Merry Christmas!
 

This is my first post...though I started kayak fishing almost a year ago and I've been "trolling" on this site since then...I just haven't had anything worthwhile to post. Anyway, I appreciate all the helpful info that's been posted here and all of you who have given me tips on the water. Also props to the seasamurai who taught me a ton.

Wife and kids went to visit her family this week and I had to stay around for work...so rather than sit around by myself on Christmas day I figured I'd give La Jolla another chance. Launched about 1030 am, beautiful day. I was all alone although I met the Tinhman a little later in the day. There was a huge pod of dolphins but not a lot of bait in the water...so I started out just bottom fishing with frozen squid. Caught a little baby octopus that I put on the dropper loop...about an hour later the line started screaming and pulling the kayak sideways. After about 3 minutes, whatever it was popped off and I thought for sure I had blown my opportunity for the day.

A school of baitfish came by and I caught a greenback mackeral and fly-lined it. There were some birds sitting on the water and I trolled around the edge of them...about 10 min later I hooked into this monster, first yellow tail that I have successfully landed. When I got him to the boat he was actually hooked in the side...whatever, I'll take it. Measured 4.5 feet long and weighed 52.4 pounds on the bathroom scale.

Holy Crap!


Dude, one post 52 pound YT.......



Wide open LJ yellowtail bite going on.....we are all coming!:D







Congrats on an incredible catch.:cheers1:

Hell of a catch!!!! Good job!!!

That's a hell of a lot bigger than any yellowtail I've ever caught! Congrats!

WTG! Awesome Christmas Present

"Holy shit" is all I can say man! :cheers1:

What a Christmas present! Strong work!

Hooked on the side. .. .
 

Hmmmm.

Not sure that fish will taste the same as if hooked in the mouth.

Anyone can side-hook a YT. Catching one the proper way, well that can take time.

As you know I'm just jealous.

Congrats on the monster. :cheers1:

I don't think it gets much merrier than that! :cheers1:

Double awesome and triple cool! :cheers1:

I can only imagine how that thing pulled belly hooked! :eek:

It makes that game clip look tiny. I'm pretty sure that's the one I hooked the other day. Lol

Nice man that things a beast! Great first post.!

WOW!! Nice catch I guess you will be going out again next Christmas.

That is one magnificent fish

Holy Crap!!!

That thing is as big as my......nevermind.


Awesome catch and first post!!!!

Heard tihn got a fatty too....or was that yours?

Tihn actually caught two yellows...here's a pic of me holding his fish

Farck yea guys! Nice!

Solid fish! You have made alot of guys that have been doing this a while very very jealous with that fish :cheers1:

Very nice grasshopper:luxhello:

holy crap man... thats HUGE!

4.5ft huh? seems they grow length wise then fill out instead of being proportionate the whole time. mine have all been in the 42-47" range and not that thick or heavy.

way to go!:luxhello:

Helluva consolation to spending Christmas alone :luxhello: :notworthy: :D

i must have had a brian fart. i was stuck on the idea 4.5ft was 48" :D

still a great way to spend christmas!

Wow very nice job on a great YT.

WOW... That's HUGE. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Thanks for the informative post!

:cheers1:

DAAAAAAAYYUUUUUUMMMM!!!!:luxhello::luxhello::luxhe llo:

Unbelievable...no really unbelievable. Great fish man congrats.

First YT landed is 50#.....where do you go from there???????

holy smoke:cool: & Merry Christmas:)

amazing fish man!! Congrats!

50# club...check. Nice going. Superb elephant hunting technique.

Great job Erik! That is one home guard YT! A YT over 50lbs is hard to top.
Time to start looking for a barn door halibut!

Damn, that would of fought like a beast if hooked in the lip and must of fought like a freight train foul hooked. My PB was a 40lber on a boat and that thing kicked my ass. Congrats!

That is one hell of a fish! :luxhello: Now that is the type of gift I like to get on Christmas!:yt::you_rock:!! Way to go!!

HOLY YELLOW BATMAN!
MERRY NEW YEAR!
:cheers1:

Merry Christmas Indeed!
 

Fish of a LIFETIME! Great Job!

It has been a long, long time since I have posted. I have long since lost the touch when it comes to the keyboard, but here I go. I heard about this fish and had to check the site myself...

Holy crap!!!!! Eric that thing is a pure beast of a fish!!! You have successfully nailed the two hardest critters to catch in La Jolla. A white seabass and oh ya a 50 lb yellowtail! People are foaming at the mouth for a shot with one of those bad boys, and I am one of them.

Simply put,"Damn!!!!"

Congrats dude! A true wall hanger. :notworthy:

Thanks a lot everyone! And Kevin I really appreciate everything you taught me! For those of you who are getting into this awesome sport, you really need to check out seasamurai.com and book a trip with him. The experience you'll gain is invaluable and the techniques he teaches really do work!

That being said, it feels really good to finally got this one under my belt. My wife said she was jealous that a fish made me smile that much. I would have been ecstatic to catch a 15 pounder...but a belly-hooked 52 pounder...a little luck never hurts I guess.

Holy COW! Nice catch man!!! I hit LJ the other day and landed a couple sculpin. Paddling out with the dolphins was fun though. Nice!

you can hang up your rod. You have seen the top of the mountain and it is good. Many on this board will fish LJ all their lives and not catch a 50# YT. :cheers1:
-td