Check another one off the list, First legal Halibut - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

ctfphoto · 11-23-2012, 10:22 AM

I decided to target halibut because of lowprofile's post about the Eds. My first attempt ended with a 19 inch flatty which was fine by me as I actually caught what I targeted.

So a week later I try again and wham, I'm bring up a large fighting fish only to find a pig of a sand bass at over 17 inches. Hmm I think too bad for you as I need meat for Thanksgiving ceviche, which my relative's devoured as they also did with my lobster tails. I did catch another large sand bass which ending making a large bowl of ceviche with the two fish.

I get set back up and it wasn't too long before the pole gets hit again with an even bigger fish, cool it think finally. As the fish come to the surface I see that it is indeed a halibut and definitely a legal one. Glad I bought a the larger size net as I didn't want to loose that fish. My first halibut measured in at 26 inches, I am glad it was bigger than "just legal"

Later in the day I caught another halibut and had to measure it a few times as it came in just about 21 inches.. .. So I think cool, I got a legal one, I don't need to measure the second fish another tens times and released it back into the wild. I caught 3 halis (one legal) in my first two times at targeting them, so I think my research (this forum, google earth. etc.) and time on the water has really has paid off. I am stoked.

I have been Kayaking Fishing for one year four months. In my first year, I caught many, many Bass, Sheepshead, Rockfish, Whitefish, couple of rays (released) and farmed a lot of big things.. I learned a lot in the first year and really decided to hit it hard for the last 4 - 5 months. Bought a Live Bait Tank which was a game changer, a must have. Still need a FF, and getting close to pulling the trigger.

I attained many firsts since then. Started with my first ever WSB. Then came my second lobster season. Last year was my first year at hooping and I caught 2 legals for the season. This season I have kept 25 legals (so far) which includes, one limit (goal reached) and one big one ... 3 pounder (another goal reached). And now, My first ever legal Halibut.

I still need to catch a YT and a Lingcod, but I am sure it's just a matter of time.

Sdspeed · 11-23-2012, 10:31 AM

kobra · 11-23-2012, 10:43 AM

Congrats on your first legal!!!

DanaPT · 11-23-2012, 01:38 PM

it's all about the adventure. nice work.

StinkyMatt · 11-23-2012, 02:16 PM

Cherry popper!

GregAndrew · 11-23-2012, 03:40 PM

Flat is where it is at! Well done.

MrM · 11-23-2012, 03:42 PM

Nice job! I'm hoping to cross this off my list tomorrow... Good work!

Capt. JB · 11-23-2012, 04:07 PM

Nice post! I'm new to the kayak scene and it's great to hear some awesome success stories.

-Josh

I'm in the Long Beach area if any has any recommendations! Thanks!

Cbad Mike · 11-23-2012, 05:10 PM

Congratulations! Thanks for the nice write up.

LDO10 · 11-23-2012, 06:09 PM

Congrats. Nice write-up.

RobFish · 11-23-2012, 06:17 PM

Well done sir. Well done.

steveooo · 11-23-2012, 09:36 PM

Congrats on the flat kind

Deamon · 11-24-2012, 06:09 AM

Very nice success stories! Nothing like scratching varieties off your list and accumulating personal best photos...

h-james · 11-24-2012, 09:11 AM

I haven't been into yak fising for very long either, and it's been a bunch of first for me, too! As I read your post I knew exactly what you meant...
Congrats on the NICE halibut

Biggameaddict · 11-24-2012, 10:07 AM

Nice! It only goes downhill from here! Great job.

ctfphoto · 11-24-2012, 12:16 PM

Thanks guys for all the great responses.

The thing is now, like in right now, I have now idea where to go.

Do I go hooping at 2 AM this coming morning (insomniac thread) or do I go for another halibut or do I go to my favorite place of all , La Jolla? Too many options

My wife and daughter are tired of all the lobster bait in the freezer so it looks like hooping in the wee hours ...

Anyone want to show me the places in LJ this super early am and if not then MB it is.

PB for the summertime ...

Vikingj · 11-24-2012, 02:38 PM

Sounds like a year to remember! I saw you catch your wsb and thought you were going to fall out of your yak with excitement. Now with the bugs & the flatties you must really be stoked. Congrats. As for where to go now?..BIGGER & better! BTW I got rid of my net. Flatties up to 26" I can grab by the "shoulder" and hali's 28+" won't fit into a net and need a gaff. Nice post- Thanks.
Wayne

11-24-2012, 03:03 PM

The "Cali fishing bucket list" as I like to call it, is way to familiar with most of us and I love that we're getting to see you check things off one after the other. Most people "save" the yellow tail for last...not on purpose haha.

Congrats on your Hali, let's go find that Ling cod and check it off together... see you out there

Neill

JarrodMc · 11-25-2012, 07:36 PM

Hey man that's a hell of a day! Nice job

blitzburgh · 11-26-2012, 06:06 AM

Way to go man!

