when life gives you smelt......

[Dan]

WOW

[Holy Mackerel]

Originally Posted by Gino

The California angling record stands at 58 lb. and 9 oz. caught by Roger W. Borrell at Santa Rosa Island on July 26^th, 1999.

72 lb. and 8 oz. halibut was speared at Santa Cruz Island

Btw, I was referring to a made up name IGKFA, International Game Kayak Fish Association.

Is this the biggest Kayak CA Halibut?

[Gino]

Biggest from a kayak I think is 53lbs 8 ounces, caught by 2 guys on a Tandem yak Outside of Cardiff reef.

Josh's Fish last year was the biggest from a solo kayaker if Im not mistaken.

[tattuna]

I think Rhino has the biggest solo yak 'but at 52 lbs. Looks like you may be the new record holder

Edit* Rhino's was 50 lbs. even and 54"

[dos ballenas]

Holy Halibut Batman!!! Nice fish.

Just for reference, be sure to measure all fish with their mouth closed, people have been ticketed for fish they thought were legal because they measured the fish with the jaw open like that... not that that you were worried about it being legal or anything though...

damn nice fish!!!

[Tman]

Wow...

Congratulations indeed, incredible flattie...

[bluesquids]

...

[bellcon]

HOLY ----

Now that's a big butt
Congrats on the score
Fish of a life time?
I never cared for that expression,
your still alive, so keep on fishing!
You never know...you just might get it's 60lb sister!

But that is one helluva trophy for sure
I can only imagine the adrenaline rush at color!

[dfroggy54]

thats a big ass barndoor...

[Billy V]

Originally Posted by bellcon

But that is one helluva trophy for sure
I can only imagine the adrenaline rush at color!

Ain't that the truth.... You go from excitement to a little afraid when you see its a big halibut rising up toward your kayak because its far from over.

-Its when the battle begins.
----------------------------------------
It very well might be the kayak record. The only other #53+ was caught from a tandam kayak. Some guys here have landed 50's and 52's, but I don't recall a #53 fish being caught.

Ask Josh about his fish it was right around that number, he would probably would know.

[Aaron]

Originally Posted by Billy V

-Its when the battle begins.

Ain't that the truth. Completely different kind of battle, one that I always have "weapons" at the ready for after being bitten, slapped, and hooked by those glorious fish.

I'd love to hear the longer version of this story of how it all went down.

[DESTROYER]

RUG!

[sdfisher]

for those that want the long version

it was on the first bait i put down, got to where i wanted to fish, paddled north a little bit then headed back south to a area that looked good on the fishfinder, had the rod under my leg with the reel engaged so I could watch the rod tip and see when I had a bite----that was unnecessary,

this thing smashed the bait and started screaming off line, pulled me out a little bit and then started pulling me straight towards the shore, I thought I had a shark on by the way it was pulling, luckily I was able to turn it away from the shore and start gaining some line on it, when I got it to color I saw the white bottom and then the brown top and knew I had the right kind......

then I realized how big it was and recalled all the stories of how halibut freak out, have sharp teeth and can possibly tip you over, so when I got it boat side I gave it a meager gaff attempt and missed, then this thing took off back down, I looked back towards the shore and realized i was about 20 ft from the where the surf was breaking and had to start paddling with this fish hanging off my line,

the whole time i was certain it was going to break off, because I had to keep taking a break and paddling away from the surf, I guess I dont have to worry about if my knots are strong anymore, I missed the second gaff attempt and fought it for about 15 more minutes hoping that it would be tired by the time i got it up again, this time I sunk the gaff right in, quickly put the game clip in it and started cutting gills with the gaff to bleed and kill it,

surprisingly it didn't freak out or have any last minute attempts to get away, but I wanted to make sure it was dead before i put that huge mouth with sharp teeth anywhere near my jewels so i had to paddle with 50+lbs of fish hanging off the yak and against the wind and swell, I finally was comfortable with it being dead and tried to get it on the yak, that fish took up most of the room, i sat on it's head and paddled it in

Leo and Val were on the beach, Leo had a nice WSB, I think val was headed out. Lots of high fives and pictures going around

[Oolie]

epic fish! congrats

[steveooo]

Nice! Put some of those lemons on that fatty all cooked up! That is a BIG ASS HALIBUT!

[Aaron&Julie]

Sweet, very sweet! And worth the wait.

[Spyder]

My hat is off to you. Many congrats on a fish of a lifetime. I'm going hunting for one this weekend.

[yakpappy]

SWEET

[fishinkid2010]

Holy crap that thing is huge... Now you've got to get back out there and find its fat sister!

[Whizz Bang]

Damn, now I know what I am fishing for on Monday. Well done.