Caught my first yellowtail yesterday! 5/8/2016
 

My third time out in La Jolla yesterday, very new at kayak fishing so still learning the in and outs of it all. Launched at about 0600, calm easy launch and made bait by around 0730. No fish finder yet so I was pretty much just going on instinct and wherever birds seemed to be hanging out. Started trolling a fly line and BAM drag started screaming, let her run for about a 5 count and then engaged. The drag of my Penn Jigmaster 500l seemed worthless at some points but did the job. She made a run for the kelp but my 40lb mono stood up to it thank god, after about 20 minutes finally got her to the surface along with 15 pounds of kelp to get in my way! Deffinitly the best fishing experience of my life and I'm now addicted!

Looks like Perch meat to me ...
 

Congrats!

Awesome fish, congratulations!

Great fish. Time to buy a heavier knife if you're gonna be breaking down chunky homeguards!

Thank you!

Thanks alot

Oh yeah, had a heck of a time trying to fillet this one.. works well on the fish back home but not so much on these big boys ! any recommendations?

Squidco sells a 10 inch breaking knife (big curved blade) for about twenty bucks. If you have a means of keeping it sharp, it'll break down anything. Turned my 150lb thresher into fat steaks with ease, and can cut the head of a YT in no time flat.

You can also find a cimeter knife on amazon for cheap. Get one with a fibrox handle and a ten inch blade. You'll be set!

Awesome!
 

Nice work!

I had the same feeling catching my first yt...Congrates!

Geno

Ill have to run out to squidco it sounds like! Thank you for help

Thank you !

Looks like you're the one that's hooked now!

Congratulations
 

There's a fresh one, your hooked now :reel:

Congrats on the first YT. Now you're really having fun! :cheers1:

Congrats on your first...on your 3rd trip no less.

Still looking for my first...hopefully this year.

dude thats awesome! congrats! i have yet to catch anything in my kayak in general.. -_-

Congrats, great looking fish!!!

Nice tail! Photo would have been nice w/ a Florida Gators hoodie instead...

Congrats!
 

Nice work. Nothing like the first.
I passed you as I headed south.
It was pretty fishy in that area!
:cheers1:

Congrats