7/19 Great New Bait For Halibut...SPOTTED BAY BASS!!! - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Spyder · 07-19-2009, 07:45 PM

Short story: Took a buddy out for his 1st kayak feeshin trip. We both kicked ass on the bass. I caught a 33" flattie using a spottie for bait.

The entire story: Met up with my friend Aaron at SI around 0530. Like I said, today was going to be his first time fishing from a kayak. After going over the basics with him we launched right about 0600 into awesome conditions, warm, no wind, and the bay was smooth as glass.

Paddled over to our first spot, caught a few bass, and then the tide went slack.

Moved around for the next hour or so catching nadda until the tide started moving again. Bingo, it was like a switch went on. We were both catching dozens of spotties, sandies and even a few calicos mixed in. Aaron was fishing like a pro from the yak.

We drifted over into an area that has a nice drop off near some thick eel grass. I was tossing out a 3/8 lead head with a 4" GULP! Chart. swimming mullet on my bass rod using #8. Felt yet another spottie take it off the bottom and started reeling up. Then the line goes tight and it feels like I am either stuck on the bottom or the fish ran into the thick eel grass. Knew it wasn't the bottom when the tip of my rod went WHAM WHAM WHAM into the water. I couldn't get whatever it was off the bottom, it was just kinda laying there. I was thinking, bat ray?? I stopped trying to reel and gently put as much pressue as I dare on the light line and it started coming up slow. Aaron was right next to me when the nice flattie came drifting up. I grabbed my net and scooped it up and it went nuts. As it was freaking out in the net I watched it spit out a spotted bay bass from its throat that had my lure still hooked in it's mouth!

Poor guy had teeth marks and rakes all over him and was already dead. I have caught many halibut using live baits like macs, dines, and chovies but NEVER using a spottie

Anyone else?

We fished for a another hour or so for more bass and hit the sand right about noon. We easily C&R'ed close to 50 assorted bass. I did keep the flattie which measured 33" and weighed 14 lbs.

Aaron did great on his maiden yak voyage. He never did come close to dumping it (I had the camera at the ready just in case

) Whenever you want to go again just give me a shout bro.

Peace,

Spyder

Attached Thumbnails

07-19-2009, 08:00 PM

nice job on the hali

good going

Vikingj · 07-19-2009, 08:31 PM

Great story and nice hali!

kareem korn · 07-19-2009, 08:51 PM

Score.

Billy V · 07-19-2009, 09:11 PM

A most excellent catch.

9.5 For Style Points

THE DARKHORSE · 07-19-2009, 10:11 PM

Until recently, the largest Halibut I've ever seen was while fishing off a surfboard at P.B. Point. I had a keeper Calico that inhaled a soft plastic and went nuts by my feet, then I saw why

. It was a huge Halibut that really wanted that 13" Calico Bass.

joyjiggin' · 07-19-2009, 10:47 PM

Great story! Even better photos! Must have been fun...

fishinkid2010 · 07-19-2009, 10:53 PM

That's pretty crazy! I've seen a Baracuda chase a bass I had on, but never a halibut. Nice going

blitzburgh · 07-19-2009, 11:49 PM

Dude, that is friggin AWESOME!

Sherm · 07-20-2009, 08:59 AM

Can't belive I wasn't there for that one bro. I think that's the first keeper butt you caught off the yak that i didn't take the photo of. Great story and fish.

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lj this weekend?

Dan · 07-20-2009, 09:53 AM

That is rad! Halibut and spotty tacos!!

Freespool · 07-20-2009, 10:23 AM

The big bait - big fish theory strikes again! Nice work. I love that last photo, looks like a re-enactment of the take.

southboundhound · 07-21-2009, 12:34 AM

Great... all this time I thought I was bass fishing, but to the hali's I was only making bait.

cool pics and story.

