I can't catch a break... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Handymansd · 07-16-2008, 08:17 AM

Well, I woke up today and nothing, and I do mean Nothing, would go right. I broke my shower head, spilled my coffee in my lap... OUCH, and then fell off of my tailgate while unloading tools! All within the first hour of my day!
I can't catch a break!!!!

Well, I might as well brace myself cause it's going to be a long day, right?

So I sat down at my desk, and proceeded to try, unsuccessfully, to E-mail pictures to someone (3 times), lost a good sized bid, and spilled my second cup of coffee all over my desk! Arrrrrgh!

I can't catch a break!!!!

So I decided that I needed to take a break and release some of my frustrations. Time to go fishing!

BRILLIANT!

I am a glutton for punishment.

So I loaded up the Yak without incident, and got to the launch around 12:30. I asked the lifeguard to watch my stuff for me and ran to park the truck. No Parking! Anywhere! I ended up parking on the other side of La Jolla Shores Dr.!

What a mess, and on a Tues! Oh, and I spilled my coke in my lap... again!

It's cool though because it will just wash off in the water right? Well needless to say I actually pulled my personal best and most embarrasing launch in the history of kayak fishing

! In front of 10,000 tourists I start my leisurly paddle through the 12 inch surf. Finally, I am actually on the Water! As I start to paddle, I get tangled with my gaff leash, damn. and as I struggle mightily to get it undone I flip the fully loaded yak in 18" of water!

! *^&&$&*( and then < )*&^@%&^**((%*$#@!*&^*%&^)()*&^
I can't catch a break!!!!

I sheepishly head towards the Pier to hopefully grab a couple of greenies as all of the recent yellows I have seen have all been caught on them. As I get to the pier I find many swimmers around the pier and someone on the pier with some kind of radio controlled submarine thingie. Well maybe he hasn't scarred ALL the fish away with that thing. So I start to look for the inky indications of bait balls in the clear green waters. There... I see some bait... as I get close...BrrrrrOOOOOOOMMMM....there goes the submarine thingie chasing it all away.

O.K. so I go out far enough away that the submarine thingie can't reach me and nothing... no bait to be found. I troll a sabiki for two hours searching for bait north of the preserve. I decide enough is enough, I will go get some spanish and call it good with those. As I troll my sabiki over the canyon I pick up two greenies! Yeah!! I put on one average sized greenie on the flyline and a monster 14" porno on the weighted line. I decide to try Josh's spot from yesterday, por nada. I continue to work from 90 - 160 ft as that is where the birds seem to be hitting. Around 6 or so I start heading for the kelp line to switch tactics to the WSB. as I pass 143' first one reel the the other start to scream... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ... A double hook up?!?... No, a really nice birds nest style tangle!!! NOOOOOOOO! I should have known, right?
I can't catch a break!!!!

Well It's obviously a YT, but it was pulling too hard for a summer YT. Hmmm... well it must be a damn T that is staying down. I start working this fish in to see if I can get around this tangle and it is all I can do to keep the yak from rolling as this thing is fighting like a banshee!! He pulls me well into the kelp but I managed to free him again and again. (I love spectra!) As I get the knot to the tip of the rod I am dismayed as there is no sign of my leader. Crap!
I can't catch a break!!!!

I continue to work the fish which is finally taking shorter and shorter runs. I figure I could try to pull it in by hand to get around the tangle... It's been done, right? So I start to slowly pull by hand... Color!!! A nice sized YT! I get excited, but then it takes off again, and again, and I continue let go as I do not want to lose a finger to the spectra. I continue this until Bam!!!!...got the gaff shot! Happy paddle / peddle to the beach with a perfect landing! HAMACHI FOR DINNER!
I can catch a fish!!!

Tail of the tape.... 46" 38.8# bled weight.

A very stoked and happy end to a long day! So... moral of the story... When you can't catch a break... you might just catch a fish!

Cheers!

Tourist shot...

The "cheesy driveway" shot...

bajadog · 07-16-2008, 08:33 AM

Nice feesh, and comical report, thanks.

tylerdurden · 07-16-2008, 08:34 AM

Congrats Chuck. Way to earn that fish.

madscientist · 07-16-2008, 08:36 AM

Good one Chuck.

Arne · 07-16-2008, 08:37 AM

Persistence pays off - nice one Chuck!

Dan · 07-16-2008, 08:42 AM

TOAD!!!!

