Spotted Monster - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

FleshandBlood · 11-04-2015, 08:24 PM

Between school, work and moving, time spent on the water has been nonexistent lately. Sunday I was able to break the cycle and planned on heading down to Mission Bay. Woke up after my alarm and realized that driving Seal Beach to SD half asleep just wasn't in the cards. After reading reports the night before that Newport was fishing a little slow for a few members I decided to stay close to home and make a quick run to Huntington Harbor. First cast short bite...2nd cast....short bite. It was a day of short bites. I was liberally applying unibutter and still couldnt find any love in the eel grass; every short hit came when the swimbait was suspended high above the grass, about 4-6 feet from the yak. Started to head in near the peak of high tide and decided to toss a few more casts on the way back to the launch.

Cast...freespool, sink....slow retrieve.....war...

The fish immediately tried to saw me off, then proceeded to get hooked to the weeds and barnacles on the dock pillar. I pried her away, made quick lip grab and she was on board.

I don't carry a scale so I don't have an official weight. My Dad took a look at my photos and said, "Easily in the low 4's." He is solely a tournament bass fishermen in the FLW and various other tournaments so that's what I am running with.

King Saba · 11-04-2015, 08:31 PM

Toad! I've got no experience with spotty weights, but length wise that looks like a 18? 20? Super toad in my book. Congrats!

Cadillyak · 11-04-2015, 08:43 PM

Stud spottie indeed. What did you fool her with?

FleshandBlood · 11-04-2015, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadillyak

Stud spottie indeed. What did you fool her with?

3in. MC Swimbait. It was a bait fish pattern, black stripe with silver flake and purple.

King Saba · 11-05-2015, 02:05 AM

Any other signs of fish life? Almost every time I went during the summer I usually had short cuda follow my swimbait to the yak.

LakersFan · 11-05-2015, 06:06 AM

Nice job on the spottie.

Yep, HH holds some good sized ones.

makobob · 11-05-2015, 07:43 AM

Way to hang in there and not give up. Nice spotty

summers in kuwait · 11-05-2015, 08:42 AM

Nice post and catch!

onetriphudson · 11-05-2015, 09:05 AM

When you are used to seeing 8 to 12 inch Spotties year after year, it can really blow your mind when you get one that's 18 inches or better. I caught one in the late 90's that size and haven't seen another like it since!

Iceman · 11-05-2015, 09:24 AM

I have only hit the 3# mark twice in 8+ years of fishing HH, that is a big dark rock dwelling beast

RedSledTeam · 11-05-2015, 09:48 AM

Freckled Monster! Nice one! 4lbs for sure!

BassYackwards · 11-05-2015, 01:16 PM

Nice fish!
Short bites suck, those things will keep you on your toes with the shotgun hook-set at the ready.
Ive had success trap rigging those small hammers with a small treble or single on the tail and fluoro ran through the bait, kinda tedious but not bad if you have them pre made up before the trip.

Amish Ed · 11-05-2015, 02:22 PM

Beautiful spottie, WTG!

blitzburgh · 11-06-2015, 07:41 AM

That is one nice Spottie!

kayakfisherman · 11-06-2015, 09:43 AM

Man oh Man!! any tourney fisherman would die for that!!

Kayak_Bernie · 11-06-2015, 10:29 AM

NICE SPOTTIE!!!! She is a toad for sure, 18"-20" are close to 4# for sure!!

FleshandBlood · 11-06-2015, 10:46 AM

Thanks guys, it is definitely a catch that's hard to repeat. I've had a few 3's from huntington harbor so I know there are more toads out there, only took a few years of weeding through dinks.

Nic D · 11-08-2015, 08:46 PM

That's a pig for sure. The only thing we have to go on is the size of your hand and the mouth and shoulders of the fish. Not knowing how big your hands are and looking at both photos you've posted, I would estimate that fish at 2.5. - 3.25lbs. Not that the weight makes any difference, that's a very nice fish indeed! Congrats!

