What would you do? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

King Saba · 07-24-2016, 09:37 PM

So with all this talk about tuna I've been wondering what one would do with a large tuna should the kayak gods bless one of us with a cow. My only thought is processing the fish on the spot and keeping what ever meat my cooler can hold.

Dave Legacy · 07-24-2016, 09:45 PM

This is probably not a popular move, but I think I'd turn most of it into jerky. As far as getting it home I might consider lining my trunk with trash bags and filling it with ice or something ghetto like that.

Zed · 07-24-2016, 10:22 PM

Quote:

My only thought is processing the fish on the spot and keeping what ever meat my cooler can hold.

If it comes to that cut it loose. I don't intend to waste what "won't fit in the cooler" on my yak.

Whatever you do, don't forget the anal vent in your cooler.

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.a...=105315&inline

taggermike · 07-25-2016, 07:43 AM

That's a dilemma most of us would like to have. Unless your a fish cutting ninja filleting a 100 lb tuna while it's in your lap would be about impossible as well as dangerous.

As for stuffing meat into your fish bag until it's full and throwing the rest away; please dont do that. The waste is wrong and if you are checked by a warden and have1/2 a tuna you're gonna get a ticket for wastage. And you'd still have to fillet the fish across your lap.

The best solution I can come up with is to lighten the fish as much as possible while remaining legal. Removing the head, guts, and fins would really reduce the length and weight of the fish. There would still be some knife work but most of these cuts can be done away from you.

Basically do the first 3 steps this fish ninja does

https://youtu.be/aeiI1T7uu0o. Mike

maquinapescado · 07-25-2016, 08:08 AM

Before all the high tech fish holds, they used to just keep them on water. I have had tuna kept wet and out of the sun that was fine by my standards for sashimi and everything else.

With the high hopes of being a lucky one, I carry a large white towel with me, even when I am just fishing YT and WSB. I throw this towel over my fish wet. The white helps keep them cool and being a beach towel, it also retains lots of water to keep the temp down and fish moist.

For the tuna, I took 60lbs of ice the other day with the intent of stuffing a fish with the ice. To replace this method, I am freezing 32 water bottles (they will stay frosen longer than the ice) in which I plan to make an incision in the belly just big enough to pull the guts out and stuff with frozen bottles.

I will say, having 60lbs of ice on the bow of my PA made the surf launch extra wet and the wind chop going out just kept going over the bow. I moved it to the back and called it my poor man's trim tabs. I am going to look into a bag with a good ergonomic fit for the stern of my PA, square/rectangular which is easier and cheaper to come by. I'm over the bow/kayak cut kill bags.......don't want that much ice and fish weight on my bow.

Sorry for the novel folks.

maquinapescado · 07-25-2016, 08:12 AM

Mike,

I swear I am bookmarking that video and studying it everyday lol

skrilla · 07-25-2016, 12:14 PM

Free ride home?

tacmik · 07-25-2016, 02:12 PM

oooh! I like the whip.

King Saba · 07-26-2016, 12:03 AM

I definitely agree with the notion of releasing a fish that is too large to harvest. To be honest, I wouldn't know what to do with a large tuna anyways. When I'm offered yellows a 15lb fish is already a lot of meat for me.

Thanks for entertaining my curiosity everyone.

BigAppa · 07-26-2016, 04:47 PM

This is pretty out there, but how about taking along something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Solstice-2935.../dp/B004PPTC9G

Stows easily, comes with a pump that will inflate it quickly, has a 500 lb carrying capacity. The biggest issue will be that it punctures easily, so you'll have to throw a puncture resistant tarp over it. Then, if you can manage to get the fish in there, throw some bags of ice on top of it and then tow it in.

maquinapescado · 07-26-2016, 05:40 PM

All good points Chris and true. I am bringing my ice anyway and the optimism in me will rock on. I think I will bring my ice ax and put that between the eyes. Good luck finding something in the DFG book about using that.

Zed · 07-26-2016, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maquinapescado

I think I will bring my ice ax and put that between the eyes. Good luck finding something in the DFG book about using that.

Ha. I like it. 10yd of paracord and you have a flyer. Realistically I dont think any cleat fastened on a plastic yak will withstand the force...for long.

My personal fantasy ethical size limit of an offshore fish is up to but not including my biggest thresher. That was a PITA.

King Saba · 07-26-2016, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAppa

This is pretty out there, but how about taking along something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Solstice-2935.../dp/B004PPTC9G

Stows easily, comes with a pump that will inflate it quickly, has a 500 lb carrying capacity. The biggest issue will be that it punctures easily, so you'll have to throw a puncture resistant tarp over it. Then, if you can manage to get the fish in there, throw some bags of ice on top of it and then tow it in.

This probably won't work as well as you think if you own a Hobie unless it's a PA. The reason for this is the line would get caught in the rudder if you stop for a rest and if you decide to tie up to your side handles the craft then doesn't tow in a manner where resistance is minimal. I dragged two float tubes yesterday with two 150lb guys sitting in them with little to no equipment. In 8kts of wind it took us 40min to cover 1/2 a mile even with them assisting by kicking and me pedaling at near max effort.

east county dirtbag · 07-26-2016, 08:44 PM

Pardon me but what is a kage? I've googled it with mixed and indefinite results

chris138 · 07-26-2016, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by east county dirtbag

Pardon me but what is a kage? I've googled it with mixed and indefinite results

It's a spear gaff you use to try to stone the fish before you gaff it

YakDout · 07-26-2016, 05:44 PM

I think I would try to tail rope, make a cut and drag backwards for a while.

