Launched at Big Rock, caught some big mackerel at South Bull Kelp area
and paddled 50 yards out to about 100' of water. Lots of bait pushing
around all over. Beautiful conditions - glassy with very clear water.
Dropped the first hooked mack into the water for a drift, and picked up
the jigstick and fired off a long cast. Terns were looking around hard.
Five minutes later all hell broke loose as the bait got eaten ..... AND my jig
got slammed simultaneously.
Rod in each hand, fish burning off drag in different directions.
Classic .... bull kelp stringers too. I set the lever drag to moderate on the
bait fish, stuck the rod butt under my leg and started short pumping the 8'
jigstick and winding like a madman.
Somehow I wedged the bait rod into the back trolling rod holder to prep
for the gaff shot on the first fish.
Finally got the jigstick fish in ... gaffed and clipped ... and went straight
to work on the bait fish which was still battling my rod holder on auto-
pilot. Wow what an epic battle for two 18# class fish, I swear they
fought really really hard for their size.
Got them securely onto the game clip and saw an eruption of yellows like I
have never seen. 20 seconds of crashing splashing yellowtail and
baitfish mayhem.
My boat was full of 40 pounds of slimy fish so I didn't even make a cast. I
watched until the frenzy ended, smiled, then headed for home.
THEY are hungry.
