LaJolla Thurs am, remarkable day

[Hypoxic1]

So today was my first day at La Jolla. Figured after going to that Carlsbad meeting I would go see what we were all talking about. I had dived La Jolla for several years until about 10 years ago when I began cruising my sailboat.

Got to the launch at 0500 got the yak ready and then stood there talking myself into it as the surf was coming up, looked like the tide was coming in. Decided to walk and swim the boat past the surfline to minimize the risk of disaster at the surfline.
Went north to a suggested place with yellowtail in mind, saw lots of life, made bait, about 10 5 in mackeral, but no love from the big guys.

Decided to troll to about 700 yards north of the big white building, where I have fished on a powerboat several times with zero success. Being on the kayak is remarkable, you can sense hear and feel every detail of what is happening around you. In all of my years sailing and fishing I had never quite felt that in tune with the life around me. bait going from zero to fifty running like hell from the freight train that is coming to eat it, birds diving all around me going after the leftovers on top.

all of a sudden........zzzzzzzzzzZZZZZ big bonito, fun but not exactly what I was after, thanked it for the fun and set it free.
Drop another bait, 30 seconds.....zz zz zz ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
10 Minutes later I am boating my first yellowtail. Oh shit I have never gaffed a fish from a kayak and this one doesent want to hang out . SO with my gaff in my hand, feeling like a clown I remember that thread from the other day, some guy talking about Darkhorse and sliding the fish up in his lap. Lets try it. It worked , Nice fish, got the gills and the rest is history. Not a trophy by any strech of the imagination, but certainly my first real fish on my new kayak.
About 15 minutes later I get hit again, its about 20 inches, a big calico.
Wifee wants fish tacos so I guess she gets em tonight. Time to go home. First good adventure complete. Sure beat the hell out of the 4th when I flipped my boat and lost all of my gear.

Tried throwing Iron, but have no idea what im doing.

When I decided to try kayak fishing, my wife insisted that I get rid of my kites and boards since I hadnt kited in about 8 months, and shes tired of seeing new toys in the garage gather dust. This was a fantastic trade off for a sport that one can do alone, or share whenever the mood strikes.

In all of my years of sailing and living on a boat I have never quite had the outstanding morning on the water I had today. Somehow this is so much more sporting than what I expected. It is amazing how much sense you get from just being inches off the water.

Thanks to Nate, and Drew at OEX oceanside for all of the help they have given me getting squared away. Thanks Josh for your gear advice. Cant wait to fish with you when the time is right.

Have a great day everyone. I certainly did.

Sorry, no pic forgot to put my Blackberry in a ziploc. Its toast

[Holy Mackerel]

congrats, nice karmic reward for attending the Carlsbad MLPA meeting!

[the dude]

A crackberry is well worth the price of your first yak YT. Congrats.

[bender0240]

That's an awesome story!

[fishinkid2010]

Congrats, it sounds like a well deserved Yellow!

[Whizz Bang]

Outstanding. Congratulations, and thanks for the good read.