Grego · 07-16-2008, 08:52 AM

lolNice one Chuck!

esdees · 07-16-2008, 09:00 AM

Beautiful fish, congrats!

jimmyshark · 07-16-2008, 09:08 AM

Great story and nice feeeesh!!!!

James

glenniesan · 07-16-2008, 09:26 AM

Love the story! Way to persevere & end with a great fish.

MalibuJohnny · 07-16-2008, 09:36 AM

Sounds like it all worked out! Great YT!

deeberdave · 07-16-2008, 09:42 AM

What a toad

Great storylol
Proof worst day fishing still beats best day working!

Zed · 07-16-2008, 09:45 AM

Nice fish hmsd!

the dude · 07-16-2008, 10:14 AM

congrats! TOAD!

lamb · 07-16-2008, 10:21 AM

Beautiful big ass tail!!!

Congrats Chuck!

THE DARKHORSE · 07-16-2008, 10:58 AM

The new ride seems to have some pretty good mojo. All kidding aside, you earned that fish. Thirty eight pound Yellowtail don't give up, they make you earn their spot in the trophy case. I'm sure your heart rate went up,

as that big girl pulled you from deep water to the kelp

. Between the swimming practice with $1,500 of rods and reels and your persistence, good things were bound to happen. Too bad no one was around to take a quality OTW photo, that's a TOAD!

undrH2Ohntr · 07-16-2008, 11:45 AM

damn......you definitely deserved that fish, way to keep a positive attitude.

steamroll · 07-16-2008, 11:50 AM

Very cool Chuck. Congrats on a toad yt

Corey · 07-16-2008, 11:52 AM

Congrats Chuck. That's a great fish. I'm happy for you.

TheSherThang · 07-16-2008, 11:59 AM

Awesome job. Looks like definitely an afternoon bite.

07-16-2008, 08:17 AM	#1
Handymansd Ancient Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: On The Water Posts: 935	I can't catch a break... Well, I woke up today and nothing, and I do mean Nothing, would go right. I broke my shower head, spilled my coffee in my lap... OUCH, and then fell off of my tailgate while unloading tools! All within the first hour of my day! I can't catch a break!!!! Well, I might as well brace myself cause it's going to be a long day, right? So I sat down at my desk, and proceeded to try, unsuccessfully, to E-mail pictures to someone (3 times), lost a good sized bid, and spilled my second cup of coffee all over my desk! Arrrrrgh! I can't catch a break!!!! So I decided that I needed to take a break and release some of my frustrations. Time to go fishing! BRILLIANT! I am a glutton for punishment. So I loaded up the Yak without incident, and got to the launch around 12:30. I asked the lifeguard to watch my stuff for me and ran to park the truck. No Parking! Anywhere! I ended up parking on the other side of La Jolla Shores Dr.! What a mess, and on a Tues! Oh, and I spilled my coke in my lap... again! It's cool though because it will just wash off in the water right? Well needless to say I actually pulled my personal best and most embarrasing launch in the history of kayak fishing! In front of 10,000 tourists I start my leisurly paddle through the 12 inch surf. Finally, I am actually on the Water! As I start to paddle, I get tangled with my gaff leash, damn. and as I struggle mightily to get it undone I flip the fully loaded yak in 18" of water!! ^&&$&( and then < )&^@%&^((%$#@!&^%&^)()&^ I can't catch a break!!!! I sheepishly head towards the Pier to hopefully grab a couple of greenies as all of the recent yellows I have seen have all been caught on them. As I get to the pier I find many swimmers around the pier and someone on the pier with some kind of radio controlled submarine thingie. Well maybe he hasn't scarred ALL the fish away with that thing. So I start to look for the inky indications of bait balls in the clear green waters. There... I see some bait... as I get close...BrrrrrOOOOOOOMMMM....there goes the submarine thingie chasing it all away. O.K. so I go out far enough away that the submarine thingie can't reach me and nothing... no bait to be found. I troll a sabiki for two hours searching for bait north of the preserve. I decide enough is enough, I will go get some spanish and call it good with those. As I troll my sabiki over the canyon I pick up two greenies! Yeah!! I put on one average sized greenie on the flyline and a monster 14" porno on the weighted line. I decide to try Josh's spot from yesterday, por nada. I continue to work from 90 - 160 ft as that is where the birds seem to be hitting. Around 6 or so I start heading for the kelp line to switch tactics to the WSB. as I pass 143' first one reel the the other start to scream... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ... A double hook up?!?... No, a really nice birds nest style tangle!!! NOOOOOOOO! I should have known, right? I can't catch a break!!!! Well It's obviously a YT, but it was pulling too hard for a summer YT. Hmmm... well it must be a damn T that is staying down. I start working this fish in to see if I can get around this tangle and it is all I can do to keep the yak from rolling as this thing is fighting like a banshee!! He pulls me well into the kelp but I managed to free him again and again. (I love spectra!) As I get the knot to the tip of the rod I am dismayed as there is no sign of my leader. Crap! I can't catch a break!!!! I continue to work the fish which is finally taking shorter and shorter runs. I figure I could try to pull it in by hand to get around the tangle... It's been done, right? So I start to slowly pull by hand... Color!!! A nice sized YT! I get excited, but then it takes off again, and again, and I continue let go as I do not want to lose a finger to the spectra. I continue this until Bam!!!!...got the gaff shot! Happy paddle / peddle to the beach with a perfect landing! HAMACHI FOR DINNER! I can* catch a fish!!! Tail of the tape.... 46" 38.8# bled weight. A very stoked and happy end to a long day! So... moral of the story... When you can't catch a break... you might just catch a fish! Cheers! Tourist shot... The "cheesy driveway" shot...

