8-16 El Dorado
 

I launched at gray light at Dana Point with two salty dogs.

Our goal was to search and destroy the elusive mahi-mahi.

After picking up a kayak scoop of hearty sardines from the good fellows at Everingham Bros., we headed south west searching for kelp paddies.

After traveling seven miles south-west it was slim pickings and time to start heading back. The young eyes spotted two nice paddies but no one was home.

As we ventured north I spotted an 18" ball of eelgrass. It was almost too small to attract attention. But, there was bait under it!

As we trolled past my sardine gets zinged and then picked up. The fish makes a strong lateral run which ends with a spectacular fluorescent blue aerial jump.

Quick action by a fellow kayaker diverts an tangled disaster.

As I'm fighting the fish a heavy sea lion moves in for an easy meal. He grabs the dorado and sounds. I hammer down the drag and pull hard. The fish is ripped free and I finally get to stick my first kayak dorado

Crazy long happy paddle back to the harbor.

Fun day!!

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oh man. that's pretty cool. great to hear you won that battle with the dog.

That is f-n RAD! Congrats! :cheers1:

So awesome! Congrats!! Something for me to aspire to.

awesome report!
Congrats on the exotic from the yak. Well earned!
:cheers1:

There you go!

Nice fish
 

Great story! It is amazing what little pieces of floating stuff will attract it's own little food chain, with you at the top.

Thanks for that inspiration! Nice battle won against the dog.

Congrats on the really nice Do Do. Glad you won the battle with the piece of shit sea lion.

Hell ya Ken, I'd paddle :kayak-surfer:those 20ish miles again to see that, roller coaster ride of a fight. hoping we have at least one more opportunity this season to go long. Super stoked for you!:luxhello:

Ken, Awesome catch, welcome to the club :D

Congrats again, Ken. I couldn't believe you beat out that BIG sealion. You just wanted it more!

epic!! :cheers1:

Pitted!

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the villian

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the hero.....................stoked! :luxhello:

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Dooooood!!!!! That's so rad. I literally just finished trying to stir up some shit on another thread about dorado being too far for kayaks and then see this. You'll never forget the day you landed a kayak Dodo. Nice quality too. Way to go!!!!

WTG Ken!
Nice to see your great effort paid off.

Congrats! Very cool catch. I can just picture the excitement.

Where did you guys launch??

Sweet!!! Way to save that fish!

WTG Ken!!! Glad to hear you won both battles. I almost thought you retired from kayak fishing :wink:. I keep telling Julie to get herself ready for a long paddle off of LJ in hopes of her getting her first dodo ever, it's her bucket list fish. First couple of years fishing together, on a Dolphin 1/2 day AM trip (pre-kayak days:)) we saw a PBer around the NW corner, hook and land a dodo, so we think we could have a shot at one. There's certainly been hundreds caught these last couple of weeks. Nice photos Andy. It's great seeing the old school and old-timers getting together. Hope to see you guys again, OTW someday.

You are one fishy dude...and king of the OC dodo. STOKED!


:luxhello: