LJ 8-22-15
 

Launched @ 6am to small surf but still took 2 over the bow. Caught 3 jumbo greenback mac for bait and a couple even bigger that I released. Hooked up and landed yellowtail about 8:30 in 160ft. I am estimating 18-20 lbs, measured 36" to the fork, pretty thick. This guy fought like a much bigger fish, he gave me 4-5 good runs. Hook up was near some bird activity. Tried for a double to no avail, back at the launch by10:45am, had to get to a 90th birthday party. Taco's on Sunday!!

Good job!

Can't have much better tacos than Yellowtail. I think the texture of the meat is one of the things why I love Yellowtail over a lot of other fish.

similar on Saturday
 

Went same day, almost same experience. VERY hard to make bait in the morning 8 to 9. Started with only 2 jack macks. First YT fought hard and broke the line after ~10 mins - damn 30 lbs chinese "fluoro"! Went back for bait and got 4 easier. Then caught two YT (15# & 17#) between 11 and 1 PM. Their bellies were stuffed with tuna crabs. Wandering how my mackerel could fit in there...

I also had one mack die from bites. Attached photo shows the damage on back and belly. Is this "short bite" from YT, or some other smaller predators attacked it ?

Nice catch. That Mack looks like Octopus bite. Was it on the dropper loop?

I have had calicos leave my bait looking like that, they clamp down on the back 1/3 and you pull it out of their mouth.

No, slow trolling a fly-line. Heard very short clicks 2-3 times, but I'm a rookie and do not know yet how to interpret them :confused: I guess most often it is the bait fish going sideways to avoid predators ?

PS: Greg - watched your videos, you are at the top of the food chain :the_finger: I'm glad there is just One of you, so we (mere mortals) get a chance to catch something bigger than a mackerel.

I have had multiple macs get munched like that from sea lions while fly lining...they seem smart enough to come up and yank on it 2-3 times without getting hooked. Seems they do just enough to kill it so that you throw it in...I've started putting these mortally wounded macs back in my bait tank to keep the sea lions from seeing the fruits of their labor.

Yep, agree. No freebies for the thieves. Chumming bait fish only - they deserve it ;)

I was out Sat morning as well. Hooked up 4 times and ended up with 1 yellow. I'll try and post, but I had some Bonita action in about found in 140 ft of water. May have been the culprit.