9-5-15 La Jolla
 

Pulled the kayak up to a pretty populated launch around 5am. Most guys were still unloading and getting ready and I paddled out headlamp on. Started making bait and first cast was a solid greenback, so Im thinking alright... easy morning. Well the greenback thrashed the sabiki rig, both hooks in and all kinds of tangled. Kept him for chum and kept working at, I ended up with (3) spanish after a long while... I should have gotten the bait master 500.

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Taking my chances, I left the kelp and headed northwest. The week before, there was a really good bite in that area and I figured I'd try it again. Saw bonito and bait action, but passed them by and in about ~150 ft of water, my saltist 20 starts screaming. I reach back, tighten the drag and start cranking. After the first dive, I look to my right and see a whale breaching about 50 yrds away. I pause for a second, smile and take in the splendor thats all around me.
Gaffed, bled, gutted and down below by 8:30am.

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Completely content, I head back along the kelp and get short bite near the condo on my second spanish. I threw the last spanish back and landed in mellow conditions.

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Fresh collars briefly seared and baked at 350°F to finish. I marinated them with a mix of ginger, honey, soy sauce and spicy mustard.
Then all the fresh sashimi you could want. Sashimi was served with a smear of fresh garlic and a soy/lemon blend.

Cheers!

Too cool! Fat and content! Thanks for sharing, great food!

Nice Work!

Eats look yummy...thanks for sharing!

Geno

Great post. Sounds like a nice productive and not too long trip. Great on the collars and sashimi prep. Nice way to wash it down with Lagunitas and who could turn down a "Nooner". Thanks for sharing

your having a good run. i saw you at LJ a few weekends ago. i drove down from ventura for a few days to fish.

Great post! And insane pics and food!

looks good to me ..I need to get out there myself soon..

Yanni. I wanted try your recipe, but we finally ran out of molasses. So figured I would try some honey.

Fish11. I'm kind of a beer snob, but sounds like you are too.:)

2-Stix. Yeah (knock on wood) last few trips have been bountiful. The last 5 trips before were all skunks, minus a couple random bycatches.

Kjsdad619. Right on man. Thanks. I've been trying to step up my cooking skills!
It's almost as enjoyable cooking/eating the fish as it is fighting em!

wow, looks delicious! I love those collars.