First YT on a Kayak - 6/27/15 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

jstn619 · 06-28-2015, 07:28 PM

I've been on BWE for some time now marveling at the photos you post and reading your stories to gather tips...it's been both motivating and frustrating at the same time as I have probably been to LJ 25 times without a Yellowtail. Thanks to all of you that share your stories and tips!

I launched at 6am with my buddy Dennis and his son. The day started a little rough as my fish finder was acting up...oh well, press on. We made bait fairly easily with some monster greenies, quickly slapped one on, and headed out west of the hotel.

The surge was strong and I was starting to feel a little sick (The long island ice teas while watching the USA WNT kick China's a$$ the night before probably didn't help). Around 8:30 I decided to turn back and and bam...a hookup! Got towed for about 10 minutes, but evntually lost him. I reached back to pull bait, but all of them were dead...some issue with larger macs not surviving in a bait tank? I pulled out my sabiki rig and found another 12" greenie fairly quick, but in the meantime the surge really got to me and I started chumming. Oh well, after the recent hookup I was motivated to keep at it...at least for the pedal back.

As I came around the NW corner about 100 yds off the kelp bed, I felt my bait start to run scared and bam...another hookup! I fought this one for about 10 minutes and finally got him near my yak and I drop my freakin' gaff...rookie mistake! I finally got him up to the side of my yak and he seemed exhausted (along with me) and thank God I was able to grab him by the gill to pull him in. I headed in and was back on the shore by 10am.

I made a few mistakes, but it was a great day and glad to finally get my first yellow that weighed in at 24 lbs and measured 43". Looking forward to many more.

LBKayakDude · 06-28-2015, 07:42 PM

Nice fish man!.👍 I still have yet to get my first kayak yellow but hope it's as nice as that

Handymansd · 06-28-2015, 08:08 PM

Great fish!! Congrats!! and great attitude about learning, we all started somewhere, and my first YT was a long long time coming! Be safe and I hope to see you out there!

Gr8fuldude · 06-28-2015, 08:22 PM

Persistence has paid off for you! Way to go

Zed · 06-28-2015, 08:35 PM

The first are always held like 1st born children.
nice one.

GunRunner · 06-29-2015, 08:20 AM

This is a motivating story. 25 times to LJ is the scary part. I've only been out there 4 times. Hopefully I will hook up to my first this weekend!

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

addicted2sp33d · 06-29-2015, 08:26 AM

Rewarded for your perseverance! Love it!

h2ofishfo · 06-29-2015, 09:38 AM

Nice baby swaddle hold ha

kjsdad619 · 06-29-2015, 10:33 AM

Awesome! I also have yet to get my first YFT..good seeing that they are posted up out there. Heading out Friday!

DennisMorgan · 06-29-2015, 10:56 AM

nice work partner! I continue to keep my efforts up...my turn next 😜

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seaquinn · 06-29-2015, 11:43 AM

awesome! Is this Justin from La Mesa area? Wow.... great story!

Dirty Curti · 06-29-2015, 11:56 AM

Nice fish.

The only way we learn is by making mistakes. I still have many more to make apparently.

Ramos23 · 06-29-2015, 04:01 PM

Nice catch

mpc · 06-29-2015, 04:41 PM

Way to stick it out and congrats on the fish. I spent a few hours out there Saturday morning and was a bit queasy as well. Less than ideal conditions, but good enough I guess. You proved that.

FISH11 · 06-29-2015, 08:09 PM

There are a lot of us who studied a lot of post on here and put in a lot of time on the water at La Jolla before landing our first Yellow. I hooked up many times but always lost them in the kelp or to seals or poor knot choices, etc. I provably went out as many times before I landed my first. You will remember your first Yellowtail and it will taste the best, even if you've had Yellowtail before. Congrats.

jstn619 · 06-29-2015, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seaquinn

awesome! Is this Justin from La Mesa area? Wow.... great story!

Hey Cliff, formerly La Mesa, now in Rancho SD. Do you still go out on Fridays?

jstn619 · 06-29-2015, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DennisMorgan

nice work partner! I continue to keep my efforts up...my turn next 😜

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It's on for this Friday!

jstn619 · 06-29-2015, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h2ofishfo

Nice baby swaddle hold ha

Ha ha. Yeah, didn't realize it at the time. Just like my first born, was awe struck and didn't want to set her down!

