Wednesday C&R - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Croaker Dave · 09-15-2011, 02:16 PM

I launched at 3pm on Wednesday to try for an evening bite on the forkers. Lake La Jolla launch. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate. It was a pretty heavy overcast with a little wind chop, coudn't even find a beam of sunlight to give me some hope. Made some nice spaniards outside the reserve, one or two on every drop. I put out two lines hi-lo and trolled to the golden dome and back. But it was dead, no signs of anything. Not even a sea lion looking for free lunch. Until I saw a single black cormorant bobbing on the swells in front of me. As quick as you can say "la jolla sleighride", my deep line gets picked up and starts clicking gently. "Oh no", I thought, and felt the pull on the line to judge the weight. Felt like a chicken. Shit. I started reeling in and up pops the cormorant with my mac crosswise in his beak. I reeled it in, flopping and pulling through the chop, until it got close enough to see what the hook situations was. Whew! The hook was in the mac's nose and clear of the bird. I reel this tenacious SOB all the to my side, shook the rod, lifted it completely out of the water, and it still hung on. I had know idea that cormorants were the bulldogs of the avian world. I looked around for a pursuader, decided on the paddle, but cormdog let go as I leaned toward it. Then he lunges for the brokeback mac as I flip it into my lap. I thought "oh shit, he's going to jump into my lap", so I quickly unhooked and flipped him the mac just as he swam under my yak. I had one second to be happy with that ending, when zzzzzzz, my second line is getting pulled from 75 feet in the other direction. That SOB is fast! And hungry! Repeat the whole story...but sadly this time when I got him to the boat I see he has swallowed the mac. I didn't know what to do except cut the line at his beak and hope the circle hook stays unhooked and rusts out.

Now I've got one more thing to worry about stealing my bait, and it's faster and quieter than a sea lion, and too dumb to avoid the hook.

dorado50 · 09-15-2011, 02:22 PM

Next time you hook one of those birds, bring to boat and grab neck,twist accordingly and hook should fall right out. Works for me...

The Kid · 09-15-2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorado50

Next time you hook one of those birds, bring to boat and grab neck,twist accordingly and hook should fall right out. Works for me...

hahahaha good stuff. got to love scuba chickens. Here let me help you out with a pic

Croaker Dave · 09-15-2011, 02:48 PM

Scuba Chickens!

That's hilarious.

DanaPT · 09-15-2011, 03:01 PM

Last time I fished dana harbor I caught:

3 short hali
2 brown pelican
1 scuba chicken

I've made it a point to not dump left over bait at the launch (I'll walk left-overs to the trash).

%#^@ those birds, they need to eat what they catch in a hunt, not a hand-out.

ChefT · 09-15-2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Kid

hahahaha good stuff. got to love scuba chickens. Here let me help you out with a pic

Those birds have been relentless for the past few days .... diving deep, calling their friends. I think I had the whole
Osbourne clan around me for a while....

PS... we need a bird and seal icon in the smiley section along with one of those big Donkey kong hammers or a road runner Cannon....
food for thought...

kurt · 09-15-2011, 03:41 PM

I had two of those follow me around yesterday for a half hour. Hitting them on the head with a fishing rod does not deter them.

blitzburgh · 09-15-2011, 03:46 PM

"Scuba Chickens" LOL....That there is some funny chit!

Podaker · 09-15-2011, 03:55 PM

I had 2 of these suckers messing with me for a while. finally I gave up and moved. smart little bastards. also lots of dogs out today.

RedSledTeam · 09-15-2011, 04:02 PM

Dave,
I don't know why but your story just made me laugh!! Thanks for the good humor!! I think I'll cook chicken tonight.

silverbullet · 09-15-2011, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blitzburgh

"Scuba Chickens" LOL....That there is some funny chit!

Agree.... Scuba Chicken = funny chit.

I had one follow me about 2 hrs on Sunday... kept going back and forth under the boat. I told my GF I made a friend on the water that day.

Great pic above too! HA!

