Merry Christmas! - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Erickblim · 12-26-2012, 01:35 PM

This is my first post...though I started kayak fishing almost a year ago and I've been "trolling" on this site since then...I just haven't had anything worthwhile to post. Anyway, I appreciate all the helpful info that's been posted here and all of you who have given me tips on the water. Also props to the seasamurai who taught me a ton.

Wife and kids went to visit her family this week and I had to stay around for work...so rather than sit around by myself on Christmas day I figured I'd give La Jolla another chance. Launched about 1030 am, beautiful day. I was all alone although I met the Tinhman a little later in the day. There was a huge pod of dolphins but not a lot of bait in the water...so I started out just bottom fishing with frozen squid. Caught a little baby octopus that I put on the dropper loop...about an hour later the line started screaming and pulling the kayak sideways. After about 3 minutes, whatever it was popped off and I thought for sure I had blown my opportunity for the day.

A school of baitfish came by and I caught a greenback mackeral and fly-lined it. There were some birds sitting on the water and I trolled around the edge of them...about 10 min later I hooked into this monster, first yellow tail that I have successfully landed. When I got him to the boat he was actually hooked in the side...whatever, I'll take it. Measured 4.5 feet long and weighed 52.4 pounds on the bathroom scale.

StinkyMatt · 12-26-2012, 01:54 PM

Holy Crap!

Dude, one post 52 pound YT.......

Wide open LJ yellowtail bite going on.....we are all coming!

Congrats on an incredible catch.

Ggiannig89 · 12-26-2012, 01:57 PM

Hell of a catch!!!! Good job!!!

ful-rac · 12-26-2012, 02:02 PM

That's a hell of a lot bigger than any yellowtail I've ever caught! Congrats!

Wayne_R · 12-26-2012, 02:45 PM

WTG! Awesome Christmas Present

ashmoz · 12-26-2012, 03:08 PM

"Holy shit" is all I can say man!

Necron 99 · 12-26-2012, 03:21 PM

What a Christmas present! Strong work!

DanaPT · 12-26-2012, 03:36 PM

Hmmmm.

Not sure that fish will taste the same as if hooked in the mouth.

Anyone can side-hook a YT. Catching one the proper way, well that can take time.

As you know I'm just jealous.

Congrats on the monster.

lamb · 12-26-2012, 03:49 PM

I don't think it gets much merrier than that!

Double awesome and triple cool!

I can only imagine how that thing pulled belly hooked!

slobslayer · 12-26-2012, 03:54 PM

It makes that game clip look tiny. I'm pretty sure that's the one I hooked the other day. Lol

Biggameaddict · 12-26-2012, 04:16 PM

Nice man that things a beast! Great first post.!

finyak · 12-26-2012, 04:47 PM

WOW!! Nice catch I guess you will be going out again next Christmas.

Hypoxic1 · 12-26-2012, 05:22 PM

That is one magnificent fish

jorluivil · 12-26-2012, 05:25 PM

Holy Crap!!!

That thing is as big as my......nevermind.

Awesome catch and first post!!!!

Dannowar · 12-26-2012, 05:30 PM

Heard tihn got a fatty too....or was that yours?

Erickblim · 12-26-2012, 05:37 PM

Tihn actually caught two yellows...here's a pic of me holding his fish

Dannowar · 12-26-2012, 05:48 PM

Farck yea guys! Nice!

steveooo · 12-26-2012, 05:57 PM

Solid fish! You have made alot of guys that have been doing this a while very very jealous with that fish

erinoo · 12-26-2012, 07:52 PM

Very nice grasshopper

lowprofile · 12-26-2012, 08:17 PM

holy crap man... thats HUGE!

4.5ft huh? seems they grow length wise then fill out instead of being proportionate the whole time. mine have all been in the 42-47" range and not that thick or heavy.

way to go!