Caden · 06-29-2015, 10:29 PM

Nice catch and congrats on ur 1st YT, it take me 3 years to catch my 1st

06-28-2015, 07:28 PM	#1
jstn619 Junior Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 6	First YT on a Kayak - 6/27/15 I've been on BWE for some time now marveling at the photos you post and reading your stories to gather tips...it's been both motivating and frustrating at the same time as I have probably been to LJ 25 times without a Yellowtail. Thanks to all of you that share your stories and tips! I launched at 6am with my buddy Dennis and his son. The day started a little rough as my fish finder was acting up...oh well, press on. We made bait fairly easily with some monster greenies, quickly slapped one on, and headed out west of the hotel. The surge was strong and I was starting to feel a little sick (The long island ice teas while watching the USA WNT kick China's a$$ the night before probably didn't help). Around 8:30 I decided to turn back and and bam...a hookup! Got towed for about 10 minutes, but evntually lost him. I reached back to pull bait, but all of them were dead...some issue with larger macs not surviving in a bait tank? I pulled out my sabiki rig and found another 12" greenie fairly quick, but in the meantime the surge really got to me and I started chumming. Oh well, after the recent hookup I was motivated to keep at it...at least for the pedal back. As I came around the NW corner about 100 yds off the kelp bed, I felt my bait start to run scared and bam...another hookup! I fought this one for about 10 minutes and finally got him near my yak and I drop my freakin' gaff...rookie mistake! I finally got him up to the side of my yak and he seemed exhausted (along with me) and thank God I was able to grab him by the gill to pull him in. I headed in and was back on the shore by 10am. I made a few mistakes, but it was a great day and glad to finally get my first yellow that weighed in at 24 lbs and measured 43". Looking forward to many more. Attached Images

06-28-2015, 08:08 PM	#3
Handymansd Ancient Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: On The Water Posts: 935	First YT Great fish!! Congrats!! and great attitude about learning, we all started somewhere, and my first YT was a long long time coming! Be safe and I hope to see you out there! __________________ All men are equal before fish. -Herbert Hoover

06-28-2015, 08:35 PM	#5
Zed BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: W of 5 Posts: 1,265	The first are always held like 1st born children. nice one. __________________ Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man and he'll eat for a week.

06-29-2015, 09:38 AM	#8
h2ofishfo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santee Posts: 821	Nice baby swaddle hold ha __________________ GABE<@)((((>€~~~~team ?????uuuh it's fishing

06-29-2015, 10:56 AM	#10
DennisMorgan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 225	nice work partner! I continue to keep my efforts up...my turn next 😜 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk __________________

06-28-2015, 07:42 PM	#2
LBKayakDude Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 193	Nice fish man!.👍 I still have yet to get my first kayak yellow but hope it's as nice as that

06-28-2015, 08:22 PM	#4
Gr8fuldude Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Tehachapi, CA Posts: 166	Persistence has paid off for you! Way to go

06-29-2015, 08:20 AM	#6
GunRunner Small town Minnesota boy Join Date: May 2015 Location: California Posts: 41	This is a motivating story. 25 times to LJ is the scary part. I've only been out there 4 times. Hopefully I will hook up to my first this weekend! Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

06-29-2015, 08:26 AM	#7
addicted2sp33d Here fishy fishy fishy... Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 774	Rewarded for your perseverance! Love it!

06-29-2015, 10:33 AM	#9
kjsdad619 Just a Salty Sailor Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 193	Awesome! I also have yet to get my first YFT..good seeing that they are posted up out there. Heading out Friday!

06-29-2015, 11:43 AM	#11
seaquinn wishin' I was fishin' Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Blossom Valley (near El Cajon) Posts: 148	awesome! Is this Justin from La Mesa area? Wow.... great story!

06-29-2015, 11:56 AM	#12
Dirty Curti Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 419	Nice fish. The only way we learn is by making mistakes. I still have many more to make apparently. __________________

06-29-2015, 04:01 PM	#13
Ramos23 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 78	Nice catch

06-29-2015, 04:41 PM	#14
mpc Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 70	Way to stick it out and congrats on the fish. I spent a few hours out there Saturday morning and was a bit queasy as well. Less than ideal conditions, but good enough I guess. You proved that.

06-29-2015, 08:09 PM	#15
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,642	There are a lot of us who studied a lot of post on here and put in a lot of time on the water at La Jolla before landing our first Yellow. I hooked up many times but always lost them in the kelp or to seals or poor knot choices, etc. I provably went out as many times before I landed my first. You will remember your first Yellowtail and it will taste the best, even if you've had Yellowtail before. Congrats. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids ) Last edited by FISH11; 06-29-2015 at 09:09 PM.

06-29-2015, 10:29 PM	#19
Caden Homeless will fish 4 food Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: rosemead Posts: 171	Nice catch and congrats on ur 1st YT, it take me 3 years to catch my 1st