watching you land your first yellow too bad you guys didn't stick around cause it blew up a couple times after you left....i got burnt in the kelp the first time, then hooked up again a couple minutes later and landed a #21, both on spanish macks.

PS. Your good friend is a freak'in kayak fishing legend!!! you know the kinda guy who catches tons of quality fish, never posts a thing and will take any struggling fisherman who is willing to listen and teach them everything he knows....for free. I personally owe alot of fish to that man. Plus i just like the way he says mackerel !!!

Geoffkoop · 08-31-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -scallywag-

Geoff,
Nice One!!!! It was cool watching you land your first yellow too bad you guys didn't stick around cause it blew up a couple times after you left....i got burnt in the kelp the first time, then hooked up again a couple minutes later and landed a #21, both on spanish macks.

PS. Your good friend is a freak'in kayak fishing legend!!! you know the kinda guy who catches tons of quality fish, never posts a thing and will take any struggling fisherman who is willing to listen and teach them everything he knows....for free. I personally owe alot of fish to that man. Plus i just like the way he says mackerel !!!

Scally- was that you in the outback? I could tell it was starting to get fishy when we were leaving. We saw a couple other guys who scored around then too. I have a nice reminder of how fun it was - line burn on my thumb!

Darkness-I have a bad habbit of lippin everything. I was even lippin freaking trout in the sierras.

Iparker · 08-31-2009, 10:13 PM

Ah you beat me to it with the lipping comment as I was trying to post this photo. After the avator pic, this is take three with the bass pose. Watching too much Bassmasters? Same dumb hat too!

467echo · 09-01-2009, 07:36 AM

good job on the first YT!

hobieuser · 09-01-2009, 08:41 AM

Congrate on your first YT and of course, and many more.

bender0240 · 09-01-2009, 10:11 AM

NICE! She's a beaut!!

08-30-2009, 03:05 PM	#1
Geoffkoop Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: So. Orange County Posts: 302	LJ-First Yellows I called a good friend of mine and asked him if he could share his great fishing knowledge with me and get me on something other than a bass. We headed out to the fishing grounds early and got set up. About 20 minutes into the journey, I hear thrashing behind me and my clicker goes screaming. I grab the rod, click it into gear and start getting towed around while holding on with a death grip with line is screaming off my reel. This was my first experience with a big powerful fish and I just held on and tried to get line back in between his runs. After a short while, I started to get him close to the boat. My buddy tells me "he is a good 25-30 pounder...be careful he may go for another run, ". Sure enough he takes off back down and my line goes POP! My heart still racing, I backed the drag off a bit, put on another hook and sent my line back out. About 20 minutes later my clicker screams again. This one felt strong, but not the same as the first one. Got this guy to color after a few minutes and finally got to use my gaff! Even these smaller models fight like hell. Not the largest thing in the world, but I was just pumped that I got a second chance at a yellow. Now I get to take that Calico out of my avatar. Good friend, if you are reading this, Thanks a million! You taught me stuff that would have taken years! Also wanted to thank those of you I have PMed with questions! P.S-I know this is a long shot but I lost some black Oakley Gas Can Sunglasses at the launch Last edited by Geoffkoop; 08-30-2009 at 05:08 PM.

08-31-2009, 08:49 AM	#6
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	I love the Bass pose with the Yellowtail. The only way to go is up from here . __________________

08-31-2009, 09:45 AM	#7
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	Congralations!!! It's great getting the first. Everything else will feel like gravy, but it's good gravy. Keep it going and good luck. A&J __________________ "Never say die"

08-31-2009, 10:13 PM	#10
Iparker Junior Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 23	Bass Pose/Lipping Part Two Ah you beat me to it with the lipping comment as I was trying to post this photo. After the avator pic, this is take three with the bass pose. Watching too much Bassmasters? Same dumb hat too!

09-01-2009, 07:36 AM	#11
467echo Rookie of the Month Club Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mira Mesa Posts: 483	good job on the first YT! __________________ they are getting bigger....

08-30-2009, 04:09 PM	#2
Whizz Bang Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 396	Congratulations. Any yellow, any size, makes for a great day. And that little feller sets you up for all the nigiri you can handle.

08-30-2009, 04:29 PM	#3
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	Congrats and wtg!! Anytime a fish is near boatside and maybe ready to gaff always..always backoff drag for that exact reason. Let it take off and line with it slowly tighening drag and start the process all over again! I'm sure it won't happen to you again.Good job.

08-30-2009, 06:02 PM	#5
yakrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 611	I had the exact same thing happen to me with my first halibut... dang fish!...the nerve of him to break the line like that! at least you were given a second chance... congrats on the first of many!!!

08-31-2009, 08:46 PM	#8
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	Geoff, Nice One!!!! It was cool watching you land your first yellow too bad you guys didn't stick around cause it blew up a couple times after you left....i got burnt in the kelp the first time, then hooked up again a couple minutes later and landed a #21, both on spanish macks. PS. Your good friend is a freak'in kayak fishing legend!!! you know the kinda guy who catches tons of quality fish, never posts a thing and will take any struggling fisherman who is willing to listen and teach them everything he knows....for free. I personally owe alot of fish to that man. Plus i just like the way he says mackerel !!!

09-01-2009, 08:41 AM	#12
hobieuser Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 46	Congrate on your first YT and of course, and many more.

09-01-2009, 10:11 AM	#13
bender0240 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 118	NICE! She's a beaut!!

08-30-2009, 05:51 PM	#4
NextBite Guest Posts: n/a	nice