Hook Em & Cook Em May Submissions

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Thursday May 15th was a perfect day in La Jolla, the nicest I have ever seen it. Got a fantastic parking spot super close to the bathroom launch. Launched at 12 Noon. The water was turquoise with zero swell and no wind. It looked like Hawaii. 100 degree weather. There was also a nice current going on as the kelp was lying down sideways all afternoon. Plus a Full Moon. Absolutely perfect conditions after the intense winds and fires that raged in San Diego County. The Lakeside fire came within 1/3 of a mile from our place. Thankfully the fire fighters hopped on it and got it out very quickly.



Back to La Jolla, not many people out and the seals were extremely aggressive. I farmed 5 seals who stole my fly lining Greenbacks.

Had to go into the kelp for an hour to make bait since the seals needed their free lunch. I used my No Sabiki Technique™ to catch only the perfect sized Greenbacks.
Came out with some perfect size greenbacks.

Went to start fishing and noticed I was sinking? WTF, I had just read Will's post and think no way. I know my drain plug is in as I have never taken it out. Hmmm, do I have a leak from all those times I landed on the grader launch ramp with all my hoop nets all winter long? I need to see where I am taking water on. Have not done that yet. I started using a large towel to soak up the water in the hull and squeezed it out over and over again. I got back enough floatation and decided to start fishing. No one else was in sight. No seals around. Perfect conditions.

So I chill out figuring the leak is not big enough to sink me and start fishing the perfect conditions. It did not take long. I knew instantly it was a yellowtail by the way it was running and head shaking. Knew it was a large one as it was peeling line. Seemed bigger than the big ones I caught last summer. Started the sleigh ride and thought "perfect., open water good to go". Took a ride for about five minutes and then the large fish found some kelp and found it good. Dang. I lost one last summer in the kelp. I also freed one, so I was at 50/50.

He was in there good. I'm thinking omg, I just lost a huge yellow and the first one for me this year. For the first 10 minutes, I thought I could feel him on there. After about 20 minutes stuck in the kelp I couldn't feel him and thought all was lost. I did let slack out and then crack it in over and over trying to cut through the kelp to no avail. I finally said F it and went to strategy number two. I got out my water bottle and start wrapping the braid around it until it got tighter and tighter. Pull hard, then let slack, pulled hard let slack again. Over and over again. Finally I felt the pop and figured well at least I had one. Started reeling in and then I felt dead weight (no fight at all) like a large fish. And almost instantly I saw color …… YES……………..

He came up sideways as he was more tired than I was. The bled out fish came in right at 30 pounds which makes him a Personal Best. Hooked up at about 5 PM. Landed before sunset to bay like conditions with zero chance of flipping.

Looks like it will be an awesome year for fishing ……..



After I filet the Yellowtail, I also go in and cut out all the scraps to the bone and smoke them ….




Now for a very delicious recipe …….

Yellowtail Rolls


I like to experiment and this a first try so I had 4 different fillings for the rolls

1) Polish Sausage Bacon Pineapple Sharp Cheddar Cilantro

2) Lobster Bacon Sharp Cheddar Cilantro

3) Guacamole Bacon Cilantro

4) Bacon Sharp Cheddar



After preparing the filling, I cut the fillet very thin and sprinkled some lime and soy sauce on them ….



I then stuff the thinly sliced yellowtail and use tooth picks to keep them together …



I had no idea how they would grill up but they did just fine.



Very delicious ….






You must try some version of this as the taste is fantastic. I also did one half guacamole and half polish sausage mix and that was my favorite, um maybe the straight guacamole was, didn't get to the bacon cheddar as my daughter inhaled those.

………………..


After I got home, I wanted to find out where the leak came from. Filled up the kayak with water and the stern started leaking. Checked it out and my stern was ground down and very weak in two spots and leaking. Most of the wear came from numerous hoop netting trips where I use a grader launch ramp. A forum member PM'd me on how to fix it via plastic welding and I thank him very much for the tip.

Now for Kayak Welding 101 ….. This is my first time trying this and it is surprisingly easy….



I didn't have any kayak cutouts so I used a Folgers Can and it worked fantastic. Built up my stern close to a half inch. Came out better than expected and is water tight.



Tight Lines, Chris

[kauaiboy04]

man, all this food makes me hungry! onolecious!