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06-21-2021, 01:05 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 715
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It Pays To Stick To Your Guns...
Although there's been talk of an earlier squid bite going on, Saturday was the only day Brian and I could fish together. Brian drove down from Paso Robles, then we met up at the La Jolla Shores beach at 5 am. The sand was full of cars not to mention the big van spinning its wheels digging sand holes while blocking traffic... in the dark. We both agreed there were more boaters, and kayakers than we've seen in a long time, all over the place. The squid grounds were packed. In front of the condo, packed; and, the Half plus the NW corner, packed. After getting our fill of greenies, we took a route that touched on all the groups while keeping a keen eye out for hook ups. The yelling and screaming started around 7:30 am. It came from multiple sources, including the 1/2 day sports boat. Our excitement washed away as soon as we figure out it was a world wide calico bite. Ahhh... The day lingered on, and on, and on. No signs of birds, bees or gamefish. After 7 hours, and at the bottom of the tide, I found myself around a cluster of way points I stored as potential wsb and halibut locations. I also found the last remaining private boats anchored on those way points as well as a couple of free divers hunting wsb. I had 3 fresh greenies left and decided to work the area. All the signs were there, except no moving water. Bottom of the tide, right? In the back of my mind I kept telling myself that ambushers like wsb and halibut love the low tide since it pins foraging bait in the shallows. So I started drift fishing with my dropper loop. I drifted in between my way points, bouncing off those anchored vessels while making new friends Soon, I got a good tug then nothing. Checked my bait to see if it was smashed or raked. It was gone. Back to the same spot and it happened again. Now I'm complaining to Brian. He insisted it was those calicos again. I almost gave up but since I had one frisky bait left, what the hell, let's do the route one more time. I wove my way through my new found friends, again. But this time I got hooked up. My heart instantly raced when I saw the halibut. I knew I had to prepared my deck for its arrival. My Fish-n-Dive has a large storage hatch ready to accept large fish. After I gaffed it, into the belly of the kayak it went. Is the moral to this story, to trust your instincts and really work an area hard when all the signs are there? Or, never trust Brian? You choose, I already have! Big shout out to Tim and Ryan, hope you guys had some luck too!! 37-inches, 26 pounds Last edited by kayakfisherman; 06-22-2021 at 07:25 PM. |
06-21-2021, 03:35 PM | #2 |
Lurker
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Riverside
Posts: 431
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pic doesn't seem to be loading, nevertheless great post! Good on you for grinding it out..
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"A Reel expert can Tackle anything " ~Malibu Stealth-14 ~Malibu X-13 |
06-21-2021, 04:32 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 715
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Thanks Steve. The devil is in the computers...
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06-21-2021, 04:48 PM | #4 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla
Posts: 2,641
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Way to go Yanni!. The hard work and time on the water payed off. Nice Hali, love that white belly shot of it getting on board. Congrats. LJ is on Fire.
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MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids ) |
06-21-2021, 05:27 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Posts: 1,932
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Nice narration and photos -- persistence paid off -- Congratulations Yanni! That's a beauty!
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07-19-2021, 05:17 PM | #6 |
Junior
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Arizona, relocated from N. CA
Posts: 16
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Awesome. Way to work it, mate.
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07-22-2021, 06:07 PM | #7 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 48
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Congrats Yanni! Good eats!
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07-28-2021, 10:26 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 736
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Nice Flatty Yani
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07-30-2021, 03:03 PM | #9 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Posts: 80
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Way to go Yani!
-JJ- |
06-21-2021, 05:42 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Inland Empire
Posts: 370
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Congratulations!
...nice to know they are still there.
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06-22-2021, 05:25 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: O.C.
Posts: 352
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WTG!
Way to go Yanni! Been slow (for all of us) on the flat & fat ones... We need to touch base in the not-to-distant future...
JB
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"I Brake for Halibut" |
06-22-2021, 05:58 AM | #12 |
Paddle for Mahi
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Doing the happy paddle!
Posts: 848
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Nice one Yanni!
Time for a catch and cook 😎 |
06-22-2021, 10:32 AM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Menifee
Posts: 2,509
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Nice slab Yanni!
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”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe |
06-22-2021, 02:18 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Santee
Posts: 821
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WTG yanni now it’s time for a new yak to table episode
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GABE<@)((((>€~~~~team ?????uuuh it's fishing |
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