WahooUSMA · 09-15-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Kid

hahahaha good stuff. got to love scuba chickens. Here let me help you out with a pic

I have a total phobia of birds.....I can promise you I would have shit my pants, dumped my yak and swam for home if that fahquer would have landed on my lap!!!

tagyak · 09-15-2011, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WahooUSMA

I have a total phobia of birds.....I can promise you I would have shit my pants, dumped my yak and swam for home if that fahquer would have landed on my lap!!!

NOW THAT'S SOME FUNNY CHIT!!!!!

GregAndrew · 09-15-2011, 05:06 PM

Since the red tide has been around, I think they have found out that it is much easier to catch tethered Macks than free swimmers. Last Thurs I lost at least 4 flylined baits to them.

kobra · 09-15-2011, 05:12 PM

Wow Kev, your own pet cormorant. Don't see that everyday. Cool pic.

wade · 09-15-2011, 05:31 PM

Wades Audubon Society has been rescuing & volunteering for Wildlife, Raptors and various birds for well over twenty years.
The most common problems I see associated, are fishing line & hooks..
Please whenever possible bring the foul hooked birds yakside, and completely remove your Leader & Hook, and possibly others.. Dont just cut your line at first notice. At least give it an attempt.
(When applicable & not too invasive)
You may need to man-handle him at first, like Dave says...
He will soon know you mean no harm, only help.
Putting their flapping wings carefully underneath your arm, can calm down even the most finicky "scuba-chicken" .......

RK · 09-15-2011, 06:34 PM

HAHAHAHAHA

wade i liked it yesterday when you were feeding the birds and the cabin cruiser (not d50) raced in and started throwing the iron because he thought the birds were diving on a school.... I was losing it laughing. WFO Cormorants and pelicans......

GBF · 09-16-2011, 12:48 AM

Put a pinch collar on him and take him to the schutzhund field!!

Way to go all out in bad condition!!

GBF

hook1fred · 09-16-2011, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wade

Wades Audubon Society has been rescuing & volunteering for Wildlife, Raptors and various birds for well over twenty years.
The most common problems I see associated, are fishing line & hooks..
Please whenever possible bring the foul hooked birds yakside, and completely remove your Leader & Hook, and possibly others.. Dont just cut your line at first notice. At least give it an attempt.
(When applicable & not too invasive)
You may need to man-handle him at first, like Dave says...
He will soon know you mean no harm, only help.
Putting their flapping wings carefully underneath your arm, can calm down even the most finicky "scuba-chicken" .......

HAHAHA Benny Hill music, loved that show

addicted2sp33d · 09-16-2011, 08:47 AM

I'm not that worried about the cormorants... I'm more worried about the 40-lb pelicans. Those things will put a hurt on you, even if you're just trying to help them out.

09-15-2011, 02:16 PM	#1
Croaker Dave Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: OC Posts: 171	Wednesday C&R I launched at 3pm on Wednesday to try for an evening bite on the forkers. Lake La Jolla launch. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate. It was a pretty heavy overcast with a little wind chop, coudn't even find a beam of sunlight to give me some hope. Made some nice spaniards outside the reserve, one or two on every drop. I put out two lines hi-lo and trolled to the golden dome and back. But it was dead, no signs of anything. Not even a sea lion looking for free lunch. Until I saw a single black cormorant bobbing on the swells in front of me. As quick as you can say "la jolla sleighride", my deep line gets picked up and starts clicking gently. "Oh no", I thought, and felt the pull on the line to judge the weight. Felt like a chicken. Shit. I started reeling in and up pops the cormorant with my mac crosswise in his beak. I reeled it in, flopping and pulling through the chop, until it got close enough to see what the hook situations was. Whew! The hook was in the mac's nose and clear of the bird. I reel this tenacious SOB all the to my side, shook the rod, lifted it completely out of the water, and it still hung on. I had know idea that cormorants were the bulldogs of the avian world. I looked around for a pursuader, decided on the paddle, but cormdog let go as I leaned toward it. Then he lunges for the brokeback mac as I flip it into my lap. I thought "oh shit, he's going to jump into my lap", so I quickly unhooked and flipped him the mac just as he swam under my yak. I had one second to be happy with that ending, when zzzzzzz, my second line is getting pulled from 75 feet in the other direction. That SOB is fast! And hungry! Repeat the whole story...but sadly this time when I got him to the boat I see he has swallowed the mac. I didn't know what to do except cut the line at his beak and hope the circle hook stays unhooked and rusts out. Now I've got one more thing to worry about stealing my bait, and it's faster and quieter than a sea lion, and too dumb to avoid the hook.

