La Jolla 09/05/05 AMs - JIMM, thanks for that tip. IT WORKS!

[lamb]

Late start – got up little before 6:00AM and made it to LJ around 6:30. I “only” forgot my hat and sunscreen today. OK, I didn’t have my shades neither, but that’s because my damn dog ate them yesterday.

Launched in the small surf. Found perfect size greenies not far from the reserve. Loaded pretty quick. Hooked a healthy horsie sardine; pinned it right on and headed South.

Water was nice, bluish, visibility I’d say 10-15’. The area right passed the hotel looked pretty fishy. Macs and bonito were feeding on small chovies. Little boils were all over the place. It seemed pretty tense. I figured if I was yellowtail, that would be a place to hang out. Hefty back of a breezer tail popped within the casting distance. Kept firing off Magabait, only to catch bait size greenies and small bones. As I heard Todd announcing on the radio the 1st official tail picked up from Cobra Mariner, my fly-lined sardine got violently picked up… Game on.

The fish took a fierce run managing to rub on a stringer. Spectra hacked it right away, but the stringer stayed hanging over my line. Then it took me on a nice sleigh ride (the best one so far), to my delight – away from the kelp. Few more minutes and 25# hits the deck. Hooked up with Todd for a photo session. He had a nice tail on board, his story. Bitchen pic, thanks man:



I moved closer to kelp, started heading back North. I saw a bigger swirl that definitely wasn’t a mack… I grabbed my other rod with 5” rubber (clear, filled with black & silver shiny thingies inside). I must have tossed it right in its mouth, as it got inhaled instantly. Another strong run, but this time the fish was running into the kelp. After few minutes, the running game was over - kelp wrestling game was on. I felt I sawed few stringers, but the fish kept finding new ones. At one point, it seemed stuck pretty solid. I didn’t push it – kept paddling in different direction, giving line, taking it back. Finally, I started pulling dead weight. I could hardly see the big tail in ton of lettuce I brought to surface. Kept swinging my gaff until I finally sunk it into the flash. Whole lots of lamb... Baaaaaah…

31#, the biggest fish on the kayak for me, the biggest tail this season. I’m stoked.

Ran into Arne… He ain’t innocent neither, his story. Thanks for the shots Arne!!



Stomach contents – ton of chovies, 1 mac.

Got to meet Jeff, we paddled back together. Dude, you saved my day with those wheels. Thanks for you help!!!!