LJ-10/11 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

dos ballenas · 10-14-2009, 06:21 AM

Cute little mako... the water looks perfect!

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricM

Never meant crazy in a bad way. Just wondering if they did. I've been curious, but hesitant to try.

If you have the right trailer its no big deal. I have a 12 ft gregor and can launch it by myself if the surf is small enough, which is 90 % of the time...

You can buy beach launch wheels or just get a few big boat fenders from west marine and use them to roll the boat in, or some people just detach and push the entire trailer in the water... I've seen it all, even a big boston whaler... just be safe in the surf and stay under 5mph in the reserve.

see you out there

Useful Idiot · 10-14-2009, 09:31 AM

You got bigger stones than I do... I would've been in the market for a new rapala after I saw color on that thing.

Geoffkoop · 10-14-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Useful Idiot

You got bigger stones than I do... I would've been in the market for a new rapala after I saw color on that thing.

Haha! That was a $20 lure. Im pretty cheap...so willing to loose a finger for a it.

Freespool · 10-14-2009, 09:42 AM

If you can pin their head against the kayak with their mouth against the kayak, they can't really bite you. They're actually like alligators, they can bite down hard but they can't open up very easily at all. One hand could keep that mouth shut while the other holds the tail. Then your friend could pull out the hook.

Geoffkoop · 10-14-2009, 09:48 AM

Cool! Once I had his tail and grabbed his back, my buddy turned the camera off and pulled the hooks out with pliers pretty easily. The poor little guy's mouth was bleeding pretty good after having the trebles yanked out though. He swam off really strong so im sure he's fine.

You can kinda see it in the video, but he had a large wound on his belly right under the fin. Maybe a boat prop? larger shark?

MalibuJohnny · 10-14-2009, 12:15 PM

Man...you got some nuts! no F%*$)in way! see the teeth on that thing!

Little pup or not...very long needle nose or new lure!

forefrazier · 10-14-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freespool

Then your friend could pull out the hook.

You must have some good friends!

THE DARKHORSE · 10-14-2009, 03:50 PM

From the swinging iron behind your head to the ticking time-bomb in your hands,
tough choice, but I'll go with the Mako

.

Besides being run over by a drunk powerboater, the closest you'll ever come to dieing on a kayak is dealing with Mako Sharks. Maybe not that little guy, but give him a season and I'll cut the line without even thinking about it. Also, one of many reasons I'd never use a plug with multiple treble hooks again, certainly not in La Jolla from a kayak.

Years ago I hooked a Mako between 125-150 lbs on my favorite surface-iron at the time. That damb iron was ridiculous, caught tons of Yellowtail and I guarded it like gold. Foolishly, I had thoughts of trying to retrieve my iron...while the shark jumped right next to the kayak. Again and again! A few times he landed within a couple feet of the kayak leaving me completely soaked. My plan was to use my gaff and grab on the treble hook as the fish was circling the kayak, the same way you might bounce a Skipjack off a troll jig if you wanted to release them. Sounds simple, right? Nope. About five minutes into the ordeal the Mako sounds deep, then the line went slack. This was a spooky feeling as I looked over the side just in time to see a large fish with a mouth full of sharp teeth flying straight up from the depths. I braced myself just before he slammed the bottom of the X-Factor. If I hadn't been on that stable craft I surely would of been ejected by the impact, or atleast rolled. Keep in mind a Mako Sharks mouth is constantly chomping while doing those crazy airborne antics. If they were to jump and land on you, which is highly likely if you keep messing with those guys, it could get ugly real quick. Try paddling to shore while bleeding out if they hit one of many arteries

.

Hands down, the creapiest part about Mako Sharks is their not intimidated in the least. I'm sure that Mako, as tiny as he is, actually thought he could kick both your asses. The reality is, most all Mako Sharks up to two hundred pounds don't fight much...until boatside. As soon as you set the hook they go airborne, then the line goes slack as they swim straight to the boat. Checking out the competition, maybe? They save all their energy for the end game...No Thanks!

Geoffkoop · 10-14-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE DARKHORSE

From the swinging iron behind your head to the ticking time-bomb in your hands,
tough choice, but I'll go with the Mako

.