11-23-2012, 10:22 AM	#1
ctfphoto Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 901	Check another one off the list, First legal Halibut I decided to target halibut because of lowprofile's post about the Eds. My first attempt ended with a 19 inch flatty which was fine by me as I actually caught what I targeted. So a week later I try again and wham, I'm bring up a large fighting fish only to find a pig of a sand bass at over 17 inches. Hmm I think too bad for you as I need meat for Thanksgiving ceviche, which my relative's devoured as they also did with my lobster tails. I did catch another large sand bass which ending making a large bowl of ceviche with the two fish. I get set back up and it wasn't too long before the pole gets hit again with an even bigger fish, cool it think finally. As the fish come to the surface I see that it is indeed a halibut and definitely a legal one. Glad I bought a the larger size net as I didn't want to loose that fish. My first halibut measured in at 26 inches, I am glad it was bigger than "just legal" Later in the day I caught another halibut and had to measure it a few times as it came in just about 21 inches.. .. So I think cool, I got a legal one, I don't need to measure the second fish another tens times and released it back into the wild. I caught 3 halis (one legal) in my first two times at targeting them, so I think my research (this forum, google earth. etc.) and time on the water has really has paid off. I am stoked. I have been Kayaking Fishing for one year four months. In my first year, I caught many, many Bass, Sheepshead, Rockfish, Whitefish, couple of rays (released) and farmed a lot of big things.. I learned a lot in the first year and really decided to hit it hard for the last 4 - 5 months. Bought a Live Bait Tank which was a game changer, a must have. Still need a FF, and getting close to pulling the trigger. I attained many firsts since then. Started with my first ever WSB. Then came my second lobster season. Last year was my first year at hooping and I caught 2 legals for the season. This season I have kept 25 legals (so far) which includes, one limit (goal reached) and one big one ... 3 pounder (another goal reached). And now, My first ever legal Halibut. I still need to catch a YT and a Lingcod, but I am sure it's just a matter of time. Attached Images

11-23-2012, 03:42 PM	#7
MrM Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: The Matrix Posts: 643	Nice job! I'm hoping to cross this off my list tomorrow... Good work! __________________ -Kevin

11-23-2012, 06:17 PM	#11
RobFish Massive Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 382	Well done sir. Well done. __________________

11-24-2012, 10:07 AM	#15
Biggameaddict The Kayak Peddler Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Hollywood Posts: 591	Nice! It only goes downhill from here! Great job. __________________ Keep your rod close, your gaff closer, and your paddle on a leash.

11-24-2012, 12:16 PM	#16
ctfphoto Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 901	Thanks guys for all the great responses. The thing is now, like in right now, I have now idea where to go. Do I go hooping at 2 AM this coming morning (insomniac thread) or do I go for another halibut or do I go to my favorite place of all , La Jolla? Too many options My wife and daughter are tired of all the lobster bait in the freezer so it looks like hooping in the wee hours ... Anyone want to show me the places in LJ this super early am and if not then MB it is. PB for the summertime ... Attached Images Last edited by ctfphoto; 11-24-2012 at 12:27 PM.

11-23-2012, 10:31 AM	#2
Sdspeed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 732

11-23-2012, 10:43 AM	#3
kobra Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: oceanside Posts: 880	Congrats on your first legal!!!

11-23-2012, 01:38 PM	#4
DanaPT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South OC Posts: 1,606	it's all about the adventure. nice work.

11-23-2012, 02:16 PM	#5
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	Cherry popper!

11-23-2012, 03:40 PM	#6
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Flat is where it is at! Well done.

11-23-2012, 04:07 PM	#8
Capt. JB Junior Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Cerritos, CA Posts: 14	Nice post! I'm new to the kayak scene and it's great to hear some awesome success stories. -Josh I'm in the Long Beach area if any has any recommendations! Thanks!

11-23-2012, 05:10 PM	#9
Cbad Mike Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Carlsbad Ca. Posts: 1,206	Congratulations! Thanks for the nice write up.

11-23-2012, 06:09 PM	#10
LDO10 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 30	Congrats. Nice write-up.

11-23-2012, 09:36 PM	#12
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	Congrats on the flat kind

11-24-2012, 06:09 AM	#13
Deamon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,972	Very nice success stories! Nothing like scratching varieties off your list and accumulating personal best photos...

11-24-2012, 09:11 AM	#14
h-james Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 51	I haven't been into yak fising for very long either, and it's been a bunch of first for me, too! As I read your post I knew exactly what you meant... Congrats on the NICE halibut

11-24-2012, 02:38 PM	#17
Vikingj Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dana Point area Posts: 438	Sounds like a year to remember! I saw you catch your wsb and thought you were going to fall out of your yak with excitement. Now with the bugs & the flatties you must really be stoked. Congrats. As for where to go now?..BIGGER & better! BTW I got rid of my net. Flatties up to 26" I can grab by the "shoulder" and hali's 28+" won't fit into a net and need a gaff. Nice post- Thanks. Wayne

11-24-2012, 03:03 PM	#18
Drake Guest Posts: n/a	The "Cali fishing bucket list" as I like to call it, is way to familiar with most of us and I love that we're getting to see you check things off one after the other. Most people "save" the yellow tail for last...not on purpose haha. Congrats on your Hali, let's go find that Ling cod and check it off together... see you out there Neill

11-25-2012, 07:36 PM	#19
JarrodMc Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vista Posts: 411	Hey man that's a hell of a day! Nice job

11-26-2012, 06:06 AM	#20
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Way to go man! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe