LJ 3-27-16

[FISH11]

Finally was able to head out to LJ after just over 2 months of not having a day off to fish. I have been working at my regular job and on all days off and 2 weeks of vacation time I have trying to get my Dad's condo ready to list for sale. Since the week after he passed on January 7th, I have spent a lot of time working on the condo while the fishing was heating up and friends catching nice fish. This morning while turning into the shores from Torrey Pines Rd. I said Jesus please let me have a great day out on the water and maybe let me catch a PB Yellowtail. This time he not only listened but gave me my wish. Thank You Jesus! After making a lot of bait I started making it out to deeper water in the maze of kayaks and personal boats. Getting a little clear of the pack and away from the seals I saw. I was fly lining a green back in around 75 feet of water and started throwing a surface iron at some of the bait that was jumping almost everywhere. I did not get any bites or any signs of larger fish in the bait areas, but the the flyline starts screaming. I put the reel into gear and retrieve some line and when I was sure he's on good, I bring and put away the other rod with the iron. After about 7 to 8 minutes I see color, get him to gaff and then the fun starts. The Jackson Cuda 14 I am using now is no where near as stable as the X Factor I used for several years. This fish was strong and big, he goes on my lap then slaps goes over the other side. all the time he still has the gaff in him. I grab the leader and gaff to lift him back on to my lap and the leader cuts my finger and the fish goes back over the other side again. Every time the weight shifted and he would slap, I though I was going to roll. Finally got him on board and cut his gills and bled him. Some minutes later I gutted him also and the put it inside the hull. Once on the beach hours later, I tried to wheel the kayak and realized the thing is too heavy to pull with the fish inside the front hatch.I take it out and set it by the seat but it still heavy to pull and hold up with the front t-handle. I ended up putting it in the back with a bungee and the weight being behind the kayak cart wheels made all the difference. Pulled it 2 blocks to where I parked and had a bunch of tourist all say WOW and some wanting to take picture. Even with the hassle of the launch being closed today was a wonderful day and just what I needed to re-charge my batteries for the time being. When I got it home on ice I weighed it and it was 30.9lbs (bled and gutted on the water). That makes it my PB Yellowtail on a kayak and actually the first Yellowtail on this kayak since I started using it at the end on November. Change setting to HD either 1080P or 720P