Mother Ocean finally gave me a YT - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

czar · 06-06-2012, 03:23 PM

Been fishing LJ semi-regularly for years and despite many hook ups / screw ups, never had landed a big yellow. Like most of us, landing a YT was high on my bucket list. My buddy Rob and I met at the shores at 4:45 last Friday. Spanish macs plentiful but greenies were hard to come by but eventually managed a few and some sardines too. Started trolling around 7. By around 11 and after fighting sea lions all morning, I was starting to feel a bit discouraged that the day would end like so many previous. I put my last fresh big greenie on the #1 rod with 60 lb braid, 40 lb fluoro and new Torium 50 yds back. On the other, back-up rod, 2 year old 30 lb mono, 20 lb fluoro on an older Diawa sealine, I fly-lined a tired sardine 30 yds back. I was trolling slowly while working a sabiki for more bait when I heard a splash close behind and the Diawa was buzzing. I knew right away what it was and counted thousand one, thousand two and set the J-hook. Line was still peeling off as I tightened the drag. I fought hard to control the line loss and clean up the mess with the sabiki and other rod. The fish was pulling really hard and still taking too much line dispite progressively tighter drag application. Soon I the mono was gone and I am down to white backer line and starting to see some bare spots on the reel. In a panic I add more drag and start thumbing the spool and cranking and lifting when possible. The boat is being drug sideways and I I finally manage to get the line out front and pedal away from kelp. After some more agressive cranking mono is back on the spool and things are going well. 5-15 minutes (not sure) more fighting and a couple more runs line is straight down and fish is getting close. Finally color shows, wrapped in some loose kelp vines, a nice yellow. I bring it to the surface and make a clean gaff to the head which ends up a bullseye, right in the eyeball. Lifting the critter into the boat was heavy but all of a suddden I felt the weight of catching that elusive YT being lifted from my shoulders! What a beautiful fish and incredible experience. Definitely worth the wait.

I got the YT on ice right away and home and into the chest freezer for a few hours which got it really cold, just barely above freezing. It spent the rest of the night in the fridge door (wife was gone for the weekend and my brother visiting from Colorado). Filleting went easy the next morning. Also discovered new puppy loves the smell/taste of YT and especially the fins which I saved for her chew treats. Toro belly meat was eaten directly off the bones, soo good!

No freezing for the meat, Sashimi & teriyaki BBQ party on Sunday, Monday, Poke on Tuesday, BBQ again tonight!

Can't wait to get out again. Still need a ghost!

chris138 · 06-06-2012, 03:26 PM

Way to go!! Great first post!

JNAST13ST · 06-06-2012, 03:35 PM

Nice cant wait for mine good job

jorluivil · 06-06-2012, 03:36 PM

Congrats!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
it's all downhill from here

lamb · 06-06-2012, 03:37 PM

Great report, congrats on your 1st!

Love the "after 5-15 mins" part...

to many more to come

mtnbykr2 · 06-06-2012, 03:40 PM

What a great post, well written congrats on the illusive first YT

czar · 06-06-2012, 03:43 PM

BTW, weighed 28 lbs on digital bathroom scale after bleeding.

Whizz Bang · 06-06-2012, 03:54 PM

First quality YT, OVER kelp, on mono and not on a wide-open squidbite....very well done. Loved the post, and loved watching your stoke as you pulled it up.

I was the guy that told you to bleed it through the drive and toss it in your hatch since you did not have a game clip handy.

The skunk is off, the Yak has been bloodied...more will follow.

czar · 06-06-2012, 04:08 PM

thanks for your advice and help Whizz Bang!

jsigone · 06-06-2012, 04:10 PM

nice fish....love the puppy biting the tail picture.

mtnbykr2 · 06-06-2012, 04:20 PM

the story was so good, I didn't have the heart to call bs with no pics...
great pictures, look at all the "icky blood" on the yak...LOVE IT!!!!

roadx · 06-06-2012, 04:34 PM

broke that PA 12 in right.

Chief Gunner · 06-06-2012, 04:43 PM

Awesome! Love the pic of the Pup getting a taste. My 2 Aussies and the Cat love them some fish!

DarthFisherman · 06-06-2012, 04:57 PM

Awesome! Congrats!

da22y · 06-06-2012, 05:27 PM

Nice post with beautiful pictures.
How's your PA12 worked compare to yor prior kayak?

Love that puppy chew tail picture....

Divad · 06-06-2012, 05:32 PM

Way to go!

Your making me hungry with the pics.

packeryakker · 06-06-2012, 06:22 PM

Old milwaukee Nice touch! Great fish!

blitzburgh · 06-06-2012, 06:59 PM

NICE!!!

Aaron&Julie · 06-06-2012, 07:24 PM

Congratulations on your first YT. One always remembers that one. Love the photo of the dog taking a taste of the tail.

lbsurf2ca · 06-06-2012, 08:28 PM

Great story and fish... Those 12's are beautiful.