07-19-2009, 07:45 PM	#1
Spyder Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 169	7/19 Great New Bait For Halibut...SPOTTED BAY BASS!!! Short story: Took a buddy out for his 1st kayak feeshin trip. We both kicked ass on the bass. I caught a 33" flattie using a spottie for bait. The entire story: Met up with my friend Aaron at SI around 0530. Like I said, today was going to be his first time fishing from a kayak. After going over the basics with him we launched right about 0600 into awesome conditions, warm, no wind, and the bay was smooth as glass. Paddled over to our first spot, caught a few bass, and then the tide went slack. Moved around for the next hour or so catching nadda until the tide started moving again. Bingo, it was like a switch went on. We were both catching dozens of spotties, sandies and even a few calicos mixed in. Aaron was fishing like a pro from the yak. We drifted over into an area that has a nice drop off near some thick eel grass. I was tossing out a 3/8 lead head with a 4" GULP! Chart. swimming mullet on my bass rod using #8. Felt yet another spottie take it off the bottom and started reeling up. Then the line goes tight and it feels like I am either stuck on the bottom or the fish ran into the thick eel grass. Knew it wasn't the bottom when the tip of my rod went WHAM WHAM WHAM into the water. I couldn't get whatever it was off the bottom, it was just kinda laying there. I was thinking, bat ray?? I stopped trying to reel and gently put as much pressue as I dare on the light line and it started coming up slow. Aaron was right next to me when the nice flattie came drifting up. I grabbed my net and scooped it up and it went nuts. As it was freaking out in the net I watched it spit out a spotted bay bass from its throat that had my lure still hooked in it's mouth! Poor guy had teeth marks and rakes all over him and was already dead. I have caught many halibut using live baits like macs, dines, and chovies but NEVER using a spottie Anyone else? We fished for a another hour or so for more bass and hit the sand right about noon. We easily C&R'ed close to 50 assorted bass. I did keep the flattie which measured 33" and weighed 14 lbs. Aaron did great on his maiden yak voyage. He never did come close to dumping it (I had the camera at the ready just in case ) Whenever you want to go again just give me a shout bro. Peace, Spyder Attached Thumbnails Attached Images Last edited by Spyder; 07-20-2009 at 10:41 AM.

07-19-2009, 10:11 PM	#6
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	The good 'ol hitch-hiker... Until recently, the largest Halibut I've ever seen was while fishing off a surfboard at P.B. Point. I had a keeper Calico that inhaled a soft plastic and went nuts by my feet, then I saw why . It was a huge Halibut that really wanted that 13" Calico Bass. __________________

07-21-2009, 12:34 AM	#13
southboundhound Junior Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: LBC Posts: 10	Great... all this time I thought I was bass fishing, but to the hali's I was only making bait. cool pics and story. __________________ Kev

07-19-2009, 08:00 PM	#2
NextBite Guest Posts: n/a	nice job on the hali good going

07-19-2009, 08:31 PM	#3
Vikingj Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dana Point area Posts: 438	Great story and nice hali!

07-19-2009, 08:51 PM	#4
kareem korn Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: C-bad Posts: 431	Score.

07-19-2009, 09:11 PM	#5
Billy V Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bay Ho Posts: 1,382	A most excellent catch. 9.5 For Style Points

07-19-2009, 10:47 PM	#7
joyjiggin' Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 109	Great story! Even better photos! Must have been fun...

07-19-2009, 10:53 PM	#8
fishinkid2010 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: La Mesa Posts: 386	That's pretty crazy! I've seen a Baracuda chase a bass I had on, but never a halibut. Nice going

07-19-2009, 11:49 PM	#9
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Dude, that is friggin AWESOME!

07-20-2009, 08:59 AM	#10
Sherm Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 490	Can't belive I wasn't there for that one bro. I think that's the first keeper butt you caught off the yak that i didn't take the photo of. Great story and fish. Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lj this weekend?

07-20-2009, 09:53 AM	#11
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,053	That is rad! Halibut and spotty tacos!!

07-20-2009, 10:23 AM	#12
Freespool Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: La Jolla Posts: 42	The big bait - big fish theory strikes again! Nice work. I love that last photo, looks like a re-enactment of the take.