LJ 3-27-16

[FISH11]

Finally was able to head out to LJ after just over 2 months of not having a day off to fish. I have been working at my regular job and on all days off and 2 weeks of vacation time I have trying to get my Dad's condo ready to list for sale. Since the week after he passed on January 7th, I have spent a lot of time working on the condo while the fishing was heating up and friends catching nice fish. This morning while turning into the shores from Torrey Pines Rd. I said Jesus please let me have a great day out on the water and maybe let me catch a PB Yellowtail. This time he not only listened but gave me my wish. Thank You Jesus! After making a lot of bait I started making it out to deeper water in the maze of kayaks and personal boats. Getting a little clear of the pack and away from the seals I saw. I was fly lining a green back in around 75 feet of water and started throwing a surface iron at some of the bait that was jumping almost everywhere. I did not get any bites or any signs of larger fish in the bait areas, but the the flyline starts screaming. I put the reel into gear and retrieve some line and when I was sure he's on good, I bring and put away the other rod with the iron. After about 7 to 8 minutes I see color, get him to gaff and then the fun starts. The Jackson Cuda 14 I am using now is no where near as stable as the X Factor I used for several years. This fish was strong and big, he goes on my lap then slaps goes over the other side. all the time he still has the gaff in him. I grab the leader and gaff to lift him back on to my lap and the leader cuts my finger and the fish goes back over the other side again. Every time the weight shifted and he would slap, I though I was going to roll. Finally got him on board and cut his gills and bled him. Some minutes later I gutted him also and the put it inside the hull. Once on the beach hours later, I tried to wheel the kayak and realized the thing is too heavy to pull with the fish inside the front hatch.I take it out and set it by the seat but it still heavy to pull and hold up with the front t-handle. I ended up putting it in the back with a bungee and the weight being behind the kayak cart wheels made all the difference. Pulled it 2 blocks to where I parked and had a bunch of tourist all say WOW and some wanting to take picture. Even with the hassle of the launch being closed today was a wonderful day and just what I needed to re-charge my batteries for the time being. When I got it home on ice I weighed it and it was 30.9lbs (bled and gutted on the water). That makes it my PB Yellowtail on a kayak and actually the first Yellowtail on this kayak since I started using it at the end on November. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jve4fVAxBJg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Change setting to HD either 1080P or 720P

[battleborn]

A worthy fish and an awesome story to go with it

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

[Wanderingincircles]

Sounds like fun. Thanks for sharing


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JeffB]

Sorry to hear about your dad, that sux. Thats a nice grade yellow.

[seaquinn]

What a great story! Three times over the side..... heart pumping for sure!

We were in a PB for no love.

Congrats!!!!!

[Geno Machino]

Great job Mark!!!

God works in mysterious ways!!

Sounded like a rush or two...:-)!

Geno

My condolences for you and your family.

[DanaPT]

That's a heavy happy haul back to the car. Nice to be that guy with the big fish. Good work.

[Mike scales]

Nice seeing you out there today, Mark! Glad you got one too! :cheers1::yt:

[FISH11]

Thanks guys it was so good to be back out there today. In a couple of week I should be in the normal mode of fishing LJ once or twice a week. Man how I missed it.

[Deamon]

Awesome story Mark except for the part in your dad. RIP. Jim

[RookieYakker]

Thanks for sharing and congrats!

[Pagzzz]

Nice story, and a good looking fish!

[Jude]

Great story! Whered u get those cart wheels?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fresh to salt]

Welcome back! Nice fish too! Congrats

[ratdog]

Nice one.

[FISH11]

Great story! Whered u get those cart wheels?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It's the malone folding cart with the no flat wheels. Got it on E-Bay from Sports Authority on sale for $115. I thing they normally retail for $150 to $160.

[summers in kuwait]

Nice fish and great post.
Thank you for sharing.

[blitzburgh]

Nice work man. Sorry for your loss

[TobyB]

Nice Fish.

[octico]

Hey Mark


Nice catch, sorry to hear about the loss.

--John

[maquinapescado]

Great story and fish. I have to say that I am digging your stars a stripes kayak decoration. I think I will have to hang a flag when I fish. If I ever get to fish again.

[kayakfisherman]

Mark I'm stoked for you. It's nice to get on the water
in-between all the stuff life throws your way. Especially
when you come home with your PB, a 30 plus pounder.

It may be a bit early, but is your new kayak a lot faster
than the old?

[Druko]

Great report! my condolences about your dad.

[captnblood34]

Way to go Mark!!

[FISH11]

Mark I'm stoked for you. It's nice to get on the water
in-between all the stuff life throws your way. Especially
when you come home with your PB, a 30 plus pounder.

It may be a bit early, but is your new kayak a lot faster
than the old?

Unfortunately I don't feel it to be hardly any faster, certainly a lot less stable and no were as good going through the surf than my old X Factor. During the process of trying to bring the Yellow on board I almost rolled the kayak several times due to the weight transfer and the fish kicking a little. I felt like some Nub as the fish went back in the water on either side due to the kayak rocking side to side. I hope to sell and replace this Cuda during or after summer and possibly get a Kraken or a newer X Factor depending of how they feel when I take one out for a test. It's the poor secondary stability and the bows inability to punch through or go over the waves that I don't like. Other that that it is a great kayak, maybe someone that weighs less than me (220lbs) would not have those problems. Thanks Yanni, Mark.

[Ror_sal]

nice one. gut and gill always results in the best fillets.

[easyday]

Awesome man

[_Obed]

Good to hear your back, and congrats on the great looking fish mark.


Thanks

[FISH11]

Finally got around to exporting and embeding the go pro video of the catch on Easter Sunday. Did not edit out any of the crazy hassle trying to board the yellowtail. Enjoy the video, I felt like a NOOB trying to keep balance with that heavy and still green fish. Had to delete 1 song because it was muting all audio due to not releasing copy right of a personal copy of the CD. When watching change the setting to HD either 1080P or 720P for best quality video. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jve4fVAxBJg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>