LJ 08/26 First Yellowtail off kayak - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

deltadelta · 08-26-2016, 08:19 PM

Hit the water around 6:00AM to an easy launch. Peddled out past the reserve for bait, which was pretty much dead. Most people I talked too had a tough time finding and catching bait. I managed to catch one spanish mac at around 8:00 and at around 9:00 I stopped trying. I decided that I could either fish for bait the rest of the day or troll with the one I had and actually start fishing, I obviously chose the later.

I saved the bait in the bait tank till I hit 125 feet of water and then I let her rip. Made my way to 170 feet for nothing and then decided to head back to shallower water. At around 100 feet the reel started screaming and I was hooked on my first yellowtail on my kayak. Got it up to the kayak gaffed it, took some pictures (thank you Mitch for the pictures and advice) and headed back in with a wide smile. The fish measured 35 inches, I didn't have a scale on me so I'm not sure of the weight.

Got home, cleaned it, filleted it, and put in the fridge/freezer for some sashimi/sushi. Just got done eating some of it and it tasted great (hopefully there where no worms). I used the recipe off fishermansbelly.com for the sushi rice and I plan on using the ceviche recipe to make some ceviche tomorrow for lunch (thank you Yanni).

Thanks for everyone who has helped me out and offered their advice along the way! It took a lot of trial and error and a lot of time on the water (6-7 trips) but I finally killed the skunk. I'm definitely hooked and itching till I can get out their again

steveooo · 08-26-2016, 08:24 PM

Stoked! Nice cherry popper!

the dude · 08-26-2016, 08:44 PM

you always remember your first. Good job. Nice fish!

h-james · 08-26-2016, 09:19 PM

I gave it a shot at La Jolla today also. And like you I found bait hard to find. Managed one BIG spanish mac, that I finally put out at 0830. I covered some ground trailing that beast behind me, thinking nothing could be interested in that monstrosity.
At 110O that Spanish Mac got hit by a freight train! Whatever I had on the line was not stopping. Finally, ended when my 50 lb braided line broke.
An exciting two minutes, for sure.
I initially thought it was a seal, but the furbags were nowhere to be seen all day.
Who knows.
Gonna hit it again tomorrow.
Maybe I'll come back with a success story like yours!

alanw · 08-26-2016, 10:06 PM

Awesome, feels great right? Four years fishing Dana Point and no kayak Yellowtail yet, not that I target them that much, but one day... Enjoy!

FISH11 · 08-26-2016, 10:11 PM

Congrats on a nice fish. That first one always taste the best and be remembered the fondest. Yellowtail from a kayak is awesome and why I go out every time with that in mind. I love to eat them and love even more the sleigh rides. The colors are amazing and I think there isn't a more beautiful fish.

Geno Machino · 08-26-2016, 11:36 PM

Great Work!

And persistence!!

Enjoy!!!

Geno

MITCHELL · 08-27-2016, 12:17 AM

Only thing I got today was a full ganyon of little Bonito released and a 300 pound sealion that hit a Rapala on steel leader lucky for him and me.... it was right at my canoe and I was able to pop it from his lip.

Ro12 · 08-27-2016, 12:33 PM

Congrats
That's a nice one

Saba Slayer · 08-27-2016, 01:15 PM

Congrats...sometimes all you need is one bait....!

Silbaugh4liberty · 08-27-2016, 08:48 PM

NICE JOB!! WTG on the first kayak yellow!!

2-Stix · 08-28-2016, 05:02 AM

Good for you. Taggermike and I couldn't make bait at all. My 7th trip in 1.5 years. Still can't break the skunk.

Nice meeting you Mitchell.

Aaron&Julie · 08-28-2016, 05:10 AM

Congrats on getting that first one, nice fish and good looking food too.

Fishin Phil · 08-28-2016, 07:36 AM

Nice report. Good luck.

ol'skool · 08-28-2016, 12:34 PM

Way to go! Still waitin' on my first yak YT, but stories like yours keep me motivated...thanks for sharing!

dpasinli · 08-29-2016, 10:52 AM

But seriously, what's up with the bait? Fished til noon and couldn't find any? Went south along the kelp line then back to the pier...??? Bummed, was my first session in 2016...that's how it goes i guess...?

lamb · 08-29-2016, 11:05 PM

Congrats on your first!!
Nothing like first yellah on the kayak. Sweet!!!

No shit about bait.
I went out on my skiff on Saturday, 1PM, to try to make macks for Sunday tuna run. I worked hard from MB all the way up to Scrips pier. Lizards only.

They can be plenty, in some areas. They come and go, it seems.

kayakfisherman · 08-30-2016, 08:22 AM

Congrats on your first yellowtail!!! And catching 'em this month has been easy!!! I'm so stoked you're trying a recipe or two!

Your smile says it all!

Sully1 · 08-30-2016, 10:23 AM

Now you're the one hooked.

jacksonbigtuna · 08-30-2016, 11:57 AM

Nice! Where did you launch from? I'm hoping to get down to San Diego this weekend. I kayak fish up in the monterey bay all the time. Hoping to hook up with a tuna down south!!

