FINALLY MY FIRST YT..AND THEN MY SECOND!

[kjsdad619]

Decided to play hookie from work (asked for a day of leave from the Navy)yesterday and go out to the Jewel for my 9th time out. I was skunked each and every time out but I kept seeing everyone's posts and knew that my time will come. I have only been kayak fishing since March and quickly moved up from a Cobra kayak to a Hobie once I felt the addiction flowing through my veins. I went straight to the 2015 Hobie PA 14, and haven't looked back since. I am retiring from the Navy after 20 years in 74 days (but whose counting) and after 6 deployment with 2 to Afghanistan, I have found that this outlet of fishing has really helped me deal with some things from those deployments. Everyone I have met on the beach, in the water or on BWE has been amazing and just down to earth and always willing to give advice and assistance, with a few shoutouts to flemdogg, Batmann, and Mr. Niceguy. The camaraderie really reminds me of the military and being a tightknit group. I had always seen Yannis recipes and was wondering..when will it be my time to make them! This forum has really helped me become better with everyone always adding what their setups are and how and where they were hooking up..so to everyone THANK YOU!

Sorry back to yesterday, was in water by 5:40 a.m. and it just felt like it was going to be a great day. The last time I was out I had a horrible time making bait with Batmann having same problems. This time I went out with some tiny pieces of squid marinated in my secret ingredient "Buttjuice" made by Procure with the end game being Halibuts..go figure. I posted up outside the kelp and within 5 minutes had 8 Spanish with my first bait fish being a 12" greenback that shook himself off right next to yak. I peddled right into a few boils and had the tank full with 13 Spanish all within 30 min. I had been talking to a few people and the census was get into water at about 150-180 depth, so I headed straight out from La Jolla Cove, past the corner and at about 1/2 mile off corner started trolling a Spanish. I looked at my phone..time on deck 7:53 a.m., I knew that from most of the threads I have read..between 8 and 9 seemed to be the golden hour. Within 15 minutes, my Shimano Baitrunner 12000 started to sing that sweet sound, I let it go for about 8 seconds then clicked off the secondary drag and engaged in battle. At first I don't think he knew he was hooked, once I started to lay wood to him with my 7' Seeker Black Steele he knew the Reaper was coming for him and he took off to the depths. Once again my Shimano started to scream, and I swore I heard it say..."Not today son, I need you to cease and desist!" He took me for a another run, and once I saw color, knowing that my first YT was within my gafs reach, I tried not to get into goon mode and do something stupid. Got him yak side, sank the gaf and then proceeded to go into full goon mode, hooting and hollering, and more than likely scared the fish away. So if anyone was out there with me and saw me go into full new guy mode, I apologize, next time I celebrate in silence . Once the euphoria calmed down, I threw another Spanish in and started to head out west, with my confidence now fully restored. I circled back, went back over the spot I had marked on my FF, and instantly got slammed, and my reel went crazy. I had some guys off my port side cheering me on once they heard it screaming and I let it run another 8 seconds then engaged. I had yelled out to the others that this was my second in this area and that they are in this area and within a minute one of them was hooked up! This YT felt bigger and took me deep 4 times, the Shimano has 22# of drag and wore him out and I started cranking, full bendo, and up he came. After reading and listening to every ones stories, they can never compare to that feeling of all that power taking off, and then winning the war of attrition. This one fought for about 15 min, saw color, got him yak side, sank gaff, onboard, numerous fist pumps and couldn't believe it.

I decided that I didn't need to be greedy and that the family and I would be eating great tonight, started paddling in while thanking the man above and mother ocean for providing me such great bounty. I ran into Mr. Niceguy and gave him the rest of my squid concoction and talked fishing for awhile and he took some pics for me so HUGE THANK YOU to him and Lewis who took a pic of my first one while he was fishing.

In the water at 5:40 a.m. off by 11:00, first hook up 8:15ish, 2nd around 9.

My setup was:
7' Seeker Black Steele
Shimano Baitrunner 12000
65# Spiderwire braid in Aqua camo color
About 20 yards of 30# Seaguar premium (this was the first time I had that much on)
3/0 Mustad ringed hook..with double palomar knots I went 2 for 2 no break offs

154' of water, water temp about 73.

My wife, 4 y/o daughter, mother in law, nephew, a couple cousins, and myself enjoyed the bounty last night..because what's the point if you can't share with family and friends!

Once again, I appreciate everyone's time, advice, guidance and just overall generosity when it came to getting my fishing dialed in..If you see me, hit me up, I enjoy talking fishing and meeting new people.

My name is Ryan and I am an addict!

TIGHTLINES my friends!