F'nAndy - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

F'nArne · 01-30-2006, 03:42 PM

This one started out with the usual trip to the pier for greenies, big and small. A few cold ones to the face woke me up good, but it wasn't too chilly.

At first light I was at the point in about 110-120 feet and was metering fish everywhere. Sent a smallish greenie down with a 2/0 hook - I was NOT looking for Butts so no trap hook. Andy stopped by for a chat and paddled off for whiter waters. No more than 2 minutes after he left my bait goes wild. I let it run a few seconds before setting the hook. It swung me around and made a couple really nice quick runs, then that was it.

It didn't fight like anything I'd hooked in the past. My first thought was a baby BSB 'cuz it wasn't putting up much of a fight, but I was getting line back too quickly for that. Then I thought ... halibut?

Water was clear - probably 20 foot viz where I was - so I just kept grinding away and looking over the side. Pretty soon I saw a doormat coming up. But the normal flat float to the top was not happening. This one was straight up and down. How am I going to gaff it? I loosened the drag WAY DOWN (thanks again Fish Destroyer) and brought it just to the surface and stuck her with an awkward gaff.

The fish went ballistic, giving me a shower with Andy taking pics and laughing his a@# off. The gaff shot was only a nuisance to this fish. The gaff ripped out and all the way back down to the bottom she went. So I started the grind again with a veeeery loose drag and finally got her floating back up, but once again straight up and down. This time I stuck her in the noggin and stared down her huge mouth. I quickly threw my handy dandy stringer through her mouth and watched her go crazy once again - and hung on.

This baby was thick. She got my yak rockin' and rollin' when I pulled her on board, so I bled her quickly and waited for the thrashing. I started looking for the hook and found it stuck in her side, just below the gills ... FOUL. I barely had to pull to get it out - that's why she came up the way she did. After I got situated I turned around to see Andy on his nice white one. Thanks for the pics Andy.

45# 9 oz.

F'nArne

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

01-30-2006, 03:42 PM	#19
F'nArne Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 30	This one started out with the usual trip to the pier for greenies, big and small. A few cold ones to the face woke me up good, but it wasn't too chilly. At first light I was at the point in about 110-120 feet and was metering fish everywhere. Sent a smallish greenie down with a 2/0 hook - I was NOT looking for Butts so no trap hook. Andy stopped by for a chat and paddled off for whiter waters. No more than 2 minutes after he left my bait goes wild. I let it run a few seconds before setting the hook. It swung me around and made a couple really nice quick runs, then that was it. It didn't fight like anything I'd hooked in the past. My first thought was a baby BSB 'cuz it wasn't putting up much of a fight, but I was getting line back too quickly for that. Then I thought ... halibut? Water was clear - probably 20 foot viz where I was - so I just kept grinding away and looking over the side. Pretty soon I saw a doormat coming up. But the normal flat float to the top was not happening. This one was straight up and down. How am I going to gaff it? I loosened the drag WAY DOWN (thanks again Fish Destroyer) and brought it just to the surface and stuck her with an awkward gaff. The fish went ballistic, giving me a shower with Andy taking pics and laughing his a@# off. The gaff shot was only a nuisance to this fish. The gaff ripped out and all the way back down to the bottom she went. So I started the grind again with a veeeery loose drag and finally got her floating back up, but once again straight up and down. This time I stuck her in the noggin and stared down her huge mouth. I quickly threw my handy dandy stringer through her mouth and watched her go crazy once again - and hung on. This baby was thick. She got my yak rockin' and rollin' when I pulled her on board, so I bled her quickly and waited for the thrashing. I started looking for the hook and found it stuck in her side, just below the gills ... FOUL. I barely had to pull to get it out - that's why she came up the way she did. After I got situated I turned around to see Andy on his nice white one. Thanks for the pics Andy. 45# 9 oz. F'nArne