09-15-2011, 03:01 PM	#5
DanaPT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South OC Posts: 1,606	those things suck. Last time I fished dana harbor I caught: 3 short hali 2 brown pelican 1 scuba chicken I've made it a point to not dump left over bait at the launch (I'll walk left-overs to the trash). %#^@ those birds, they need to eat what they catch in a hunt, not a hand-out.

09-15-2011, 03:41 PM	#7
kurt Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: 2 inches above sea level Posts: 502	I had two of those follow me around yesterday for a half hour. Hitting them on the head with a fishing rod does not deter them. __________________ "All I got was a rock"

09-15-2011, 03:46 PM	#8
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	"Scuba Chickens" LOL....That there is some funny chit! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

09-15-2011, 04:02 PM	#10
RedSledTeam Daddeo Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: OC Posts: 660	good laugh Dave, I don't know why but your story just made me laugh!! Thanks for the good humor!! I think I'll cook chicken tonight.

09-15-2011, 02:22 PM	#2
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	Next time you hook one of those birds, bring to boat and grab neck,twist accordingly and hook should fall right out. Works for me...

09-15-2011, 02:48 PM	#4
Croaker Dave Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: OC Posts: 171	Scuba Chickens! That's hilarious.

09-15-2011, 03:55 PM	#9
Podaker Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: la jolla shores Posts: 86	I had 2 of these suckers messing with me for a while. finally I gave up and moved. smart little bastards. also lots of dogs out today.

09-15-2011, 05:06 PM	#14
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Since the red tide has been around, I think they have found out that it is much easier to catch tethered Macks than free swimmers. Last Thurs I lost at least 4 flylined baits to them.

09-15-2011, 05:12 PM	#15
kobra Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: oceanside Posts: 880	Wow Kev, your own pet cormorant. Don't see that everyday. Cool pic.

09-15-2011, 05:31 PM	#16
wade Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,214	Wades Audubon Society has been rescuing & volunteering for Wildlife, Raptors and various birds for well over twenty years. The most common problems I see associated, are fishing line & hooks.. Please whenever possible bring the foul hooked birds yakside, and completely remove your Leader & Hook, and possibly others.. Dont just cut your line at first notice. At least give it an attempt. (When applicable & not too invasive) You may need to man-handle him at first, like Dave says... He will soon know you mean no harm, only help. Putting their flapping wings carefully underneath your arm, can calm down even the most finicky "scuba-chicken" ....... __________________ Last edited by wade; 09-15-2011 at 05:43 PM.

09-15-2011, 06:34 PM	#17
RK Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 736	HAHAHAHAHA wade i liked it yesterday when you were feeding the birds and the cabin cruiser (not d50) raced in and started throwing the iron because he thought the birds were diving on a school.... I was losing it laughing. WFO Cormorants and pelicans......

09-16-2011, 12:48 AM	#18
GBF Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Huntington Beach CA Posts: 323	Put a pinch collar on him and take him to the schutzhund field!! Way to go all out in bad condition!! GBF __________________ "Just keep going out....it's better than staying Home"

09-16-2011, 08:47 AM	#20
addicted2sp33d Here fishy fishy fishy... Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 774	I'm not that worried about the cormorants... I'm more worried about the 40-lb pelicans. Those things will put a hurt on you, even if you're just trying to help them out.