noob alert, first report

[silentsmell]

My first report! I've been inshore fishing for about 5 years now, majority of the time on a buddy's boat to the Coronado Islands and Point Loma. Long story short, I'm hooked on kayak fishing!

Today was my 5th time out on the yak in La Jolla. Launched at 8:00am, a little late, but the conditions were good and I made bait pretty easily. I saw about 10 of you guys out there looking cozy and I paddled over. I had no luck on the iron, so I start paddling back to the kelp with my bait. Half an hour later, ZZZZZZZZZ! I set the hook and start reeling, fish on!

5 minutes in, the fish hasn't made a single run, but I'm having no luck getting him any closer to the yak.
10 minutes in, my rod tip starts to shake, 1-2-3. Cool, I let him run a little. My brother paddles up and starts watching me.
15 mins in, I have him right under my yak in about 100 ft of water. He pops up on my fish finder 90 ft. below. Then I notice it...a double uni knot, my line has been compromised! I had let a buddy borrow my rod last weekend, he must have cut the line; I say a little prayer hoping he tied it correctly.
20 mins in, the fish starts to run again, this time full speed! 15-20 head shakes. At this point he has taken about half the spool. I'm fishing with a Daiwa LD30 with 25lb P-Line.
25 mins in, I start cranking again, but this beast is angry, he isn't letting me reel in any more line. I decide to tighten the drag and buckle down. He makes another big run. My line starts making that little plucking sound as its rubbing against the guides, I panic and loosen the drag. Bam! Bird nest! I have no idea what I'm doing at this point, I tighten the drag and continue to reel, he runs again and I'm back to the bird nest. Game over

I have never gone to battle with anything with this much power, the biggest fish I've caught is a 33 inch halibut. Longest fight I've had was with a bat ray in Mission Bay. Help me out guys, what kinda fish do you think it was?

[slobslayer]

What bait brown,blue or greenback mackerel, smelt? Were you fishing with any weight or on the surface? I had a similar fight a few weeks ago on a dropper looped greenback. I'm pretty sure mine was a thresher.

[jorluivil]

I'm guessing bsb. Most of the time they don't even know they're hooked.

[Zfish03]

Was that you in the OD green Hobie PA? I thought you were stuck on one of the lobster bouys. Could have been a yellow or black sea bass, I heard that someone caught and released one earlier this morning. Glad you got to pull on a game fish! beats my sand bass and sheepshead today

[silentsmell]

Originally Posted by slobslayer

What bait brown,blue or greenback mackerel, smelt? Were you fishing with any weight or on the surface? I had a similar fight a few weeks ago on a dropper looped greenback. I'm pretty sure mine was a thresher.

Sorry! It was a smaller greenback, with a 2 oz carolina rig. I dropped it down to the bottom and was just drifting while eating some jerky. I was by the 2nd set of lobster buoys and on a orange tarpon 120.

[JarrodMc]

probably BSB. lost it but i bet it was a fun fight. it was fun to read!

[Deamon]

Welcome to the addiction. Crack on the water...

[mtnbykr2]

sometimes those fights that end up slack, after that long of a fight, that story will be fresh in your mind for years to come...you will get him next time...great post...

[h2ofishfo]

Hmmmm by the lobster bouy???? Let me guess coincidently he was making runs with the swell????

[Iceman]

20 mins in, the fish starts to run again, this time full speed! 15-20 head shakes. At this point he has taken about half the spool. I'm fishing with a Daiwa LD30 with 25lb P-Line.

Hmmmm by the lobster bouy???? Let me guess coincidently he was making runs with the swell????

I have seen guys out there fighting the bottom, this sounds more like a BSB.

[silentsmell]

Originally Posted by h2ofishfo

Hmmmm by the lobster bouy???? Let me guess coincidently he was making runs with the swell????

No, I hope I'm not that terrible

[Cbad Mike]

What kind of fish do I think you had???
A big one that kicked your butt!!!
That's what it's all about. Welcome to the addiction. Now get back out there and chase that dragon.



Mike

[Biggameaddict]

It was a world record yt. Now go back there and catch it.

[taggermike]

Talk to your buddy. Returning a reel with a splice in the line is not so cool. The anxiety of hearing/feeling a knot or fray clickinging/pinging through the guids is nasty. I gotta throw a nod to a BSB also. Mike

[silentsmell]

Originally Posted by taggermike

Talk to your buddy. Returning a reel with a splice in the line is not so cool. The anxiety of hearing/feeling a knot or fray clickinging/pinging through the guids is nasty. I gotta throw a nod to a BSB also. Mike

I saw that knot when I was feeding my bait fish line. I definitely have the bulk of the blame there; instead of reeling it all back and throwing away 30 yards of line, I decided to fish it anyway. Lesson learned, be prepared!

[RedSledTeam]

Originally Posted by silentsmell

...Help me out guys, what kinda fish do you think it was?

This kind...


Baddest fight in La Jolla. He looked like a seal on the fishfinder. Ran straight down and gave the meanest, nastiest headshakes I've ever felt. Then, after reviving him, he slapped me silly on his way back down!!

[TJones]

. welcome to the addiction. we will never know ? i put my money on black . heck could have been one of those home guards ?