LJ 7/27. First YT. - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Widgeon · 07-27-2014, 11:27 AM

Fourth consecutive Sunday ( my only chance to fish) at LJ. The alarm went off, shortly after 4am. For the first time in a month, I actually considered going back to sleep. " No, this is the day I get my YT." I said " and the yak is already on top of the truck".
Splashed in about 5:45. Got out to the far corner where I generally make bait and begin my troll. Took a little longer than usual, but I got 5 fat greenies and a Spanish. Good to go. Rigged up one rod for iron and one for bait. I decided to try some Owner, 3/0 ringed gorillas. Fly line on a 5 ', 30# fluoro leader. Figured I'd do my usual alternating between trolling and throwing iron.

I hooked a fat greenie and began the slow troll as I rounded the corner. After about 5 minutes, the clicker started working, then stopped. I felt the line and my bait was still there. I figured it must have gotten scarred and was running from something. Oh well, carry on. A few more strokes of the paddle and it starts going off again. I grabbed the rod and started cranking. I was a little disappointed at first. Didn't feel like much. Thought maybe a big calico or bonito.
When I had about 1/3-1/2 of my line back, it was suddenly like a switch had flipped. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Pulling drag, head shaking. Fought it for a good five minutes before I saw color and knew for sure. Then I tightened up the drag a little in an effort to get it on board before it became dog food. I finally got him boat side and having zero experience with a gaff, missed about 4-5 times before I stuck him. He was nicely lip hooked.
Got him tied up and bleeding out. I trolled my way back to the corner, more or less in shock and then said F- it, I'm not greedy, I'm going home.
Back on the beach by 9am.

battleborn · 07-27-2014, 11:31 AM

Congrats. Sometimes its good to get your meal and get back to bed early. Way to be persistent.

alanw · 07-27-2014, 11:51 AM

Nice first YT.

"jjcawjj" · 07-27-2014, 12:20 PM

WTG!!! Congrats to you! Great read too!

ful-rac · 07-27-2014, 12:56 PM

Zzzzz zuh zzzzzuh zzzzzz zzuh zzzzzz zzzzzzz zzzzuh!

Love it when they do that!

Widgeon · 07-27-2014, 01:43 PM

Thanks guys.
It was a definite rush and fun fight.

SLYACKER · 07-27-2014, 02:56 PM

Nice!! Well done man congrats! Still waiting on my LJ YT

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tamddo714 · 07-27-2014, 03:25 PM

Way to go!

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skrilla · 07-27-2014, 04:21 PM

Way to go and congrats. On the gaff technique... underhand it. Hook pointing away from you, get it between you and the fish, that way if you miss you don't puncture your yak or wrap up your line. Then as the fish gets into position just firmly pull up and impale the fish.

momo fish · 07-27-2014, 04:24 PM

Great effort and Congrads on your cherry

FISH11 · 07-27-2014, 04:53 PM

Crongrats on your first Yellowtail.

TCS · 07-27-2014, 05:09 PM

Great job.
Your hooks my a little big. I use a 1/O ringed gorilla.
Seems pretty reliable and more stealthy.

JeffB · 07-27-2014, 06:04 PM

Nice! Congrats on first YT on your yak!

dmrides · 07-27-2014, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skrilla

On the gaff technique... underhand it. Hook pointing away from you, get it between you and the fish, that way if you miss you don't puncture your yak or wrap up your line. Then as the fish gets into position just firmly pull up and impale the fish.

Great advice. Congrats on your first! Nothing like seeing that first one come to color!!

sdmosch · 07-27-2014, 07:35 PM

Congrats!

Widgeon · 07-27-2014, 07:50 PM

I appreciate all advice.
Just had some excellent tacos.

Cbad Mike · 07-27-2014, 07:55 PM

Congratulations on getting that first one!

Bert Vega · 07-27-2014, 08:49 PM

Awesome job! Putting the time in and getting the payoff!

467echo · 07-27-2014, 09:00 PM

Congrats! Way to stick it out

baerclaws · 07-27-2014, 09:28 PM

WTG with that YT.
And great timing getting out of La Jolla before all hell broke loose at the shores.
FYI, the new Storm Drain System was overwhelmed big time.