Thanks in advance,
David

08-26-2016, 08:19 PM	#1
deltadelta Junior Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: University City Posts: 28	LJ 08/26 First Yellowtail off kayak Hit the water around 6:00AM to an easy launch. Peddled out past the reserve for bait, which was pretty much dead. Most people I talked too had a tough time finding and catching bait. I managed to catch one spanish mac at around 8:00 and at around 9:00 I stopped trying. I decided that I could either fish for bait the rest of the day or troll with the one I had and actually start fishing, I obviously chose the later. I saved the bait in the bait tank till I hit 125 feet of water and then I let her rip. Made my way to 170 feet for nothing and then decided to head back to shallower water. At around 100 feet the reel started screaming and I was hooked on my first yellowtail on my kayak. Got it up to the kayak gaffed it, took some pictures (thank you Mitch for the pictures and advice) and headed back in with a wide smile. The fish measured 35 inches, I didn't have a scale on me so I'm not sure of the weight. Got home, cleaned it, filleted it, and put in the fridge/freezer for some sashimi/sushi. Just got done eating some of it and it tasted great (hopefully there where no worms). I used the recipe off fishermansbelly.com for the sushi rice and I plan on using the ceviche recipe to make some ceviche tomorrow for lunch (thank you Yanni). Thanks for everyone who has helped me out and offered their advice along the way! It took a lot of trial and error and a lot of time on the water (6-7 trips) but I finally killed the skunk. I'm definitely hooked and itching till I can get out their again

08-26-2016, 08:44 PM	#3
the dude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Valley Center Posts: 271	you always remember your first. Good job. Nice fish! __________________ The dude abides.

08-26-2016, 09:19 PM	#4
h-james Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 51	Nice Fish! I gave it a shot at La Jolla today also. And like you I found bait hard to find. Managed one BIG spanish mac, that I finally put out at 0830. I covered some ground trailing that beast behind me, thinking nothing could be interested in that monstrosity. At 110O that Spanish Mac got hit by a freight train! Whatever I had on the line was not stopping. Finally, ended when my 50 lb braided line broke. An exciting two minutes, for sure. I initially thought it was a seal, but the furbags were nowhere to be seen all day. Who knows. Gonna hit it again tomorrow. Maybe I'll come back with a success story like yours!

08-26-2016, 10:06 PM	#5
alanw Made in U.S.A. Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dana Point Posts: 1,625	Awesome, feels great right? Four years fishing Dana Point and no kayak Yellowtail yet, not that I target them that much, but one day... Enjoy! __________________ 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

08-26-2016, 10:11 PM	#6
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	Congrats on a nice fish. That first one always taste the best and be remembered the fondest. Yellowtail from a kayak is awesome and why I go out every time with that in mind. I love to eat them and love even more the sleigh rides. The colors are amazing and I think there isn't a more beautiful fish. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

08-26-2016, 08:24 PM	#2
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	Stoked! Nice cherry popper!

08-26-2016, 11:36 PM	#7
Geno Machino "Relax" Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: O'side Posts: 553	Great Work! And persistence!! Enjoy!!! Geno __________________

08-27-2016, 12:17 AM	#8
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,277	Congratulations on your first Yt Only thing I got today was a full ganyon of little Bonito released and a 300 pound sealion that hit a Rapala on steel leader lucky for him and me.... it was right at my canoe and I was able to pop it from his lip. __________________ Duke Mitchell

08-27-2016, 12:33 PM	#9
Ro12 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 137	Congrats That's a nice one

08-27-2016, 01:15 PM	#10
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,857	One bait Congrats...sometimes all you need is one bait....! __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer Last edited by Saba Slayer; 08-27-2016 at 01:21 PM.

08-27-2016, 08:48 PM	#11
Silbaugh4liberty Fishing Patriot Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 1,121	NICE JOB!! WTG on the first kayak yellow!! __________________

08-28-2016, 05:02 AM	#12
2-Stix Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 376	Good for you. Taggermike and I couldn't make bait at all. My 7th trip in 1.5 years. Still can't break the skunk. Nice meeting you Mitchell.

08-28-2016, 05:10 AM	#13
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	Congrats on getting that first one, nice fish and good looking food too. __________________ "Never say die"

08-28-2016, 07:36 AM	#14
Fishin Phil Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 288	Nice report. Good luck. __________________ God, Family, Your Health, You're Fishing.

08-28-2016, 12:34 PM	#15
ol'skool Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lomita Posts: 77	Way to go! Still waitin' on my first yak YT, but stories like yours keep me motivated...thanks for sharing!

08-29-2016, 10:52 AM	#16
dpasinli Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Clemente Posts: 118	But seriously, what's up with the bait? Fished til noon and couldn't find any? Went south along the kelp line then back to the pier...??? Bummed, was my first session in 2016...that's how it goes i guess...?

08-29-2016, 11:05 PM	#17
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	Congrats on your first!! Nothing like first yellah on the kayak. Sweet!!! No shit about bait. I went out on my skiff on Saturday, 1PM, to try to make macks for Sunday tuna run. I worked hard from MB all the way up to Scrips pier. Lizards only. They can be plenty, in some areas. They come and go, it seems. __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

08-30-2016, 08:22 AM	#18
kayakfisherman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 715	Congrats on your first yellowtail!!! And catching 'em this month has been easy!!! I'm so stoked you're trying a recipe or two! Your smile says it all!

08-30-2016, 10:23 AM	#19
Sully1 Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: The Beach Posts: 290	Now you're the one hooked. __________________

08-30-2016, 11:57 AM	#20
jacksonbigtuna Junior Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Bay Ho Posts: 14	Nice! Where did you launch from? I'm hoping to get down to San Diego this weekend. I kayak fish up in the monterey bay all the time. Hoping to hook up with a tuna down south!! Thanks in advance, David