What a Blast! - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

mc08066 · 08-07-2008, 08:09 AM

John,
Great read and thanks for releasing the wonderful fish. That thing is huge.
Jimmy

ratdog · 08-07-2008, 08:55 AM

Hey John, great post and picture. Thanks for the help with the BSB.

I hooked that bugger in 104ft of water and it took me from in front of the launch do south into the kelp in front of the condo (60ft). I knew it was a big fish but I didn't think it was a BSB until after about a half hour of fighting it. Once it got free of the kelp it took me straight north. close to the canyon edge where after about 1:15 minutes it finally came up. What an incedible sight! I saw Icemans 50lb WSB last Feb and I think this BSB was more than 2x larger than that easy. The best part was watching John swim with the fish until it got back enough energy to majestically swim away. I was spent, today my arms shoulders and back are sore as hell. I caught it on fresh squid that Josh generously offered me, I've never met Josh before, and this guy pedals up to me from out of nowwhere and asks me if I want some fresh squid? This is a testament about some of the quality people you meet on the water, thanks again Josh.

30lb PLine mono, 26yr old Penn Jigmaster

dmr · 08-07-2008, 09:32 AM

Great story Jo(h)ns. I must have had blinders on and paddled right by you. I hadn't been out in ages. There was a friendly vibe on the water, even with 50+ yaks. I guess all the catching helps with that a bit.

deeberdave · 08-07-2008, 10:43 AM

Now thats what I call a feesh!!! Great post, I hope someone is there to
help out when/if I ever catch something that big.

Sherm · 08-07-2008, 11:59 AM

Awesome report and pics.

Way to go on the revival effort.

THE DARKHORSE · 08-07-2008, 12:27 PM

It wasn't looking too good when I saw you flying towards the kelp from deeper water

. Thirty minutes later, when I saw you passing me headed out towards the canyon again, I just assumed you were on another fish from the irresistable live squid. It's hard to beat, catching fish like that on old school reels, just awesome!

GHOSTHUNTR · 08-08-2008, 10:54 AM

Great job on the release guys. I had my son out to the kelp a couple of weeks ago and we saw a dead BSB, about 75#s. It sucks when one of them dies like that, but I know everyone does their best to keep them alive. Jumping in to help the fish out sure is a cool thing to do.

lamb · 08-08-2008, 12:01 PM

Great write up John, nice fish the other John!!!

I had the same luck that day. Giant bass hit my big mac on the bottom and gave me a hell of a ride. 10 minutes into the fight, with all the raw towing power and lack of tail thumps, I was pretty sure it was black. But you know how it is, you're always hoping it's some huge yellow with highly personal fighting style...

I just could not get that thing up, he kept towing me around staying in between 40 and 70 ft under me. With my drag tightened all the way, I was finally able to bring him up on the surface. I have never caught or seen a bigger one...

Then it took me a good 10 minutes to revive him.

It was too heavy and hard to handle from my yak. I managed to straighten him up twice; he kicked for the bottom just to pop back up on the surface. I started thinking about getting in the water too... The third time I kept him up straight, and for about a minute I was pushing him back and forth to get the water flowing through his gills. That seemed to work - he finally kicked strongly down for the bottom. I stayed in the area for a while to make sure - I didn't see him again.

Thanks Dave for paddling up to offer help. We definitely need to give each other a hand to make sure these beautiful fish get to swim back down.

08-07-2008, 12:27 PM	#6
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	Ratdog, welcome to the 100 lb club. It wasn't looking too good when I saw you flying towards the kelp from deeper water . Thirty minutes later, when I saw you passing me headed out towards the canyon again, I just assumed you were on another fish from the irresistable live squid. It's hard to beat, catching fish like that on old school reels, just awesome! __________________

08-08-2008, 12:01 PM	#8
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	Great write up John, nice fish the other John!!! I had the same luck that day. Giant bass hit my big mac on the bottom and gave me a hell of a ride. 10 minutes into the fight, with all the raw towing power and lack of tail thumps, I was pretty sure it was black. But you know how it is, you're always hoping it's some huge yellow with highly personal fighting style... I just could not get that thing up, he kept towing me around staying in between 40 and 70 ft under me. With my drag tightened all the way, I was finally able to bring him up on the surface. I have never caught or seen a bigger one... Then it took me a good 10 minutes to revive him. It was too heavy and hard to handle from my yak. I managed to straighten him up twice; he kicked for the bottom just to pop back up on the surface. I started thinking about getting in the water too... The third time I kept him up straight, and for about a minute I was pushing him back and forth to get the water flowing through his gills. That seemed to work - he finally kicked strongly down for the bottom. I stayed in the area for a while to make sure - I didn't see him again. Thanks Dave for paddling up to offer help. We definitely need to give each other a hand to make sure these beautiful fish get to swim back down. __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

08-07-2008, 08:09 AM	#1
mc08066 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 51	John, Great read and thanks for releasing the wonderful fish. That thing is huge. Jimmy

08-07-2008, 08:55 AM	#2
ratdog Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 424	Hey John, great post and picture. Thanks for the help with the BSB. I hooked that bugger in 104ft of water and it took me from in front of the launch do south into the kelp in front of the condo (60ft). I knew it was a big fish but I didn't think it was a BSB until after about a half hour of fighting it. Once it got free of the kelp it took me straight north. close to the canyon edge where after about 1:15 minutes it finally came up. What an incedible sight! I saw Icemans 50lb WSB last Feb and I think this BSB was more than 2x larger than that easy. The best part was watching John swim with the fish until it got back enough energy to majestically swim away. I was spent, today my arms shoulders and back are sore as hell. I caught it on fresh squid that Josh generously offered me, I've never met Josh before, and this guy pedals up to me from out of nowwhere and asks me if I want some fresh squid? This is a testament about some of the quality people you meet on the water, thanks again Josh. 30lb PLine mono, 26yr old Penn Jigmaster

08-07-2008, 09:32 AM	#3
dmr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 155	Great story Jo(h)ns. I must have had blinders on and paddled right by you. I hadn't been out in ages. There was a friendly vibe on the water, even with 50+ yaks. I guess all the catching helps with that a bit.

08-07-2008, 10:43 AM	#4
deeberdave Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: CARLSBAD Posts: 34	Now thats what I call a feesh!!! Great post, I hope someone is there to help out when/if I ever catch something that big.

08-07-2008, 11:59 AM	#5
Sherm Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 490	Awesome report and pics. Way to go on the revival effort.

08-08-2008, 10:54 AM	#7
GHOSTHUNTR Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Poway Posts: 160	Great job on the release guys. I had my son out to the kelp a couple of weeks ago and we saw a dead BSB, about 75#s. It sucks when one of them dies like that, but I know everyone does their best to keep them alive. Jumping in to help the fish out sure is a cool thing to do.