A YT Virgin No Longer - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

RookieYakker · 06-30-2015, 08:16 AM

It's no BFT, 4 pack, or 2 pack, but you never forget your first!

Headed out last Friday at about 7, and wasn't too happy to see the crabs were still hanging out. They only seemed to be close to the kelp, and I didn't have too much trouble making bait.

Thanks to whoever was heading in with one YT poking up from his bait tank who told me to head further south and into deeper water. I was fly lining one greenie and added a weight to another to hopefully hit more of the water column.

The clicker started singing and a few minutes later, after wrapping itself around the other line, I eventually had in on the gaff and was bleeding it out. Thank you to all the guys who have posted videos and notes so that I could learn how to sink the gaff and land the fish!

It ended up being 18 lbs with an empty stomach. After somewhere between 20-25 trips to LJ I'm sure as hell happy to have finally popped my cherry!

On a side note, is trolling two baits a bad idea? Do they always get tangled? Then again, does it really matter if they get tangled?

Thanks again for the posts that helped me be more prepared!

blitzburgh · 06-30-2015, 09:13 AM

Way to go!

Iceman · 06-30-2015, 09:30 AM

Congrats, should be the kind of Summer where a lot of guys will get their firsts! Nice to see nobody is trying to squash the STOKE!

Silbaugh4liberty · 06-30-2015, 09:43 AM

Nice Job! Glad those trips finally paid off for ya!

kjsdad619 · 06-30-2015, 09:54 AM

Congrats on your first! I am still trying to get my first and thank you for saying where to head out to, I'll head farther south on the west side of the beds and give it a shot!

And also did it hit the one with weight or did it just hit the fly line???

Geno Machino · 06-30-2015, 11:13 AM

Great job!!!

I'm still rigging my first yak up with safety devices and getting the bait tank working...hopefully I too will be able to create my first first post 😎

Caden · 06-30-2015, 11:42 AM

Congrats on ur 1st YT and more to come

iethinker · 06-30-2015, 06:40 PM

Its a good feeling!

FISH11 · 06-30-2015, 06:57 PM

Congratulations on the first Yellow. It will taste the sweetest. Since I started using circle hooks, after hooking up and pulling a couple of minutes. I can put the pole down with a looser drag set my leg on top and quickly pull in my other line so they won't cross. I had lost other fish in the past from lines getting crossed, not anymore. Love circle hooks, they don't come off no matter how many head shakes.

Cadillyak · 06-30-2015, 07:25 PM

And it starts. That first yellow I tell ya!! I remember mine like it was yesterday. It damn near was. I'm still earning my stripes trying to become a vet. But that's 1/2 the fun. Congrats on a good fish!

surfisher · 06-30-2015, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FISH11

Congratulations on the first Yellow. It will taste the sweetest. Since I started using circle hooks, after hooking up and pulling a couple of minutes. I can put the pole down with a looser drag set my leg on top and quickly pull in my other line so they won't cross. I had lost other fish in the past from lines getting crossed, not anymore. Love circle hooks, they don't come off no matter how many head shakes.

x2 Circle hooks are awesome.

RookieYakker · 07-01-2015, 06:03 PM

I've always used ringed 2/O J hooks, but I'll pick up some circle hooks next time and give them a try. People seem to think pretty strongly one side or the other in that debate!

kjsdad619 - It hit on the fly line! Stay after it!

06-30-2015, 08:16 AM	#1
RookieYakker Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 129	A YT Virgin No Longer It's no BFT, 4 pack, or 2 pack, but you never forget your first! Headed out last Friday at about 7, and wasn't too happy to see the crabs were still hanging out. They only seemed to be close to the kelp, and I didn't have too much trouble making bait. Thanks to whoever was heading in with one YT poking up from his bait tank who told me to head further south and into deeper water. I was fly lining one greenie and added a weight to another to hopefully hit more of the water column. The clicker started singing and a few minutes later, after wrapping itself around the other line, I eventually had in on the gaff and was bleeding it out. Thank you to all the guys who have posted videos and notes so that I could learn how to sink the gaff and land the fish! It ended up being 18 lbs with an empty stomach. After somewhere between 20-25 trips to LJ I'm sure as hell happy to have finally popped my cherry! On a side note, is trolling two baits a bad idea? Do they always get tangled? Then again, does it really matter if they get tangled? Thanks again for the posts that helped me be more prepared! Attached Images

06-30-2015, 09:13 AM	#2
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Way to go! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

06-30-2015, 09:30 AM	#3
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	Congrats, should be the kind of Summer where a lot of guys will get their firsts! Nice to see nobody is trying to squash the STOKE! __________________

06-30-2015, 09:43 AM	#4
Silbaugh4liberty Fishing Patriot Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 1,121	Nice Job! Glad those trips finally paid off for ya! __________________

06-30-2015, 09:54 AM	#5
kjsdad619 Just a Salty Sailor Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 193	Congrats Congrats on your first! I am still trying to get my first and thank you for saying where to head out to, I'll head farther south on the west side of the beds and give it a shot! And also did it hit the one with weight or did it just hit the fly line???

06-30-2015, 11:13 AM	#6
Geno Machino "Relax" Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: O'side Posts: 552	Great job!!! I'm still rigging my first yak up with safety devices and getting the bait tank working...hopefully I too will be able to create my first first post 😎

06-30-2015, 11:42 AM	#7
Caden Homeless will fish 4 food Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: rosemead Posts: 171	Congrats on ur 1st YT and more to come

06-30-2015, 06:40 PM	#8
iethinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Inland Empire Posts: 370	Congratulations Its a good feeling!

06-30-2015, 06:57 PM	#9
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,629	Congratulations on the first Yellow. It will taste the sweetest. Since I started using circle hooks, after hooking up and pulling a couple of minutes. I can put the pole down with a looser drag set my leg on top and quickly pull in my other line so they won't cross. I had lost other fish in the past from lines getting crossed, not anymore. Love circle hooks, they don't come off no matter how many head shakes. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

06-30-2015, 07:25 PM	#10
Cadillyak Team Get $$ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 841	And it starts. That first yellow I tell ya!! I remember mine like it was yesterday. It damn near was. I'm still earning my stripes trying to become a vet. But that's 1/2 the fun. Congrats on a good fish! __________________ The "Y" is silent 2012 Olive PA 12 2011 Papaya Outback

07-01-2015, 06:03 PM	#12
RookieYakker Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 129	I've always used ringed 2/O J hooks, but I'll pick up some circle hooks next time and give them a try. People seem to think pretty strongly one side or the other in that debate! kjsdad619 - It hit on the fly line! Stay after it!