Interesting catch at La Jolla 8/29

[Jason]

Hey guys, first report here. I just had to ask if anyone has ever caught a Mola on a kayak before? Well, my friend Damon did just that today. The thing clobberd a Spanish Mack he was soaking, while re-rigging one of his rods. I just thought you guys would get a kick out of that and decided I would share a couple of pics I took. I would guesstimate it was about 4' in diameter, it was huge!





Earlier in the day, I caught a 15# YT on a slow-trolled Spanish Mack in 100' of water and that was it for me.

Jason

[dorado50]

Hey Jason, wtg on the yellow cool pics ,thanks for the report. no on the mola and would never want to catch one. Dave

[rdahl]

I was on an overnight boat years ago fishing for albacore. A guy right next to me got bit. As soon as he flipped the reel in gear a huge mola came up, did about three really wierd flips, then off to the races. Spooled him pretty fast. Was well over 200#.

[john p.]

Good job Damon you provided entertainment for me on an otherwise slow day. Congrats, on the yellowtail Jason.

[Damon]

Thanks for keeping me company! I was kind'a tripping out on this thing after seeing a huge splash and my line peeling like crazy. I was really hoping for a trophy YT. I definitely got my work-out in for the day.

[habanero]

I've actually tasted Sun Fish.
It really kind of tastes like lobster!
I was on a Mexican party boat and they passed out small bags of meat
cut from the middle. It seems a shame because they thew away about
90% of the fish away. They said the rest was uneatable. I'm not even
sure if it is legal to take one in US water?

BTW:
The pictures I took did not come out. Not worth uploading.

[herbo]

Cool report! haven't seen too many sun fish hook ups, must be a major work out on the water.....H

[THE DARKHORSE]

Originally Posted by rdahl

I was on an overnight boat years ago fishing for albacore. A guy right next to me got bit. As soon as he flipped the reel in gear a huge mola came up, did about three really wierd flips, then off to the races. Spooled him pretty fast. Was well over 200#.

Same thing happened to me fishing a micro paddy on an overnight trip. I was fishing 20 lb line with a hot Sardine, and the biggest Mola I ever saw came flying half out of the water a few times, crazy. I would of definitely lost all my new line on the small rig, so I quickly clamped the thumb down, as I had no chance of bringing the fish boatside. I would rather eat something off the side of the road than one of those things, but I love to pull up next to them and scratch their belly with my rod tip. The big ones usually roll over and love every second, pretty cool. Sometimes, it's the highlight of the day . I've never hooked one on the kayak, and think it only happens in times of very scarce bait, like offshore, and La Jolla right now.

[bjoseph]

Jared caught a small Mola from the kayak down in Mexico in May on one of the kayak mothership trips.

[bajadog]

I saw a mola with a blonde wig and cherry red lipstick on HOT!!!!!lol

[rdahl]

Originally Posted by habanero

I've actually tasted Sun Fish.
It really kind of tastes like lobster!
I was on a Mexican party boat and they passed out small bags of meat
cut from the middle. It seems a shame because they thew away about
90% of the fish away. They said the rest was uneatable. I'm not even
sure if it is legal to take one in US water?

BTW:
The pictures I took did not come out. Not worth uploading.

I bet you ate opah which is sometimes called sunfish. Mola is supposedly poisonous to humans, at least that's what the books say.

[fishchaser25]

I don't know about you guys but on the boats I work on in Newport it is bad joojoo (luck) to bring a mola on the boat or gaff them.

[dorado50]

I have never caught a fish off a kelp paddy with a mola,either on top of or near the paddy. If theres a mola on the paddy you might as well just move on ! They have no friends.......

[MalibuJohnny]

I heard the same thing

http://www.oceansunfish.org/lore.php