1/1 La Jolla

[Iceman]

Not a very big turnout this morning. Surf was 1-2 and sloppy. I somehow made it out with ease. Met up with Eagle Eye and Jimm out past the reserve. John and I were talking when my deadstick scrambled egg took off, pulling me backwards, until I finally got it out of the rod holder. Ended with a disappointing Soupfin. Shark took a piece out of John as he retrieved my iron. Out a little further, I made a couple macs, sent one down. Met up with Pat and Arne. Arne talked me into bite #2. I was sure I had snagged the buoy I was next to with my greenback on the bottom, but it started to do the headshake and it kept coming up. First fish of the WCW '06 belongs to me :D Just after high tide had really sloppy landing conditions. Pat made it in no problemo, then Jimm and John. I rolled, but only lost some pride I think I only rolled once last year, so I am glad I got that out of the way :oops:

http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/1/8/2/1-1firstblood.jpg

[yakstar]

nice fish andy, way to start out the new year!

[Jim Sammons LJKF]

Sweet :D
How much did it weigh?

[Slay Rider]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v460/EE-john/Andysbutt.jpg


What a great way to start the new year.

[Holy Mackerel]

Nice Flatty! I knew I should have got up this morning... :lol:

[CSniper]

Damn Andy! Just how you need to start the new year, with a 60 point spot
Might as well set that bar high.

[lamb]

WO-HOOOO!!!! 8) Way to get the things started!!!

See what you did Arne, now you really pissed him off… :roll:

Slept till noon, went to LJ for a family walk. Stopped by the launch. Seemed nice out there.

http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/3/6/1/6/launch.JPG

[Iceman]

http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/1/8/2/1-1halibut.jpg

36 inches and 18.8 pounds.



See what you did Arne, now you really pissed him off…

fish fought like a pair of 32 inch waisted levis :D wish I would have caught this one on Friday :D

Good fishing with you guys today, John it has been way to long! and thanks for not laughing at my crash landing......much :lol:

[Grego]

Nice one Andy...you got a bloody deck! :lol:

[Arne]

Good to be out this morning and to see you start things off like that, Andy. Hearing Jimm and EE on the water together and seeing Pat throwing the iron brought me back in time. I'm hoping 2006 is as great a year as 2005 for all. See you on the water.

Congrats on the flattie - I'm not jealous, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not.

My New Years resolution is to take more pictures and, of course, fish more places. Here's the pic of my first morning of 2006:
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/8/7/1/Sunrise1-1-06.JPG

We are lucky to live in such an awesome place.

Arne

[potto]

Nice Andy! What a way to start off the new year!

[katchfish]

Nice doormat Andy!

I'm gonna make an effort to catch a few of those 'buts this year.

Ken

[fishinhb]

Sweet fish...

[Razorback]

Nice DAY ONE Butt Andrew!!!!!!!!!

I've got your $20.00 bucks warm in my pocket. 8)

We bailed on the LJ trip and hit SD Bay for the BUTT Hunt. Beautiful conditions and even better cured 5-6" deans @ EB. The guy on the receiver was so cool to dig up da kine bait for us. $5.00 for a yak scoop - which was more than two bait buckets can hold. These were hot baits and the highlight of the day. We were getting hammered right off the sub base. Shorts unfotunately that we tosssed back.

The bummer incident happened when we got pushed out of the bay by a ripping outgoing tide + 2-3 kt current. Before we knew what hit us - we were looking at the lighthouse in our rear view mirror.

Time to turn the steam on and get our asses back in the channel before we ended up @ San Clemente..... After an hour of head down power stroking - we never made any headway and had to be towed in by Harbor Police. :oops: :oops: :oops:

Very cool assist by the Boyz in Blue - but an embarrasing scene for a couple Bobblehead Yak Douches..... Oh the Humanity!!!!!

Memo to the contingency that wants to venture out of SD Bay and time the tides: "Be sure to factor in wind + current + tide swing." Or you'll end up clinging to the outside Bouy and praying for a tow in.

Peace and Good Hunting to all and to all - a safe night.