Besides being run over by a drunk powerboater, the closest you'll ever come to dieing on a kayak is dealing with Mako Sharks. Maybe not that little guy, but give him a season and I'll cut the line without even thinking about it. Also, one of many reasons I'd never use a plug with multiple treble hooks again, certainly not in La Jolla from a kayak.

Years ago I hooked a Mako between 125-150 lbs on my favorite surface-iron at the time. That damb iron was ridiculous, caught tons of Yellowtail and I guarded it like gold. Foolishly, I had thoughts of trying to retrieve my iron...while the shark jumped right next to the kayak. Again and again! A few times he landed within a couple feet of the kayak leaving me completely soaked. My plan was to use my gaff and grab on the treble hook as the fish was circling the kayak, the same way you might bounce a Skipjack off a troll jig if you wanted to release them. Sounds simple, right? Nope. About five minutes into the ordeal the Mako sounds deep, then the line went slack. This was a spooky feeling as I looked over the side just in time to see a large fish with a mouth full of sharp teeth flying straight up from the depths. I braced myself just before he slammed the bottom of the X-Factor. If I hadn't been on that stable craft I surely would of been ejected by the impact, or atleast rolled. Keep in mind a Mako Sharks mouth is constantly chomping while doing those crazy airborne antics. If they were to jump and land on you, which is highly likely if you keep messing with those guys, it could get ugly real quick. Try paddling to shore while bleeding out if they hit one of many arteries

.

Hands down, the creapiest part about Mako Sharks is their not intimidated in the least. I'm sure that Mako, as tiny as he is, actually thought he could kick both your asses. The reality is, most all Mako Sharks up to two hundred pounds don't fight much...until boatside. As soon as you set the hook they go airborne, then the line goes slack as they swim straight to the boat. Checking out the competition, maybe? They save all their energy for the end game...No Thanks!

Nice to meet you too. I am glad you shared all the pointers on here as neither of us had ever hooked up to a mako. I could imagine how this could quickly turn ugly. But for the record, that iron is NOT swinging behind my head like it looks. I have clear zip tie loops for my rod leashes to hook on (look closely and you can see them). That is what the iron is sinched on. Definitely not swinging near my head

.

THE DARKHORSE · 10-14-2009, 04:32 PM

So that just leaves playing with ticking time-bombs and plugs with multiple treble hooks. Trust me, forget the multiple treble-hooked baits. Reguardless of what species you're after. If you're releasing just about any fish, especially Bonita, those plugs do some major damage. Not to mention, spending way too much time while Knothead is probably close by, watching closely.

I think they suck for catching WSB (even though they do draw strikes), since those other hooks get stuck in the kelp and your prize will just shake off.

They suck for Thresher Sharks (even though they do draw strikes), because they'll almost always end up tail-hooked. Tail hooked Threshers will often die, especially when the average kayaker isn't using heavy enough gear to plane up the dead weight of a fish over 100 lbs. Not only does it suck for the fish, but besides getting killed by a Mako Shark or drunk powerboater...getting slapped by the tail of a Thresher Shark with a Rapala

. Can you say free trip to the abyss? Imagine taking your last breath while being dragged to the bottom. The lobsters would probably be stoked, though

.

And they suck for Yellowtail (even though they might sometimes draw a strike), especially if fishing anywhere near structure. More often than not, compounded by the fact that most guys aren't fishing all that heavy of gear with those baits, a Yellowtail will end up swimming off with a mouth welded shut by two or three treble hooks, a.k.a. dead Yellowtail. If I left a plug with three trebles in every Yellowtail I've lost, I would quit fishing from the guilt. In closing, I understand it's tough to make bait sometimes, but there are just too many other options that are not only more effective, but less dangerous to you and the fish.

