Fishing La Jolla 8-12-13

[FISH11]

Hi! This is my first post. I've been fishing La Jolla for the last month after fishing Mission Bay and Lake Morena since buying my Malibu x-factor in May. I like reading all your stories and have learned a lot from the forum. I never thought I would participate in catch and release but since I started Kayak fishing I have released all I've caught. Right now I've been focusing on WSB, Halibut or Yellow Tail. Have not landed one yet, had hook ups and broken lines as well as did not stay hooked in the last few weeks. When I do finally get one if legal size I don't expect it will be released. Yesterday I thought I had my first Yellow Tail cause it hit while lowering my bait (a 10" bonito) in 100' of water. Than a jump out of the water and several hard runs. When I got it closer I realized it was a 4' blue shark, good thing I stopped using wire leaders. When I had him along side and was trying to hold it up out of water. So he had no leverage with his tail to try and turn towards me, his teeth cut the line and saved me from having to get my hands too close to cut it.I got a few pictures and it made my day. Weird it came after Shark week. Hope to meet more of you guys out there. MrPatric introduced him self to me a few trips ago. My name is Mark. Wish all of you great fishing. Thanks.

[makobob]

Welcome to the forum! Keep doing it. You will get yours! Tight lines.

[FISH11]

Thank you! See you out there.

[CalTexFisher]

Nice catch! That big guy is actually a mako, a more desirable shark to catch than a blue, and is a lot more common in coastal waters than the blue. Thats actually a nice trophy catch from a kayak. Way to go!

[ful-rac]

Yeah not quite the blue shark you think It is....that's a mako alright....:eek:

[CalTexFisher]

You won't catch me on the water if I spot his big mama :D

[makobob]

MAKO, good eating too.

[FISH11]

Thank You in the ID of the shark I had not ck'd out the different pictures on ID. It was a surprise and it did make a lot of splashing until I kept it out of water as much as possible. The last thing I wanted was him turning towards or getting in the kayak. when the line cut on his teeth he just swam off slowly like nothing had happened.

[oneyedeer]

you can spot a mako by it's crazy eyes 0_o

[taggermike]

Nice photo of the shark. How did the little bonito do in your bait tank? I've had trouble keeping them alive. Makos can be so twitchy and unpredictable, I always glad when the bite off away from the kayak. Mike

[FISH11]

Yeah I caught three at once on the sabiki and two more sepperatly. I used the first and lost it when it tangled in some deep kelp. The second was in my tank and like you said it was dead with the others in the live well. That's the one the shark took. Don't know why they die ad green backs do fine. While sinking or trolling I guess they look live enough. Those Teeth where quite intimidating.

[outdoorzen]

Yeah, what a great picture of that Mako. Way to go!

[Dirty Curti]

Great Pic, The water looks blue but the shark definitely Mako. You should use that pic for your avatar.

[FISH11]

Yeah I've thinking about it. Thanks for advise.

[kareem korn]

. The last thing I wanted was him turning towards or getting in the kayak. .


Be really carefull next time. The mako is the only shark that will follow the line back to see what's fn with it.

Very dangerous shark.

[addicted2sp33d]

Has anyone tried the "flip them upside-down" trick? :confused:

I have yet to hook a shark, so I haven't been able to try this yet, but it's supposed to immobilize them.

Great catch/photo :notworthy:.

Thanks for sharing!

[skiptomyzoo]

awesome photo, really cool although I would be slightly freaked out to see that at the end of my line.

[carbonbass]

Oh come on guys its just a wittle wone :D

[h2ofishfo]

Makos my favorite to eat marinated in teriyaki ! Takes a while to kill make sure u bring a knife next time and be careful!!

[makobob]

Oh come on guys its just a wittle wone :D

100% pure energy! They can just EXPLODE!

[CKallday71]

I think I would sit there and stare at it for a while thinking how cool it is, then sh!t myself as I came to the realization that 4 feet of death was that close to me.

[Cbad Mike]

Nice report and awesome picture. Thanks for sharing.

[lowprofile]

I think I would sit there and stare at it for a while thinking how cool it is, then sh!t myself as I came to the realization that 4 feet of death was that close to me.


HAHA. 4ft of death?

cool to see a pup Mako caught. you can easily grab them by the tail and cradle the pecs to hold them with no issues. especially at that size. a 7-8fter would be a different story.