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Dingokevin · 07-26-2016, 06:25 PM

Kage is illegal in socal?

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YakDout · 07-26-2016, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dingokevin

Kage is illegal in socal?

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Yes

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Dingokevin · 07-26-2016, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

Yes

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Oops

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jorluivil · 07-26-2016, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

Yes

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that's not true

We asked the DFG about this at the FHS, half of them didn't know what a Kage was and the other half couldn't even spell it.

07-24-2016, 09:37 PM	#1
King Saba Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: SGV Posts: 848	What would you do? So with all this talk about tuna I've been wondering what one would do with a large tuna should the kayak gods bless one of us with a cow. My only thought is processing the fish on the spot and keeping what ever meat my cooler can hold.

07-25-2016, 08:08 AM	#5
maquinapescado Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 326	Before all the high tech fish holds, they used to just keep them on water. I have had tuna kept wet and out of the sun that was fine by my standards for sashimi and everything else. With the high hopes of being a lucky one, I carry a large white towel with me, even when I am just fishing YT and WSB. I throw this towel over my fish wet. The white helps keep them cool and being a beach towel, it also retains lots of water to keep the temp down and fish moist. For the tuna, I took 60lbs of ice the other day with the intent of stuffing a fish with the ice. To replace this method, I am freezing 32 water bottles (they will stay frosen longer than the ice) in which I plan to make an incision in the belly just big enough to pull the guts out and stuff with frozen bottles. I will say, having 60lbs of ice on the bow of my PA made the surf launch extra wet and the wind chop going out just kept going over the bow. I moved it to the back and called it my poor man's trim tabs. I am going to look into a bag with a good ergonomic fit for the stern of my PA, square/rectangular which is easier and cheaper to come by. I'm over the bow/kayak cut kill bags.......don't want that much ice and fish weight on my bow. Sorry for the novel folks. __________________ Climb, Surf, Fish, Repeat

07-25-2016, 08:12 AM	#6
maquinapescado Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 326	Mike, I swear I am bookmarking that video and studying it everyday lol __________________ Climb, Surf, Fish, Repeat

07-25-2016, 02:12 PM	#8
tacmik Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: East County Posts: 914	oooh! I like the whip. __________________

07-26-2016, 04:47 PM	#10
BigAppa Junior Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 27	This is pretty out there, but how about taking along something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Solstice-2935.../dp/B004PPTC9G Stows easily, comes with a pump that will inflate it quickly, has a 500 lb carrying capacity. The biggest issue will be that it punctures easily, so you'll have to throw a puncture resistant tarp over it. Then, if you can manage to get the fish in there, throw some bags of ice on top of it and then tow it in. Last edited by BigAppa; 07-26-2016 at 04:57 PM.

07-24-2016, 09:45 PM	#2
Dave Legacy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Hacienda Heights, CA Posts: 427	This is probably not a popular move, but I think I'd turn most of it into jerky. As far as getting it home I might consider lining my trunk with trash bags and filling it with ice or something ghetto like that.

07-25-2016, 07:43 AM	#4
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	That's a dilemma most of us would like to have. Unless your a fish cutting ninja filleting a 100 lb tuna while it's in your lap would be about impossible as well as dangerous. As for stuffing meat into your fish bag until it's full and throwing the rest away; please dont do that. The waste is wrong and if you are checked by a warden and have1/2 a tuna you're gonna get a ticket for wastage. And you'd still have to fillet the fish across your lap. The best solution I can come up with is to lighten the fish as much as possible while remaining legal. Removing the head, guts, and fins would really reduce the length and weight of the fish. There would still be some knife work but most of these cuts can be done away from you. Basically do the first 3 steps this fish ninja does https://youtu.be/aeiI1T7uu0o. Mike

07-26-2016, 12:03 AM	#9
King Saba Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: SGV Posts: 848	I definitely agree with the notion of releasing a fish that is too large to harvest. To be honest, I wouldn't know what to do with a large tuna anyways. When I'm offered yellows a 15lb fish is already a lot of meat for me. Thanks for entertaining my curiosity everyone.

07-26-2016, 05:40 PM	#11
maquinapescado Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 326	All good points Chris and true. I am bringing my ice anyway and the optimism in me will rock on. I think I will bring my ice ax and put that between the eyes. Good luck finding something in the DFG book about using that. __________________ Climb, Surf, Fish, Repeat

07-26-2016, 08:44 PM	#14
east county dirtbag Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 34	Pardon me but what is a kage? I've googled it with mixed and indefinite results

07-26-2016, 05:44 PM	#16
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	I think I would try to tail rope, make a cut and drag backwards for a while. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07-26-2016, 06:25 PM	#17
Dingokevin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: San Diego Posts: 267	Kage is illegal in socal? Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk