FIRST BSB! - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

kirkdavis · 11-07-2016, 03:57 PM

Launched at Dana Landing at first light cause I thought LJ would be too rough for a novice like me. Went out looking for kelp but it was scarce. Set up around some lobster traps in 110', caught a nice calico, then a big spanish mack on dropper with squid strip. I decided to rehook the mack on my dropper. I wasn't too hopeful so I set it in the holder and went back to fishing plastics. Next thing I know, my dropper was bent double! I thought I hooked bottom, but it started peeling line so I threw the other rod to the side to get that one. I had to wait for it to slack up befoer I could get it out of the holder, and then the fight was on! The way it fought I figured it was a hali or BSB, but I knew one thing...it was BIG. I tried to set the drag tighter, but then I couldn' keep the rod tip out of the water, so I loosened it back a tad and settled in for the fight. I put the rod butt under my butt, and whenever i had a chance I would reel in a bit, then a bit more, a bit more, then he would rip it all back plus some. Got burned by the line a couple of times, we went back and forth for 20-30 minutes, and I noticed we were getting too close to a lobster bouy, so I tried to pedal away from it, but too late. I was hoping I could work him up the rope enough to gaff, but suddenly he untangled himself and we drifted away from the bouy. By then we were both getting tuckered out, but I finally got it to the surface to see my prize. It was my first BSB, and definitely the biggest fish I have ever caught. It was an Epic battle! I took a couple pics, then when I tried to get it closer to either cut the lin or get the hook out, it went nutso and dove back down. I had the rod across my lap, and I clamped down, so I didn't lose the pole, but it broke!. I had to reel iy back up with a short pole, finally got it back up and cut the line as short as I could. I thought it was going to die, but I messed with it until it finally dove again.
I ended up with 3 nice calicos, some macks for lobster bait, and the memory of a great battle with a Big fish!

Deamon · 11-07-2016, 04:51 PM

Great catch and even better story!

Geno Machino · 11-07-2016, 06:36 PM

Great catch! Thanks for sharing!!!

Aaron&Julie · 11-07-2016, 09:58 PM

Cool story and fishing trip. It probably didn't take too long to realize it wasn't a big halibut. At that point you might have thought big ass shark, but no way halibut.

kirkdavis · 11-08-2016, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron&Julie

Cool story and fishing trip. It probably didn't take too long to realize it wasn't a big halibut. At that point you might have thought big ass shark, but no way halibut.

I dismissed Halibut pretty quick, but I never thought it was a shark. It never took me for a ride, it just kept trying to anchor me to the bottom.

Mr. NiceGuy · 11-08-2016, 12:21 PM

Thanks Kirk. Great story and great inspiration for this time of year.

Bravo!

kurt · 11-08-2016, 02:54 PM

Congrats, both on your big catch and a successful release.

11-07-2016, 03:57 PM	#1
kirkdavis Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: SD County Posts: 360	Story for BSB pic above Launched at Dana Landing at first light cause I thought LJ would be too rough for a novice like me. Went out looking for kelp but it was scarce. Set up around some lobster traps in 110', caught a nice calico, then a big spanish mack on dropper with squid strip. I decided to rehook the mack on my dropper. I wasn't too hopeful so I set it in the holder and went back to fishing plastics. Next thing I know, my dropper was bent double! I thought I hooked bottom, but it started peeling line so I threw the other rod to the side to get that one. I had to wait for it to slack up befoer I could get it out of the holder, and then the fight was on! The way it fought I figured it was a hali or BSB, but I knew one thing...it was BIG. I tried to set the drag tighter, but then I couldn' keep the rod tip out of the water, so I loosened it back a tad and settled in for the fight. I put the rod butt under my butt, and whenever i had a chance I would reel in a bit, then a bit more, a bit more, then he would rip it all back plus some. Got burned by the line a couple of times, we went back and forth for 20-30 minutes, and I noticed we were getting too close to a lobster bouy, so I tried to pedal away from it, but too late. I was hoping I could work him up the rope enough to gaff, but suddenly he untangled himself and we drifted away from the bouy. By then we were both getting tuckered out, but I finally got it to the surface to see my prize. It was my first BSB, and definitely the biggest fish I have ever caught. It was an Epic battle! I took a couple pics, then when I tried to get it closer to either cut the lin or get the hook out, it went nutso and dove back down. I had the rod across my lap, and I clamped down, so I didn't lose the pole, but it broke!. I had to reel iy back up with a short pole, finally got it back up and cut the line as short as I could. I thought it was going to die, but I messed with it until it finally dove again. I ended up with 3 nice calicos, some macks for lobster bait, and the memory of a great battle with a Big fish!

11-07-2016, 04:51 PM	#2
Deamon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,972	Great catch and even better story! __________________ Recreational Fisherman's Catch...2% Commercial Fisherman's Catch- 98% Recreational Fishing Kayakers Catch- .00001% "The reality is that the wall was built to keep all Asians ~specifically Japanese and those that think they're japanese~ out of the U.S"

11-07-2016, 06:36 PM	#3
Geno Machino "Relax" Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: O'side Posts: 554	Great catch! Thanks for sharing!!! __________________

11-07-2016, 09:58 PM	#4
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	Cool story and fishing trip. It probably didn't take too long to realize it wasn't a big halibut. At that point you might have thought big ass shark, but no way halibut. __________________ "Never say die"

11-08-2016, 12:21 PM	#6
Mr. NiceGuy Manic for Life Join Date: May 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 839	Thanks Kirk. Great story and great inspiration for this time of year. Bravo! __________________ Another ho-hum day in Paradise

11-08-2016, 02:54 PM	#7
kurt Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: 2 inches above sea level Posts: 503	Congrats, both on your big catch and a successful release. __________________ "All I got was a rock"