[Aaron&Julie]

Mako, all the way. Even with almost 10 years experience, it's going to be a long distance release. They've screwed people up, even on boats, way too dangerous and ballistic. We've hooked a few, released (hard yank) at about 10' away, or more. I had the experience which someone noted. He/she was a big one, too, even though I didn't see it. By far, the hardest and fastest tow I'd ever had on the 'yak, then it came at me, I reeled like crazy, and when I caught up, it turned away, which is when the line snapped. Kind of glad, as I didn't not want to see that one close up. He/she was so fresh, just envisioning it jumping into the 'yak gives me the chills.

[dmrides]

The mako is the only shark that will follow the line back to see what's fn with it.

Fish on! Wait, I think I lost it. Oh s#!t

Makos and kayaks can be a recipe for disaster. Personally I thumb the spool and try to break them off ASAP. Sure are fun to see though, especially when they go airborne.

Sweet pic! Nice job on the release.

[Carp]

What an experience nice photo OP

[FISH11]

After reading all the replies it makes me appreciate the experience even more. It sure was a beautiful creature to see up close a not get hurt. To think I had my hand, trying to get a hold of the line in the attempt to be able to cut it, only two feet away from it. We both got souvenirs he got my hook and I got great pictures and a new appreciation for sharks. Great day.

[The pelican]

Can we all just agree that MakoBob has the best Avitar on this site?

[taggermike]

I'll second dmrides. Setting the hook, then slack, then looking over and seeing a mako drive by with your line trailing out it's mouth is a bit intimidating. I've found threshers to be more powerful sharks that fight much longer. You gotta be careful of the tail but their mouth and teeth are not a big deal. Those damn puppy makos tend to come straight to the boat, totally green. It's always in my head that one little tail kick could put the thing right in my lap, or face. Since mako's teeth stick out the sides of their mouths they wouldn't even have to actually bite you to tear you up. Big fan of the long range release. Mike

[Irishman]

Nice catch and even better on the release. Yet to catch one and will not target them as a species, although if on a boat would be all over it....only if the right size. Enjoy the memory and again well released!!!

[dngayan]

Nice Shark!

[Vikingj]

What an awesome experience and nice photos. Thanks for sharing.

[dorado50]

After reading all the replies it makes me appreciate the experience even more. It sure was a beautiful creature to see up close a not get hurt. To think I had my hand, trying to get a hold of the line in the attempt to be able to cut it, only two feet away from it. We both got souvenirs he got my hook and I got great pictures and a new appreciation for sharks. Great day.



:iagree: why kill them? Like a lot of people do.

[PE.rider]

Beautiful pup Mako. Not exactly the 11 ft long, 8foot, 1300lb one that was caught off of HB in June of this year.

I would be paddling like Benny Hill if I ever hooked one that big on my yak.

[Aaron&Julie]

I would be paddling like Benny Hill if I ever hooked one that big on my yak.

LOL!!!

[kareem korn]

Another safety thing I'd like to add here is, when reeling in your flylined bait, or Rapala, reel to the side not straight at you. Fourty plus years fishing so cal. I've seen a few times mako's chasing the bait/lure in and jump out hitting our skiff. If your in a yak they will be in your lap than. And, you don't want that.

[FISH11]

Great tip I thought about that when it was two feet from the side of my kayak.

[FishNinjaY]

Another safety thing I'd like to add here is, when reeling in your flylined bait, or Rapala, reel to the side not straight at you. Fourty plus years fishing so cal. I've seen a few times mako's chasing the bait/lure in and jump out hitting our skiff. If your in a yak they will be in your lap than. And, you don't want that.

:eek:

ok.. so on the topic.. any general advice or steps on what to do if you hook such a shark? If I did, likely I'd opt to release it anyways.. but if I didn't or was feeling up for the adventure, how do you go about fighting this kind of fish? Lighten the drags and go for the sleigh ride until they tire out? or button down and wrestle them in? rope around the tail? slash the gills and bleed 'em? shoot 'em?

thanks.. :farmer:

ps... awesome post, great pics!! congrats!! talk about an adrenaline rush!

[makobob]

IF, and only if you are going to eat him. Loose drag, make sure he is dead tired before you tail and bleed him. Head needs to be removed BEFORE you boat him. DEAD or not remove his head first. Friend lost big toe to 2 hour dead? mako that weighed 40 lbs. That fish was dead, just sliding around on back deck! Great steaks on the barbie.

[Mainline]

I guess thats why mako sharks are also known as bonito sharks.