06-06-2012, 03:35 PM	#3
JNAST13ST Living Da Dream! Join Date: May 2012 Location: SAN DIEGO Posts: 414	Nice cant wait for mine good job __________________ Don't tread on me

06-06-2012, 03:36 PM	#4
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	Congrats!!! . . . . . . . . . . . it's all downhill from here __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

06-06-2012, 03:37 PM	#5
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,563	Great report, congrats on your 1st! Love the "after 5-15 mins" part... to many more to come __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

06-06-2012, 03:40 PM	#6
mtnbykr2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: newbury park ca Posts: 2,323	What a great post, well written congrats on the illusive first YT __________________

06-06-2012, 03:43 PM	#7
czar Junior Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 3	photos of first yellow BTW, weighed 28 lbs on digital bathroom scale after bleeding. Attached Images

06-06-2012, 03:23 PM	#1
czar Junior Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 3	Mother Ocean finally gave me a YT Been fishing LJ semi-regularly for years and despite many hook ups / screw ups, never had landed a big yellow. Like most of us, landing a YT was high on my bucket list. My buddy Rob and I met at the shores at 4:45 last Friday. Spanish macs plentiful but greenies were hard to come by but eventually managed a few and some sardines too. Started trolling around 7. By around 11 and after fighting sea lions all morning, I was starting to feel a bit discouraged that the day would end like so many previous. I put my last fresh big greenie on the #1 rod with 60 lb braid, 40 lb fluoro and new Torium 50 yds back. On the other, back-up rod, 2 year old 30 lb mono, 20 lb fluoro on an older Diawa sealine, I fly-lined a tired sardine 30 yds back. I was trolling slowly while working a sabiki for more bait when I heard a splash close behind and the Diawa was buzzing. I knew right away what it was and counted thousand one, thousand two and set the J-hook. Line was still peeling off as I tightened the drag. I fought hard to control the line loss and clean up the mess with the sabiki and other rod. The fish was pulling really hard and still taking too much line dispite progressively tighter drag application. Soon I the mono was gone and I am down to white backer line and starting to see some bare spots on the reel. In a panic I add more drag and start thumbing the spool and cranking and lifting when possible. The boat is being drug sideways and I I finally manage to get the line out front and pedal away from kelp. After some more agressive cranking mono is back on the spool and things are going well. 5-15 minutes (not sure) more fighting and a couple more runs line is straight down and fish is getting close. Finally color shows, wrapped in some loose kelp vines, a nice yellow. I bring it to the surface and make a clean gaff to the head which ends up a bullseye, right in the eyeball. Lifting the critter into the boat was heavy but all of a suddden I felt the weight of catching that elusive YT being lifted from my shoulders! What a beautiful fish and incredible experience. Definitely worth the wait. I got the YT on ice right away and home and into the chest freezer for a few hours which got it really cold, just barely above freezing. It spent the rest of the night in the fridge door (wife was gone for the weekend and my brother visiting from Colorado). Filleting went easy the next morning. Also discovered new puppy loves the smell/taste of YT and especially the fins which I saved for her chew treats. Toro belly meat was eaten directly off the bones, soo good! No freezing for the meat, Sashimi & teriyaki BBQ party on Sunday, Monday, Poke on Tuesday, BBQ again tonight! Can't wait to get out again. Still need a ghost! Last edited by czar; 06-06-2012 at 03:24 PM. Reason: clean up typos

06-06-2012, 03:26 PM	#2
chris138 donkey roper Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 968	Way to go!! Great first post!

06-06-2012, 03:54 PM	#8
Whizz Bang Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 396	Well Done First quality YT, OVER kelp, on mono and not on a wide-open squidbite....very well done. Loved the post, and loved watching your stoke as you pulled it up. I was the guy that told you to bleed it through the drive and toss it in your hatch since you did not have a game clip handy. The skunk is off, the Yak has been bloodied...more will follow.

06-06-2012, 04:08 PM	#9
czar Junior Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 3	thanks for your advice and help Whizz Bang thanks for your advice and help Whizz Bang!

06-06-2012, 04:10 PM	#10
jsigone Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Escondido Posts: 52	nice fish....love the puppy biting the tail picture.

06-06-2012, 04:20 PM	#11
mtnbykr2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: newbury park ca Posts: 2,323	the story was so good, I didn't have the heart to call bs with no pics... great pictures, look at all the "icky blood" on the yak...LOVE IT!!!! __________________

06-06-2012, 04:34 PM	#12
roadx . Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,155	broke that PA 12 in right. __________________

06-06-2012, 04:43 PM	#13
Chief Gunner Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Lakeside Posts: 97	Awesome! Love the pic of the Pup getting a taste. My 2 Aussies and the Cat love them some fish!

06-06-2012, 04:57 PM	#14
DarthFisherman Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 74	Awesome! Congrats!

06-06-2012, 05:27 PM	#15
da22y Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 265	Nice post with beautiful pictures. How's your PA12 worked compare to yor prior kayak? Love that puppy chew tail picture....

06-06-2012, 05:32 PM	#16
Divad Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Oceanside Posts: 112	Way to go! Your making me hungry with the pics.

06-06-2012, 06:22 PM	#17
packeryakker Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Victorville Posts: 61	Old milwaukee Nice touch! Great fish!

06-06-2012, 06:59 PM	#18
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	NICE!!! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

06-06-2012, 07:24 PM	#19
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	Congratulations on your first YT. One always remembers that one. Love the photo of the dog taking a taste of the tail. __________________ "Never say die"

06-06-2012, 08:28 PM	#20
lbsurf2ca Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Encinitas Posts: 395	Great story and fish... Those 12's are beautiful. __________________