Kayak & Yellowtail gear just wasn't enough....WOW! El Nino is here!!!

[Fishngolf70]

Originally Posted by HELLSTER INC.

Should be circling catalina by now! Update please!!!!!

So as the title says I was just not geared up for a fight like this. I was very safe and had my jacket on, radio going, GPS, etc, but about a mile and a half into it you start thinking...is this beast even getting tired yet? how many miles is safe to be able to get back? Right about then a boat cruised up within shouting distance and I told them what was going on and they hung out for a while. The captain says you need to button down that drag to even have a chance on a fish like that. So I Buttoned down the drag and started fighting, they said they would hang out if I was going to make it happen so that's what I tried to do. That was another 30 minutes of totally getting my but kicked as I think that he just found out he was hooked. He headed straight down a couple hundred feet and started cruising again while I had a huge load on the rod and couldn't budge him. Finally 2 hours / 3 miles into it SNAP my rod breaks off at about the 4 1/2 foot mark...I tried to continue and SNAP my 65# spectra breaks right at the top eye with no more flex in the rod. The guys in the boat take off and I just sat there for a minute thinking about what just happened...awesome!

And with a big smile on my face pedaled back to the harbor.

[onetriphudson]

Originally Posted by Fishngolf70

So as the title says I was just not geared up for a fight like this. I was very safe and had my jacket on, radio going, GPS, etc, but about a mile and a half into it you start thinking...is this beast even getting tired yet? how many miles is safe to be able to get back? Right about then a boat cruised up within shouting distance and I told them what was going on and they hung out for a while. The captain says you need to button down that drag to even have a chance on a fish like that. So I Buttoned down the drag and started fighting, they said they would hang out if I was going to make it happen so that's what I tried to do. That was another 30 minutes of totally getting my but kicked as I think that he just found out he was hooked. He headed straight down a couple hundred feet and started cruising again while I had a huge load on the rod and couldn't budge him. Finally 2 hours / 3 miles into it SNAP my rod breaks off at about the 4 1/2 foot mark...I tried to continue and SNAP my 65# spectra breaks right at the top eye with no more flex in the rod. The guys in the boat take off and I just sat there for a minute thinking about what just happened...awesome!

And with a big smile on my face pedaled back to the harbor.

I really admire your spirit to not give up, get out there a second day and then hook a marlin! We've all tasted defeat and it makes us think about cutting our losses. Too bad about your rod and lost fish but I think that's just as cool of an ending… glad you made it back safe!

[PapaDave]

Commendations! Good fight!

[DDS]

Great to hear you fight back from a skunk to hook up on the mother of all kayak hook ups! Just awesome, I'm very jealous.

[WARRIORMIKE]

Very cool for sure

[ctfphoto]

Insane!!!!!!

[monstahfish]

Awesome. Nuff said.

[The pelican]

This post made me sooooo jealous. Congrats on the sleigh ride of a lifetime and really going for it. Hard to top that day of kayak fishing. Thanks for posting and letting the rest of us dream

[Jim Sammons LJKF]

Well it can actually be done solo with no extra drag it just takes a bit longer. Remember the first marlin I ever had to my kayak was in 1998 in La Jolla with only straight tied 20lb mono. 2 1/2 hours with no extra drag covered 8 miles. Even with the 48 billfish I have landed since I remember that day like it was yesterday.

[Jim Sammons LJKF]

It was bound to happen again!! only took about 17 years is all. Congrats.

[exfactor]

I promise you, you will remember this fish much better because he was a worthy advisary, and he won his freedom! When you tell your grandkids someday, they will all be amazed, and have you tell them the story over and over. Too fricking cool bro, happy you got to have that experience in your life.
My first marlin that i ever caught ate a surface iron 10 feet from the transom, and i got to watch him open his mouth, eat it, and proceed to jump about 35 times. I had a jigmaster with 30 pound, and was on a yacht. I'll never forget that fish.

[Geno Machino]

Epic!!!

Just Epic!!!

What did you get it on, and what size leader were you fishing...inquiring minds would like to know...

Great Work!

Geno

[Fishngolf70]

Originally Posted by Geno Machino

Epic!!!

Just Epic!!!

What did you get it on, and what size leader were you fishing...inquiring minds would like to know...

Great Work!

Geno

It was on 65lb spectra to 40lb flouro leader to 2/0 circle hook with a sardine.

Thanks!

[lowprofile]

Originally Posted by Fishngolf70

It was on 65lb spectra to 40lb flouro leader to 2/0 circle hook with a sardine.

Thanks!

just bump up to 200lb floro and you'll be fine next time.

[MrPukaShell]

Simply awesome, thanks for taking the time to share

[DanaPT]

that's cool. And this is why I like ocean fishing from a kayak. you never know.

Congrats on the great story! Hopefully will see you out on the water with that 200lb line!

[FISH11]

Awesome hook up.. Nearly impossible to win that fight without help. One kayak does not have enough drag to wear out the marlin. The videos I have seen of Jim Sammons hooking up with them, had then tying up to 3 kayaks together and dragging legs and or paddles in the water, for extra drag. Even then they fought it for hours, but it can be done. Great memories there. Thanks for sharing.

[Aaron&Julie]

WoW!