7/22 Tuna Fishing with Andy

[kayakfisherman]

Andy and I headed offshore, again. We knew the odds were starting
to grow in our favor. This would be our third long paddle journey.

The Dana Point Marina was sitting at 68F. The bait barge was loaded by
4:30am and out of bait by 7am. We skipped the purchased bait and took the
old school approach. Hounded by 1lb bonito, we managed a few greenies
and lots of small spanish out at the headlands.

As we started putting in the miles, the water temps grew and grew. Finally,
5 miles offshore, we sat at 73.9F. Wow!

Early on we were hounded by small makos chumping on our bait. So we thought.

The tuna, Andy soon realized, were short biting our greenies.
Andy suggested we go with the smaller spanish. That was the ticket.

Within a 1/2 mile of a cluster of boats, we knew we were in the zone. Birds, dolphins,
and crystal clear blue water all came to a head. Andy got picked up,
fought the good fight and quickly brought the tuna to his kayak.

That's when the other fight began. His 20-25lb yellowfin didn't like the sight
of his gaff. After 10 minutes of pure battle Andy nailed his first kayak tuna.
Stoked? Beyond belief.

My first hook up ended with my line bit off. My second hook up was a solid fish.
At color, I quickly realized I had him gut hooked. With him circling under the
kayak just out of gaff distance, I didn't want to put the pressure on from
fear of ripping the hook out. I seriously got dizzy
watching him go round and round while patiently inching him closer and closer.
Finally the gaff shot, then the bloody deck. But where's the hook? It simply fell out.

That's not the end of the story. As I'm bleeding the fish, I hear Andy yelling at
me, "Yanni, get your feet out of the water, shark!" I didn't have to even turn

my head, the 10ft hammer head was butting its head against my kayak. How did I know it was 10ft?
My kayak is 12ft, it brushed up along side me. It's head was 3ft wide.

Andy was thinking clearly. He tossed out a few dead baits and we turned our
kayaks into jet skis. One helluva day.

https://youtu.be/MomVNXHpWms

[Matt_Magnone]

Hahaha. That's gnarly!

[octico]

Great video!

Hammerheads can rattle the nerves when they start bumping your yak. I never leave my legs hanging off the yak anymore.

[Dennis]

That's wild! Way to work that fish yanni, gentle pressure!

[cell128]

With that hard look ... I'll go with B.... That shark must of shat his pants after he saw u meant business

[ctfphoto]

I knew you guys would get the tuna, eventually

Fantastic Job guys.

Tuna is pretty much my target for the rest of the summer.

La Jolla or Dana?? I would prefer LJ but are the odds better at Dana?

[Silbaugh4liberty]

Way to go Yanni! Glad you guys scored!

[Iceman]

Yanni, thanks for helping me find my tuna! So STOKED!

La Jolla or Dana?? I would prefer LJ but are the odds better at Dana?

Right now I would bet on Dana, or really anywhere from O Side to Newport, I may try Newport next week. I think they are stacking up in this warm water band. Hopefully it holds together...........dorado is VERY high on my list, who knows wahoo may be the craziest catch this year ..........and I am waiting for the first marlin report!

[driftwood]

It was just a matter of time....I admire both of you guys persistence!

[ashmoz]

hollllyyyyyyyyyyy shit this is solid... so is this year.

[kurt]

Glad your hard work paid off, Yanni. Now post up some recipes!

[pino]

Wow very nice I was out there on a boat yesterday and we saw a hammerhead about 12 feet we also saw a marlin and dorado which din't want anything we tose at him,so they are there.we were a little over 7 mi. out.

[RK]

Killer!!! Well played

[Geno Machino]

Congrats Yanni!! To bad you guys didn't have your cameras running when you saw the shark and then became jet ski's! I bet that would of been one hellava video. Like in fast motion, like a Laruel and Hardy film. :-). Glad it all worked out for the both of you!!!

Congrats again!

Geno

[capntim]

Nice Yanni. That picture of you looking at that shark says it all. And second on some of your food pics! They are the best!

[Iceman]

Congrats Yanni!! To bad you guys didn't have your cameras running when you saw the shark and then became jet ski's! I bet that would of been one hellava video. Like in fast motion, like a Laruel and Hardy film. :-). Glad it all worked out for the both of you!!!

Congrats again!

Geno

I have some crappy video with water on the lens of the shark "chasing" Yanni. I'll post it up when I get more time.

[King Saba]

No words for you Yanni. Badass maybe? And, I'd be crapping my pants if I had a hammerhead come up that close to me.

[summers in kuwait]

nice post, write up and recipe as usual!