LJ Round 2 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

bellcon · 02-28-2009, 02:08 PM

Found some time for another fishy post
(I am not busy packing for La Jolla Tonight 8) )

Part 2:
After round one on 2/23/09
I had decided before I even landed back on the sand that round two was gonna happen
so on 2/25/09 I again found myself driving solo down the 405 fwy...
with only 2 hours of off and on sleep I needed the BIG

cup of joe this time
I will try and keep this report a little shorter than the last

I see more guys at the launch this time "good morning Grego, good luck out there"... Hit the water with a few guys and DARKHORSE around 5:30am
Snottiest water and weather I have seen at L.J. in awhile we
actually had to time the "surf" launch

Get out to try and make squid, rig up and drop down...okay 1 squid
Time to move on... cant wait any longer...
paddle paddle
hit the right spot
I got the sonar back so this time I am not the one asking silly questions all day

say hello to alot of new friends
I find a nice spot...what? is no one supposed to camp out in the middle?
well thats where I find myself again

Just a few minutes latter I look to my right and a guys kayak has been flipped over by a yellow that had attacked his bait stick

(he has told his story)
Hey I yell, "DO YOU NEED HELP?"
I swear just as the "P" in help comes out...
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
My dropper loop with my only...lonely squid on it goes off
you know the drill
grab rod out of holder, throw her in gear, fish ON

WOW this one is a beast I am thinking because he is fighting WAY harder than the 34.1 pounder from monday
I dont have the crowd around me this time, at least not yet.
I am pulling hard so hard that my elbow which took a beating monday starts to throb.
In trying to compensate for the elbow I end up getting a nasty cramp in my forearm... but I am taken it like a man

no complaining here no sir-re...(just ask the Iceman, he will vouch for me

)
I got a Saltist 40 with 40lb line on a heavy Seeker Black Steel 6465xh and
the fish on this combo is just kicking my azz

I am laughing (not crying right Andy?) but this fish wont give up... finally I get him to start coming up... only to have him dive even deeper...
then He is mine I can feel it, come to papa you narly beast
I see him... carefull now...take it easy...little runs...ok ok ...gaffs ready...wham!
nice belly shot and he is on deck

The rush is hard to describe, you feel so alive when it all comes together,
all the hard work, the planning, the experience of just being on the water...then pay dirt, a nice big yellow sitting on yer lap

Mondays yellow had alot of fight left in him when he got to the deck, this guy? he was done! he used it all up below the surface, he made me pay for every inch of line and then some, I could tell he was lighter but he had a hell of a motor and a fight that never quit, and he was longer too, with a wider spread in the tail.
Got him on the game clip and started the hunt again, he would be my only trophy today, but he was WELL worth it

I have read and heard so much about these fish, but nothing really prepares you for the fight and they all fight differently...Yellowtails are pound for pound the toughest fight I have ever experienced, and its a fight that leaves you starving for another round!!

I have much love and respect for this species and I intend on hunting them as often as my busy life will allow
I think it would be cool opportunity one day to do a catch and release like Casey did

Thanks again Josh for sharing your time and talents over the last couple of weeks, you are one class act

Here are some pics of round two L.J 2/25/09:

Mine mine mine:

Long and strong:

Look at that guys tail motor (kick my azz):

The ride home:

When I got to launch the guys were all saying "damn thats a long one" so I whipped out my sexy halibut tape:

Then I had a to strip down a bit and get a shot to represent the crew back home

: (I know he looks smaller...but dont forget I am over 6'-4" and about two fiddy

)...thanks for taking the Pic Billy!

Finally...I took the Yellow over to friends house, An old school fisherman, hunter and retired butcher... he works magic with a knife like no one I have ever seen, not one ounce of that fish went to waste

and maybe this pic will make the fish look respectable again

Derek and Blake #5 & #6 of the Bell6pac respectively.

Thanks for letting me share my adventure again guys

driftwood · 02-28-2009, 03:54 PM

That fish is taller than both kids.! I see a tendem kayak in your future.

B Slate · 02-28-2009, 04:11 PM

Great story and an even better fish!

Billy V · 02-28-2009, 04:57 PM

You're going to need a Vacation home closer to the launch.

I know how you feel after 3 days of straight fishing and no sleep. I'm like a Zombie.

I saw Josh coming in @ 5:30 pm last night, that must be some strong coffee he is drinking out there.

I finished it all off last night with Happy Hour at the La Jolla Shores Hotel Bar.
-The Hotel at the launch.

02-28-2009, 11:29 PM

that's awesome way to go on yellowtailllllllllllllll

THE DARKHORSE · 03-01-2009, 01:56 PM

"I have read and heard so much about these fish, but nothing really prepares you for the fight and they all fight differently...Yellowtails are pound for pound the toughest fight I have ever experienced, and its a fight that leaves you starving for another round!!"

Just wait until one that size slams the Salas 7X on your brand new Seeker Ulua, imaginge that fight times two

. Not to mention the sight of a dark shadow pushing a bow wake behind your jig, followed by an explosion you will never forget.

And would you please quit making Yellowtail over thirty pounds look small, fish with a 45" fork length look like a Calico Bass in your hands...my job is hard enough

.

joyjiggin' · 03-01-2009, 04:00 PM

Don,
I bet your boys were thrilled!! I see kayaks/fishing rods in their future!
Congratulations on another whopper!!!!

