First YT on a Kayak - 6/27/15
 

I've been on BWE for some time now marveling at the photos you post and reading your stories to gather tips...it's been both motivating and frustrating at the same time as I have probably been to LJ 25 times without a Yellowtail. Thanks to all of you that share your stories and tips!

I launched at 6am with my buddy Dennis and his son. The day started a little rough as my fish finder was acting up...oh well, press on. We made bait fairly easily with some monster greenies, quickly slapped one on, and headed out west of the hotel.

The surge was strong and I was starting to feel a little sick (The long island ice teas while watching the USA WNT kick China's a$$ the night before probably didn't help). Around 8:30 I decided to turn back and and bam...a hookup! Got towed for about 10 minutes, but evntually lost him. I reached back to pull bait, but all of them were dead...some issue with larger macs not surviving in a bait tank? I pulled out my sabiki rig and found another 12" greenie fairly quick, but in the meantime the surge really got to me and I started chumming. Oh well, after the recent hookup I was motivated to keep at it...at least for the pedal back.

As I came around the NW corner about 100 yds off the kelp bed, I felt my bait start to run scared and bam...another hookup! I fought this one for about 10 minutes and finally got him near my yak and I drop my freakin' gaff...rookie mistake! I finally got him up to the side of my yak and he seemed exhausted (along with me) and thank God I was able to grab him by the gill to pull him in. I headed in and was back on the shore by 10am.

I made a few mistakes, but it was a great day and glad to finally get my first yellow that weighed in at 24 lbs and measured 43". Looking forward to many more.

Nice fish man!.👍 I still have yet to get my first kayak yellow but hope it's as nice as that

First YT
 

Great fish!! Congrats!! and great attitude about learning, we all started somewhere, and my first YT was a long long time coming! Be safe and I hope to see you out there!
:luxhello:

Persistence has paid off for you! Way to go :cheers1:

The first are always held like 1st born children.
nice one.

This is a motivating story. 25 times to LJ is the scary part. I've only been out there 4 times. Hopefully I will hook up to my first this weekend!

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Nice baby swaddle hold ha

Awesome! I also have yet to get my first YFT..good seeing that they are posted up out there. Heading out Friday!

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06...63f6e45638.jpg nice work partner! I continue to keep my efforts up...my turn next 😜


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awesome! Is this Justin from La Mesa area? Wow.... great story!

Nice fish.

The only way we learn is by making mistakes. I still have many more to make apparently.

Nice catch

Way to stick it out and congrats on the fish. I spent a few hours out there Saturday morning and was a bit queasy as well. Less than ideal conditions, but good enough I guess. You proved that.

There are a lot of us who studied a lot of post on here and put in a lot of time on the water at La Jolla before landing our first Yellow. I hooked up many times but always lost them in the kelp or to seals or poor knot choices, etc. I provably went out as many times before I landed my first. You will remember your first Yellowtail and it will taste the best, even if you've had Yellowtail before. Congrats.

Hey Cliff, formerly La Mesa, now in Rancho SD. Do you still go out on Fridays?

It's on for this Friday!

Ha ha. Yeah, didn't realize it at the time. Just like my first born, was awe struck and didn't want to set her down!

Nice catch and congrats on ur 1st YT, it take me 3 years to catch my 1st