07-16-2008, 08:33 AM	#2
bajadog I eats what I kills Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 393	Nice feesh, and comical report, thanks. __________________ Please release bill-fish.

07-16-2008, 08:34 AM	#3
tylerdurden Bad Clone Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 874	Congrats Chuck. Way to earn that fish. __________________ MLPA, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem Let the Fish and Game Commission know what you think about the proposed maps. Be ready for December 9th and 10th.

07-16-2008, 08:36 AM	#4
madscientist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,906	Good one Chuck. __________________

07-16-2008, 08:37 AM	#5
Arne Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 223	Persistence pays off - nice one Chuck! __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

07-16-2008, 08:42 AM	#6
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,053	TOAD!!!!

07-16-2008, 08:52 AM	#7
Grego Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 445	lolNice one Chuck!

07-16-2008, 09:00 AM	#8
esdees The Good Clone Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Clairemont Posts: 520	Beautiful fish, congrats!

07-16-2008, 09:08 AM	#9
jimmyshark Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 14	Great story and nice feeeesh!!!! James

07-16-2008, 09:26 AM	#10
glenniesan Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Marcos Posts: 37	Love the story! Way to persevere & end with a great fish.

07-16-2008, 09:36 AM	#11
MalibuJohnny Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lahina (I Wish) Posts: 272	Can't catch a break! Sounds like it all worked out! Great YT! __________________ Malibu Johnny must catch fish

07-16-2008, 09:42 AM	#12
deeberdave Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: CARLSBAD Posts: 34	What a toad Great storylol Proof worst day fishing still beats best day working!

07-16-2008, 09:45 AM	#13
Zed BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: W of 5 Posts: 1,265	Nice fish hmsd!

07-16-2008, 10:14 AM	#14
the dude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Valley Center Posts: 271	congrats! TOAD! __________________ The dude abides.

07-16-2008, 10:21 AM	#15
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,563	Beautiful big ass tail!!! Congrats Chuck! __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

07-16-2008, 10:58 AM	#16
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	Damn, that's a nice looking kayak! The new ride seems to have some pretty good mojo. All kidding aside, you earned that fish. Thirty eight pound Yellowtail don't give up, they make you earn their spot in the trophy case. I'm sure your heart rate went up, as that big girl pulled you from deep water to the kelp . Between the swimming practice with $1,500 of rods and reels and your persistence, good things were bound to happen. Too bad no one was around to take a quality OTW photo, that's a TOAD! __________________

07-16-2008, 11:45 AM	#17
undrH2Ohntr Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 115	damn......you definitely deserved that fish, way to keep a positive attitude.

07-16-2008, 11:50 AM	#18
steamroll Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 385	Very cool Chuck. Congrats on a toad yt __________________

07-16-2008, 11:52 AM	#19
Corey Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: ...waaaay out there Posts: 794	Congrats Chuck. That's a great fish. I'm happy for you. __________________

07-16-2008, 11:59 AM	#20
TheSherThang Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 82	Awesome job. Looks like definitely an afternoon bite.