02-28-2009, 02:08 PM	#1
bellcon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Pedro Posts: 999	LJ Round 2 Found some time for another fishy post (I am not busy packing for La Jolla Tonight 8) ) Part 2: After round one on 2/23/09 I had decided before I even landed back on the sand that round two was gonna happen so on 2/25/09 I again found myself driving solo down the 405 fwy... with only 2 hours of off and on sleep I needed the BIG cup of joe this time I will try and keep this report a little shorter than the last I see more guys at the launch this time "good morning Grego, good luck out there"... Hit the water with a few guys and DARKHORSE around 5:30am Snottiest water and weather I have seen at L.J. in awhile we actually had to time the "surf" launch Get out to try and make squid, rig up and drop down...okay 1 squid Time to move on... cant wait any longer... paddle paddle hit the right spot I got the sonar back so this time I am not the one asking silly questions all day say hello to alot of new friends I find a nice spot...what? is no one supposed to camp out in the middle? well thats where I find myself again Just a few minutes latter I look to my right and a guys kayak has been flipped over by a yellow that had attacked his bait stick (he has told his story) Hey I yell, "DO YOU NEED HELP?" I swear just as the "P" in help comes out... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ My dropper loop with my only...lonely squid on it goes off you know the drill grab rod out of holder, throw her in gear, fish ON WOW this one is a beast I am thinking because he is fighting WAY harder than the 34.1 pounder from monday I dont have the crowd around me this time, at least not yet. I am pulling hard so hard that my elbow which took a beating monday starts to throb. In trying to compensate for the elbow I end up getting a nasty cramp in my forearm... but I am taken it like a man no complaining here no sir-re...(just ask the Iceman, he will vouch for me ) I got a Saltist 40 with 40lb line on a heavy Seeker Black Steel 6465xh and the fish on this combo is just kicking my azz I am laughing (not crying right Andy?) but this fish wont give up... finally I get him to start coming up... only to have him dive even deeper... then He is mine I can feel it, come to papa you narly beast I see him... carefull now...take it easy...little runs...ok ok ...gaffs ready...wham! nice belly shot and he is on deck The rush is hard to describe, you feel so alive when it all comes together, all the hard work, the planning, the experience of just being on the water...then pay dirt, a nice big yellow sitting on yer lap Mondays yellow had alot of fight left in him when he got to the deck, this guy? he was done! he used it all up below the surface, he made me pay for every inch of line and then some, I could tell he was lighter but he had a hell of a motor and a fight that never quit, and he was longer too, with a wider spread in the tail. Got him on the game clip and started the hunt again, he would be my only trophy today, but he was WELL worth it I have read and heard so much about these fish, but nothing really prepares you for the fight and they all fight differently...Yellowtails are pound for pound the toughest fight I have ever experienced, and its a fight that leaves you starving for another round!! I have much love and respect for this species and I intend on hunting them as often as my busy life will allow I think it would be cool opportunity one day to do a catch and release like Casey did Thanks again Josh for sharing your time and talents over the last couple of weeks, you are one class act Here are some pics of round two L.J 2/25/09: Mine mine mine: Long and strong: Look at that guys tail motor (kick my azz): The ride home: When I got to launch the guys were all saying "damn thats a long one" so I whipped out my sexy halibut tape: Then I had a to strip down a bit and get a shot to represent the crew back home : (I know he looks smaller...but dont forget I am over 6'-4" and about two fiddy )...thanks for taking the Pic Billy! Finally...I took the Yellow over to friends house, An old school fisherman, hunter and retired butcher... he works magic with a knife like no one I have ever seen, not one ounce of that fish went to waste and maybe this pic will make the fish look respectable again Derek and Blake #5 & #6 of the Bell6pac respectively. Thanks for letting me share my adventure again guys

02-28-2009, 03:54 PM	#2
driftwood Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SAN DIEGO Posts: 1,086	That fish is taller than both kids.! I see a tendem kayak in your future.

02-28-2009, 04:11 PM	#3
B Slate Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: La Verne Posts: 92	Great story and an even better fish!

02-28-2009, 04:57 PM	#4
Billy V Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bay Ho Posts: 1,382	You're going to need a Vacation home closer to the launch. I know how you feel after 3 days of straight fishing and no sleep. I'm like a Zombie. I saw Josh coming in @ 5:30 pm last night, that must be some strong coffee he is drinking out there. I finished it all off last night with Happy Hour at the La Jolla Shores Hotel Bar. -The Hotel at the launch.

02-28-2009, 11:29 PM	#5
FishSeeker Guest Posts: n/a	that's awesome way to go on yellowtailllllllllllllll

03-01-2009, 01:56 PM	#6
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	Well said, Don. "I have read and heard so much about these fish, but nothing really prepares you for the fight and they all fight differently...Yellowtails are pound for pound the toughest fight I have ever experienced, and its a fight that leaves you starving for another round!!" Just wait until one that size slams the Salas 7X on your brand new Seeker Ulua, imaginge that fight times two . Not to mention the sight of a dark shadow pushing a bow wake behind your jig, followed by an explosion you will never forget. And would you please quit making Yellowtail over thirty pounds look small, fish with a 45" fork length look like a Calico Bass in your hands...my job is hard enough . __________________

03-01-2009, 04:00 PM	#7
joyjiggin' Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 109	Don, I bet your boys were thrilled!! I see kayaks/fishing rods in their future! Congratulations on another whopper!!!!