10-14-2009, 09:31 AM	#2
Useful Idiot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 286	You got bigger stones than I do... I would've been in the market for a new rapala after I saw color on that thing. __________________

10-14-2009, 12:15 PM	#6
MalibuJohnny Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lahina (I Wish) Posts: 272	Bite Man...you got some nuts! no F%*$)in way! see the teeth on that thing! Little pup or not...very long needle nose or new lure! __________________ Malibu Johnny must catch fish

10-14-2009, 03:50 PM	#8
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	Nice to meet you, Geoff. From the swinging iron behind your head to the ticking time-bomb in your hands, tough choice, but I'll go with the Mako . Besides being run over by a drunk powerboater, the closest you'll ever come to dieing on a kayak is dealing with Mako Sharks. Maybe not that little guy, but give him a season and I'll cut the line without even thinking about it. Also, one of many reasons I'd never use a plug with multiple treble hooks again, certainly not in La Jolla from a kayak. Years ago I hooked a Mako between 125-150 lbs on my favorite surface-iron at the time. That damb iron was ridiculous, caught tons of Yellowtail and I guarded it like gold. Foolishly, I had thoughts of trying to retrieve my iron...while the shark jumped right next to the kayak. Again and again! A few times he landed within a couple feet of the kayak leaving me completely soaked. My plan was to use my gaff and grab on the treble hook as the fish was circling the kayak, the same way you might bounce a Skipjack off a troll jig if you wanted to release them. Sounds simple, right? Nope. About five minutes into the ordeal the Mako sounds deep, then the line went slack. This was a spooky feeling as I looked over the side just in time to see a large fish with a mouth full of sharp teeth flying straight up from the depths. I braced myself just before he slammed the bottom of the X-Factor. If I hadn't been on that stable craft I surely would of been ejected by the impact, or atleast rolled. Keep in mind a Mako Sharks mouth is constantly chomping while doing those crazy airborne antics. If they were to jump and land on you, which is highly likely if you keep messing with those guys, it could get ugly real quick. Try paddling to shore while bleeding out if they hit one of many arteries . Hands down, the creapiest part about Mako Sharks is their not intimidated in the least. I'm sure that Mako, as tiny as he is, actually thought he could kick both your asses. The reality is, most all Mako Sharks up to two hundred pounds don't fight much...until boatside. As soon as you set the hook they go airborne, then the line goes slack as they swim straight to the boat. Checking out the competition, maybe? They save all their energy for the end game...No Thanks! __________________

10-14-2009, 04:32 PM	#10
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	Good to know, Geoff. So that just leaves playing with ticking time-bombs and plugs with multiple treble hooks. Trust me, forget the multiple treble-hooked baits. Reguardless of what species you're after. If you're releasing just about any fish, especially Bonita, those plugs do some major damage. Not to mention, spending way too much time while Knothead is probably close by, watching closely. I think they suck for catching WSB (even though they do draw strikes), since those other hooks get stuck in the kelp and your prize will just shake off. They suck for Thresher Sharks (even though they do draw strikes), because they'll almost always end up tail-hooked. Tail hooked Threshers will often die, especially when the average kayaker isn't using heavy enough gear to plane up the dead weight of a fish over 100 lbs. Not only does it suck for the fish, but besides getting killed by a Mako Shark or drunk powerboater...getting slapped by the tail of a Thresher Shark with a Rapala . Can you say free trip to the abyss? Imagine taking your last breath while being dragged to the bottom. The lobsters would probably be stoked, though . And they suck for Yellowtail (even though they might sometimes draw a strike), especially if fishing anywhere near structure. More often than not, compounded by the fact that most guys aren't fishing all that heavy of gear with those baits, a Yellowtail will end up swimming off with a mouth welded shut by two or three treble hooks, a.k.a. dead Yellowtail. If I left a plug with three trebles in every Yellowtail I've lost, I would quit fishing from the guilt. In closing, I understand it's tough to make bait sometimes, but there are just too many other options that are not only more effective, but less dangerous to you and the fish. __________________

10-14-2009, 09:42 AM	#4
Freespool Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: La Jolla Posts: 42	If you can pin their head against the kayak with their mouth against the kayak, they can't really bite you. They're actually like alligators, they can bite down hard but they can't open up very easily at all. One hand could keep that mouth shut while the other holds the tail. Then your friend could pull out the hook.

10-14-2009, 09:48 AM	#5
Geoffkoop Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: So. Orange County Posts: 302	Cool! Once I had his tail and grabbed his back, my buddy turned the camera off and pulled the hooks out with pliers pretty easily. The poor little guy's mouth was bleeding pretty good after having the trebles yanked out though. He swam off really strong so im sure he's fine. You can kinda see it in the video, but he had a large wound on his belly right under the fin. Maybe a boat prop? larger shark?