[Iceman]

Cris,
Glad you guys got back OK. Sound advise on the bay. I find the ocean to be safer overall :D Pat paddled over, saying he had my $20 and I said that with the small turnout and no money exchanged and the Olive Garden the night before had left me with only $10 in my pocket.......to forget the sidebet. I am definately willing to do one for the first YT, if anyone is willing.

Is EB doing the $5 scoop, I thought only Cimmeron was doing $5?????

Happy New Year Big Daddy HAWG!

[Lit-up1]

Andy,

Nice start. Evringham Bros bait got smart and is doing a $5.00 Kayak scoop.
I like them again.

Dave

[Slay Rider]

It was good fishing with you again Andy, Jimm, Pat & Arne. While I know the halibut made for some great points and eats, I’m always fascinated by the sharks.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v460/EE-john/backwards.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v460/EE-john/Towing.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v460/EE-john/Shark1.jpg

From my view (ten yards away) the shark caught Andy totally of guard. Your heavy rod with forty pound string and buttoned down drag loaded up lightning fast. The first strike caused you to loose your balance for a moment And even when you regained you weren’t in control - rod stuck in the holder and going backwards is not a natural position for the kayaker.

Let’s do it again next year.

John

[Jimm H]

I guess only the hardy were out yesterday. I'd bet, with the conditions and New Year's, there weren't thirty kayakers on the ocean yesterday at sunrise south of Pt. Conception to the border. It was a good start to the new year, and, as always, it was good to fish with you guys.

My first ride on my new Cobra Marauder... very nice boat. It handled real nice in the surf coming in.

And, that was an epic landing you had, Andy! Oh, nice 'but, too.

[madscientist]

That is just not right. I'm going to Costco for big bunch of bananas.

Sweet fish Andy, if a day too late.

[Iceman]

John, Thanks again for getting my iron out of that toothy pieface. You captured the "holy shit!" feeling of having to counterbalance the shark pulling sideways and backwards. Having to lean away and pull the rod was impossible. Very exciting way to start the year.

[Slay Rider]

Sharks and kayak fishermen have always had an uneasy relationship given the close proximity of the fisherman to the water. Unlike any other fish in the ocean, they never give up the fight. While most are released, a couple are harvested each season. I’ve cut the bellies and gills out of sharks and had them look back at me with those shark eyes and sinister grin as if to say “That’s all you got.” And then make another series of powerful runs.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v460/EE-john/sharkmouth.jpg

The Iceman’s shark was half his weight but still took the two of us to release. Once brought to the boat, I grabbed it by the nose with my left hand - with my right hand went in with plyers. This was not nearly as easy to do as it is to describe. Once the shark was free, it opened its mouth wide and made a final lunge for me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v460/EE-john/sharkbite.jpg

I’m fast but I wasn’t fast enough - a row of razor sharp teeth cut me to the bone. Quickly pulling my bloody hand close to my chest, I trembled with fear and the thought of what might have happened had the shark been a little faster or I a little slower raced through my mind.

With my blood trailing from his mouth, we watched as the dark figure descended into the deep La Jolla Canyon beneath us. The deck of my kayak was now bloody but it was my own blood.

Looking towards the west and to all sharks everywhere, the Slay Rider shouted out in anger “THAT”S ALL YOU GOT”.

[Jim Sammons LJKF]

You know John, that once they taste human blood they get a hunger for it and become man eaters for life. :shock:
Keep your toes on board :twisted:

[Hook 1]

EE you need to write that up and put it in the mag.
Nice butt Andy, are you losing weight? Went out at
Dana for small butts, a calico, and a cuda. Water
was very dirty outside.

[katchfish]

John, LOCO PESCADORE indeed!!

The cost of a jig at Squidco $7.00......

Keeping all of your digits..........

PRICELESS!!

Ken

[DESTROYER]

Nice Job Andy! Now all you have to do is catch a YT, WSB, and BFT and you will have them all in one month :lol: The new format is going to make this year very interesting.

TL-Matt

[Aaron&Julie]

Congratulations, Iceman on a very impressive 1st fish of 2006. Good points and tablefare, a great way to start the year.
We're still going to "contribute" our share to this year's WCW jackpot before our 1st kayak trip of the year. The format looks much more favorable to those of us who can't make it out as often, or waiting on fair weather.