12-26-2012, 01:35 PM	#1
Erickblim Junior Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 9	Merry Christmas! This is my first post...though I started kayak fishing almost a year ago and I've been "trolling" on this site since then...I just haven't had anything worthwhile to post. Anyway, I appreciate all the helpful info that's been posted here and all of you who have given me tips on the water. Also props to the seasamurai who taught me a ton. Wife and kids went to visit her family this week and I had to stay around for work...so rather than sit around by myself on Christmas day I figured I'd give La Jolla another chance. Launched about 1030 am, beautiful day. I was all alone although I met the Tinhman a little later in the day. There was a huge pod of dolphins but not a lot of bait in the water...so I started out just bottom fishing with frozen squid. Caught a little baby octopus that I put on the dropper loop...about an hour later the line started screaming and pulling the kayak sideways. After about 3 minutes, whatever it was popped off and I thought for sure I had blown my opportunity for the day. A school of baitfish came by and I caught a greenback mackeral and fly-lined it. There were some birds sitting on the water and I trolled around the edge of them...about 10 min later I hooked into this monster, first yellow tail that I have successfully landed. When I got him to the boat he was actually hooked in the side...whatever, I'll take it. Measured 4.5 feet long and weighed 52.4 pounds on the bathroom scale. Attached Images

12-26-2012, 02:02 PM	#4
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	That's a hell of a lot bigger than any yellowtail I've ever caught! Congrats! __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

12-26-2012, 03:36 PM	#8
DanaPT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South OC Posts: 1,606	Hooked on the side. .. . Hmmmm. Not sure that fish will taste the same as if hooked in the mouth. Anyone can side-hook a YT. Catching one the proper way, well that can take time. As you know I'm just jealous. Congrats on the monster.

12-26-2012, 03:49 PM	#9
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	I don't think it gets much merrier than that! Double awesome and triple cool! I can only imagine how that thing pulled belly hooked! __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

12-26-2012, 04:16 PM	#11
Biggameaddict The Kayak Peddler Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Hollywood Posts: 591	Nice man that things a beast! Great first post.! __________________ Keep your rod close, your gaff closer, and your paddle on a leash.

12-26-2012, 01:54 PM	#2
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	Holy Crap! Dude, one post 52 pound YT....... Wide open LJ yellowtail bite going on.....we are all coming! Congrats on an incredible catch.

12-26-2012, 01:57 PM	#3
Ggiannig89 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: El Cajon Posts: 512	Hell of a catch!!!! Good job!!!

12-26-2012, 02:45 PM	#5
Wayne_R Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Riverside / Temecula Ca Posts: 92	WTG! Awesome Christmas Present

12-26-2012, 03:08 PM	#6
ashmoz 192.168.0.1 Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 397	"Holy shit" is all I can say man!

12-26-2012, 03:21 PM	#7
Necron 99 Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 80	What a Christmas present! Strong work!

12-26-2012, 03:54 PM	#10
slobslayer Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Santee Posts: 384	It makes that game clip look tiny. I'm pretty sure that's the one I hooked the other day. Lol

12-26-2012, 04:47 PM	#12
finyak Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 332	WOW!! Nice catch I guess you will be going out again next Christmas.

12-26-2012, 05:22 PM	#13
Hypoxic1 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oceanside Posts: 215	That is one magnificent fish

12-26-2012, 05:25 PM	#14
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	Holy Crap!!! That thing is as big as my......nevermind. Awesome catch and first post!!!! __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

12-26-2012, 05:30 PM	#15
Dannowar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,823	Heard tihn got a fatty too....or was that yours? __________________ "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever." — Brian Wilson

12-26-2012, 05:37 PM	#16
Erickblim Junior Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 9	Tihn actually caught two yellows...here's a pic of me holding his fish Attached Images

12-26-2012, 05:48 PM	#17
Dannowar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,823	Farck yea guys! Nice! __________________ "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever." — Brian Wilson

12-26-2012, 05:57 PM	#18
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	Solid fish! You have made alot of guys that have been doing this a while very very jealous with that fish

12-26-2012, 07:52 PM	#19
erinoo Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Carlsbad,,Halfway up the Hill Posts: 486	Very nice grasshopper

12-26-2012, 08:17 PM	#20
lowprofile #1 on fishstick's hitlist Join Date: May 2011 Location: Sea level Posts: 1,478	holy crap man... thats HUGE! 4.5ft huh? seems they grow length wise then fill out instead of being proportionate the whole time. mine have all been in the 42-47" range and not that thick or heavy. way to go! __________________ MLPA- My Largest Poaching Area