11-04-2015, 08:24 PM	#1
FleshandBlood Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 87	Spotted Monster Between school, work and moving, time spent on the water has been nonexistent lately. Sunday I was able to break the cycle and planned on heading down to Mission Bay. Woke up after my alarm and realized that driving Seal Beach to SD half asleep just wasn't in the cards. After reading reports the night before that Newport was fishing a little slow for a few members I decided to stay close to home and make a quick run to Huntington Harbor. First cast short bite...2nd cast....short bite. It was a day of short bites. I was liberally applying unibutter and still couldnt find any love in the eel grass; every short hit came when the swimbait was suspended high above the grass, about 4-6 feet from the yak. Started to head in near the peak of high tide and decided to toss a few more casts on the way back to the launch. Cast...freespool, sink....slow retrieve.....war... The fish immediately tried to saw me off, then proceeded to get hooked to the weeds and barnacles on the dock pillar. I pried her away, made quick lip grab and she was on board. I don't carry a scale so I don't have an official weight. My Dad took a look at my photos and said, "Easily in the low 4's." He is solely a tournament bass fishermen in the FLW and various other tournaments so that's what I am running with.

11-04-2015, 08:43 PM	#3
Cadillyak Team Get $$ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 841	Stud spottie indeed. What did you fool her with? __________________ The "Y" is silent 2012 Olive PA 12 2011 Papaya Outback

11-05-2015, 07:43 AM	#7
makobob Baitless on Baja Join Date: May 2013 Location: Vista California, Gonzaga, San Quintin, Asuncion, Mag Bay Posts: 4,250	Way to hang in there and not give up. Nice spotty __________________ http://www.mako-ville.com Home 760-630-4470 Cell 760-520-2514 YES YOU CAN

11-05-2015, 09:05 AM	#9
onetriphudson Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 143	When you are used to seeing 8 to 12 inch Spotties year after year, it can really blow your mind when you get one that's 18 inches or better. I caught one in the late 90's that size and haven't seen another like it since! __________________ 2012 Dune Pro Angler 14, 1994 Yellow Scupper Pro

11-05-2015, 09:24 AM	#10
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	I have only hit the 3# mark twice in 8+ years of fishing HH, that is a big dark rock dwelling beast __________________

11-04-2015, 08:31 PM	#2
King Saba Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: SGV Posts: 848	Toad! I've got no experience with spotty weights, but length wise that looks like a 18? 20? Super toad in my book. Congrats!

11-05-2015, 02:05 AM	#5
King Saba Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: SGV Posts: 848	Any other signs of fish life? Almost every time I went during the summer I usually had short cuda follow my swimbait to the yak.

11-05-2015, 06:06 AM	#6
LakersFan Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 92	Nice job on the spottie. Yep, HH holds some good sized ones.

11-05-2015, 08:42 AM	#8
summers in kuwait Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: East County San Diego Posts: 657	Nice post and catch!

11-05-2015, 09:48 AM	#11
RedSledTeam Daddeo Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: OC Posts: 660	Freckled Monster! Nice one! 4lbs for sure!

11-05-2015, 01:16 PM	#12
BassYackwards Junior Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 13	Nice fish! Short bites suck, those things will keep you on your toes with the shotgun hook-set at the ready. Ive had success trap rigging those small hammers with a small treble or single on the tail and fluoro ran through the bait, kinda tedious but not bad if you have them pre made up before the trip.

11-05-2015, 02:22 PM	#13
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,903	Beautiful spottie, WTG! __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

11-06-2015, 07:41 AM	#14
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	That is one nice Spottie! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

11-06-2015, 09:43 AM	#15
kayakfisherman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 715	Man oh Man!! any tourney fisherman would die for that!!

11-06-2015, 10:29 AM	#16
Kayak_Bernie Live Watersports ProStaff Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Rolando Village Posts: 224	NICE SPOTTIE!!!! She is a toad for sure, 18"-20" are close to 4# for sure!! __________________ Heroes on the Water SoCal Chapter Safety Director

11-06-2015, 10:46 AM	#17
FleshandBlood Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 87	Thanks guys, it is definitely a catch that's hard to repeat. I've had a few 3's from huntington harbor so I know there are more toads out there, only took a few years of weeding through dinks.

11-08-2015, 08:46 PM	#18
Nic D Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Clairemont Posts: 813	That's a pig for sure. The only thing we have to go on is the size of your hand and the mouth and shoulders of the fish. Not knowing how big your hands are and looking at both photos you've posted, I would estimate that fish at 2.5. - 3.25lbs. Not that the weight makes any difference, that's a very nice fish indeed! Congrats! __________________ instagram - @DRAGO619