07-27-2014, 11:27 AM	#1
Widgeon Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Clairemont Posts: 175	LJ 7/27. First YT. Fourth consecutive Sunday ( my only chance to fish) at LJ. The alarm went off, shortly after 4am. For the first time in a month, I actually considered going back to sleep. " No, this is the day I get my YT." I said " and the yak is already on top of the truck". Splashed in about 5:45. Got out to the far corner where I generally make bait and begin my troll. Took a little longer than usual, but I got 5 fat greenies and a Spanish. Good to go. Rigged up one rod for iron and one for bait. I decided to try some Owner, 3/0 ringed gorillas. Fly line on a 5 ', 30# fluoro leader. Figured I'd do my usual alternating between trolling and throwing iron. I hooked a fat greenie and began the slow troll as I rounded the corner. After about 5 minutes, the clicker started working, then stopped. I felt the line and my bait was still there. I figured it must have gotten scarred and was running from something. Oh well, carry on. A few more strokes of the paddle and it starts going off again. I grabbed the rod and started cranking. I was a little disappointed at first. Didn't feel like much. Thought maybe a big calico or bonito. When I had about 1/3-1/2 of my line back, it was suddenly like a switch had flipped. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Pulling drag, head shaking. Fought it for a good five minutes before I saw color and knew for sure. Then I tightened up the drag a little in an effort to get it on board before it became dog food. I finally got him boat side and having zero experience with a gaff, missed about 4-5 times before I stuck him. He was nicely lip hooked. Got him tied up and bleeding out. I trolled my way back to the corner, more or less in shock and then said F- it, I'm not greedy, I'm going home. Back on the beach by 9am. Attached Images Last edited by Widgeon; 07-27-2014 at 06:15 PM.

07-27-2014, 11:51 AM	#3
alanw Made in U.S.A. Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dana Point Posts: 1,625	Nice first YT. __________________ Hobie PA 14 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Jackson Kraken ¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu X-Factor ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu Stealth-12 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Its not a spelling B its a fishing B ~yakjoe

07-27-2014, 12:56 PM	#5
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Zzzzz zuh zzzzzuh zzzzzz zzuh zzzzzz zzzzzzz zzzzuh! Love it when they do that! __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

07-27-2014, 04:21 PM	#9
skrilla Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 664	Way to go and congrats. On the gaff technique... underhand it. Hook pointing away from you, get it between you and the fish, that way if you miss you don't puncture your yak or wrap up your line. Then as the fish gets into position just firmly pull up and impale the fish. __________________ Urban Camo Trident 13

07-27-2014, 04:53 PM	#11
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	Crongrats on your first Yellowtail. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

07-27-2014, 11:31 AM	#2
battleborn Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 221	Congrats. Sometimes its good to get your meal and get back to bed early. Way to be persistent.

07-27-2014, 12:20 PM	#4
"jjcawjj" Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Vista, California Posts: 174	WTG!!! Congrats to you! Great read too!

07-27-2014, 01:43 PM	#6
Widgeon Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Clairemont Posts: 175	Thanks guys. It was a definite rush and fun fight.

07-27-2014, 02:56 PM	#7
SLYACKER Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Corona, ca Posts: 100	Nice!! Well done man congrats! Still waiting on my LJ YT Sent using Tapatalk

07-27-2014, 03:25 PM	#8
tamddo714 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 273	Way to go! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07-27-2014, 04:24 PM	#10
momo fish Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Camarillo Posts: 1,491	Great effort and Congrads on your cherry

07-27-2014, 05:09 PM	#12
TCS Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 478	Great job. Your hooks my a little big. I use a 1/O ringed gorilla. Seems pretty reliable and more stealthy.

07-27-2014, 06:04 PM	#13
JeffB Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: La Jolla Posts: 1,216	Nice! Congrats on first YT on your yak! __________________ If you're looking for me I'm

07-27-2014, 07:35 PM	#15
sdmosch Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Rancho Penasquitos Posts: 74	Congrats!

07-27-2014, 07:50 PM	#16
Widgeon Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Clairemont Posts: 175	I appreciate all advice. Just had some excellent tacos.

07-27-2014, 07:55 PM	#17
Cbad Mike Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Carlsbad Ca. Posts: 1,206	Congratulations on getting that first one! __________________ [SIGPIC]

07-27-2014, 08:49 PM	#18
Bert Vega Tail Chaser! Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Murrieta Posts: 627	Awesome job! Putting the time in and getting the payoff!

07-27-2014, 09:00 PM	#19
467echo Rookie of the Month Club Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mira Mesa Posts: 483	Congrats! Way to stick it out __________________ they are getting bigger....

07-27-2014, 09:28 PM	#20
baerclaws Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 72	WTG with that YT. And great timing getting out of La Jolla before all hell broke loose at the shores. FYI, the new Storm Drain System was overwhelmed big time.