Gaffs Are Overrated... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

mckenzie · 03-11-2016, 10:31 PM

If you're a boater, I caught this fish on the islands, and it took
me 6 hours to get home with a strong tail wind.

If you're a kayaker, riddle me this, how many holes in the head
can one 42lb yellow take?

Last Wednesday I launched at 5:30 to gray light peeking through.
Made bait easily and set up for seabass fishing. Nothing for 2 hours
so off to the NW corner searching for yellows. No signs of anything
for over 3 hours of searching so I head back to the condo area.

Very close to heading in, then I took one more look at all those
frisky baits still in my tank. Pin on a fresh bait and cast out. As
the bait made a small run away from the yak it suddenly went
into 5th gear. I put the reel in gear and knew it was a good one.

Fought way harder than that 74lb wsb, but, I finally get the fish
yak side. Now the fun begins: I sink the gaff just behind the
head and with wet hands the gaff flies out of my hand as the fish
heads straight to the bottom--with my gaff. I get him yak side again
and as I grab my gaff, the fish turns, the gaff come out and the
damn fish returns to the bottom again. Realizing I should have lost
him already, I decide to just put the wood to him and see who’s gonna
end up the champ? Or... maybe the fish will come back since he forgot
my gaff.

Well, third time was the charm, I sink a good head shot and hoist him
into the yak as 2 seals approach and then won’t leave me alone as
I pop a gill and bleed the fish out.

Weighed out at 42.6 pounds, 4 foot 1 inch. Full and I mean FULL of
red crabs. I know, better lucky than good, What the hell, I’m Irish
and it’s March. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all my yak friends.

momo fish · 03-11-2016, 10:43 PM

Haha.. Great story Brian!!!

Your on a roll... You may catch a mermaid at this rate...

Aaron&Julie · 03-11-2016, 10:47 PM

You "got her done" that's the good thing, plus not losing your gaff. Congrats on another big fish. Hope you got your bling.

EastLosYaker · 03-12-2016, 12:05 AM

A beauty

Murray · 03-12-2016, 03:40 AM

Nice fish. Great writing sir. A 42 lb yellow is way big.

pingpangdang · 03-12-2016, 04:51 AM

Congrats! Waiting for the Mahi or big tuna pic now! On fire!

YakDout · 03-12-2016, 04:59 AM

Wow great fish. Did I understand that right, you caught it flylining?

Vikingj · 03-12-2016, 08:30 PM

That's huge! Way to be persistent and land that monster. Better get going cuz there are only 19 days left in March.

blitzburgh · 03-14-2016, 08:39 AM

Great read! Beautiful fish!!!

onetriphudson · 03-14-2016, 08:45 AM

Great job, amazing fish!

GBF · 03-14-2016, 10:46 PM

Digging it!!!

SP Dan · 03-16-2016, 06:08 PM

Excellent battle Sir!!!

You didn't give up, you stayed determined and reaped Poseidon's well earned gift! WTG!!!

Great write up,

SP Dan <"))><

03-11-2016, 10:31 PM	#1
mckenzie Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 46	Gaffs Are Overrated... If you're a boater, I caught this fish on the islands, and it took me 6 hours to get home with a strong tail wind. If you're a kayaker, riddle me this, how many holes in the head can one 42lb yellow take? Last Wednesday I launched at 5:30 to gray light peeking through. Made bait easily and set up for seabass fishing. Nothing for 2 hours so off to the NW corner searching for yellows. No signs of anything for over 3 hours of searching so I head back to the condo area. Very close to heading in, then I took one more look at all those frisky baits still in my tank. Pin on a fresh bait and cast out. As the bait made a small run away from the yak it suddenly went into 5th gear. I put the reel in gear and knew it was a good one. Fought way harder than that 74lb wsb, but, I finally get the fish yak side. Now the fun begins: I sink the gaff just behind the head and with wet hands the gaff flies out of my hand as the fish heads straight to the bottom--with my gaff. I get him yak side again and as I grab my gaff, the fish turns, the gaff come out and the damn fish returns to the bottom again. Realizing I should have lost him already, I decide to just put the wood to him and see who’s gonna end up the champ? Or... maybe the fish will come back since he forgot my gaff. Well, third time was the charm, I sink a good head shot and hoist him into the yak as 2 seals approach and then won’t leave me alone as I pop a gill and bleed the fish out. Weighed out at 42.6 pounds, 4 foot 1 inch. Full and I mean FULL of red crabs. I know, better lucky than good, What the hell, I’m Irish and it’s March. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all my yak friends.

03-11-2016, 10:47 PM	#3
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	You "got her done" that's the good thing, plus not losing your gaff. Congrats on another big fish. Hope you got your bling. __________________ "Never say die"

03-14-2016, 08:39 AM	#9
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Great read! Beautiful fish!!! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

03-14-2016, 08:45 AM	#10
onetriphudson Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 143	Great job, amazing fish! __________________ 2012 Dune Pro Angler 14, 1994 Yellow Scupper Pro

03-14-2016, 10:46 PM	#11
GBF Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Huntington Beach CA Posts: 323	Digging it!!! __________________ "Just keep going out....it's better than staying Home"

03-11-2016, 10:43 PM	#2
momo fish Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Camarillo Posts: 1,491	Haha.. Great story Brian!!! Your on a roll... You may catch a mermaid at this rate...

03-12-2016, 12:05 AM	#4
EastLosYaker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: East Los Angeles Posts: 220	A beauty

03-12-2016, 03:40 AM	#5
Murray Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Vista Posts: 326	Nice fish. Great writing sir. A 42 lb yellow is way big.

03-12-2016, 04:51 AM	#6
pingpangdang Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 228	Congrats! Waiting for the Mahi or big tuna pic now! On fire!

03-12-2016, 04:59 AM	#7
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	Wow great fish. Did I understand that right, you caught it flylining?

03-12-2016, 08:30 PM	#8
Vikingj Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dana Point area Posts: 438	That's huge! Way to be persistent and land that monster. Better get going cuz there are only 19 days left in March.

03-16-2016, 06:08 PM	#12
SP Dan Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: San Pedro, Ca Posts: 62	Excellent battle Sir!!! You didn't give up, you stayed determined and reaped Poseidon's well earned gift! WTG!!! Great write up, SP Dan <"))><