Merry Christmas!

[Erickblim]

This is my first post...though I started kayak fishing almost a year ago and I've been "trolling" on this site since then...I just haven't had anything worthwhile to post. Anyway, I appreciate all the helpful info that's been posted here and all of you who have given me tips on the water. Also props to the seasamurai who taught me a ton.

Wife and kids went to visit her family this week and I had to stay around for work...so rather than sit around by myself on Christmas day I figured I'd give La Jolla another chance. Launched about 1030 am, beautiful day. I was all alone although I met the Tinhman a little later in the day. There was a huge pod of dolphins but not a lot of bait in the water...so I started out just bottom fishing with frozen squid. Caught a little baby octopus that I put on the dropper loop...about an hour later the line started screaming and pulling the kayak sideways. After about 3 minutes, whatever it was popped off and I thought for sure I had blown my opportunity for the day.

A school of baitfish came by and I caught a greenback mackeral and fly-lined it. There were some birds sitting on the water and I trolled around the edge of them...about 10 min later I hooked into this monster, first yellow tail that I have successfully landed. When I got him to the boat he was actually hooked in the side...whatever, I'll take it. Measured 4.5 feet long and weighed 52.4 pounds on the bathroom scale.