Gaffs Are Overrated...

[mckenzie]

If you're a boater, I caught this fish on the islands, and it took
me 6 hours to get home with a strong tail wind.

If you're a kayaker, riddle me this, how many holes in the head
can one 42lb yellow take?

Last Wednesday I launched at 5:30 to gray light peeking through.
Made bait easily and set up for seabass fishing. Nothing for 2 hours
so off to the NW corner searching for yellows. No signs of anything
for over 3 hours of searching so I head back to the condo area.

Very close to heading in, then I took one more look at all those
frisky baits still in my tank. Pin on a fresh bait and cast out. As
the bait made a small run away from the yak it suddenly went
into 5th gear. I put the reel in gear and knew it was a good one.

Fought way harder than that 74lb wsb, but, I finally get the fish
yak side. Now the fun begins: I sink the gaff just behind the
head and with wet hands the gaff flies out of my hand as the fish
heads straight to the bottom--with my gaff. I get him yak side again
and as I grab my gaff, the fish turns, the gaff come out and the
damn fish returns to the bottom again. Realizing I should have lost
him already, I decide to just put the wood to him and see who’s gonna
end up the champ? Or... maybe the fish will come back since he forgot
my gaff.

Well, third time was the charm, I sink a good head shot and hoist him
into the yak as 2 seals approach and then won’t leave me alone as
I pop a gill and bleed the fish out.

Weighed out at 42.6 pounds, 4 foot 1 inch. Full and I mean FULL of
red crabs. I know, better lucky than good, What the hell, I’m Irish
and it’s March. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all my yak friends.