Mission for Sashimi...
 

Heard the bite had been picking up some, so made it down for an afternoon outing at LJ.

I had high hopes because the morning crew that were headed in had done well. Can you say ZOO?

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5150061.jpg

Its hard to tell, because it was so overcast... But as far as you could see there were people about every 50 yards. Had to stake your claim and wait. Didnt see any action all afternoon.

I managed one barracuda after searching for a little warmer water. :shock:

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5160062.jpg

I managed to make it down a second day, but after having to use the windshield wipers for a while on the freeway, I figured that I would just turn around once I got to the beach.

You know those days when staring out at treacherous launching conditions, you sit there for 45 minutes, trying to come up with ANY reason not to go out? And you are so grateful that there is someone headed out before you, as you mentally time the sets and come up with a 50/50 chance that you will actually make it through the surf?


Well... It wasn't one of those days. :D


http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5170064.jpg

Now these are the conditions I was looking for!

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5170087.jpg

On the paddle out I came across an interesting sight.

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5170070.jpg

Cruising about 6 inches below the surface, and about a foot in diameter. Had a little photo session before continuing on my mission.

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5170083.jpg

You can even see the little crab-like hitch hikers.

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...170082copy.jpg

A good sign, even the bait was hungry.

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5170086.jpg

But so were the dogs.

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5170091.jpg

While trolling and throwing at boils (which ended up just being a ton of HUGE mackerel) I hear the sweet sweet sound of the clicker peeling off line!

I grab the rod and can feel the fish taking off for the bottom, and then feels heavy... really heavy. Must be a thresher. It starts towing me out to sea and slowly making its way for the surface, definitely a thresher. As I am getting towed past a Pb, a HUGE sea lion comes flying out of the water with a yellowtail in its mouth! YOU BASTARD!!

I can see he has it barely by the tail, I have a chance still. I just have to keep pressure on him and wait. I start gaining ground to the cheers of the guys on the PB. "Show that seal who's boss!!"

He gives it up but to my amazement, the fish still has fight in him! The dog gets him by the tail again, but is right under my kayak. I grab my gaff and am going to get my fish back! He lets go again and as I am about to make a quick gaff shot the seal lion grabs the tail and almost pulls me out of the kayak... I have to drop my gaff and grab the side of the 'yak to stay upright. We go for another short tow as my gaff gets left floating behind.

I hear from the same PB "Pull 'em into your lap as fast as you can!" Why didnt I think of that!? The dog releases him for the last time, and chases it all the way to my kayak as I yank the fish into my lap, and verbally assert my dominance to the pissed off sea lion.

The guys on the boat kept an eye on my floating gaff, and thanked me for the day's entertainment. :lol:

One YT on deck with a shredded tail, but I knew there was another somewhere with my name on it.

Trolled for the rest of the day, wide open for short periods. Saw 3 guys in a boat get a triple hook up. But the boil was too close to their boat, and with 3 lines in the water I wouldnt want to hook up and get in a crazy tangle.

Josh Pruitt shows up to the scene with a couple lucky clients. He gets them on fish, and seconds before I can find my second fish. Hard fight, but nothing as exciting as battling the dog.

I thought this gaff shot sequence I took of Josh was pretty cool.

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5180117.jpg

Look at that extension!
http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5180118.jpg

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5180119.jpg

I was exhausted, sunburnt, and stoked!
http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5180138.jpg

If you made it this far... I guess I cant make a long story short, but it was a great day on the water!

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5180149.jpg


P.S.

I made the cover of Kayak Fisherman! SWEEET!

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...hoto/Cover.jpg

Great report. Those jelly fish pics are insane!

Congrats! That was a terrific report.

pics
 

Very nice pics!!! Some of the best I've seen. I love the action shots.

epic report. Was this yesterday? I was on the edge of calling in sick to run out there. As in, I made the call and they told me "No, you're healthy and the fish will be there on friday." Evidently they were there for you too! Congrats.

What an awesome report!! Congrats on the Cover shot! Great fishing for sure..suuuuper extension haha!

gonna try again tomorrow though this chest cold that is lingering is making me think twice

Those are some nice tails. Way to show the dogs who is boss. Nice Jelly shots.

great report and good job on the yellows!

my girl and I were at the shores last friday and saw half of one of those huge jellyfish wash up on the shore, looked like something ate half of it but it was still huge!

does josh fillet the fish for his clients too? haha

Great report and pics...:you_rock:Nice to hear some PB'ers watch out for us...figuratively speaking of course...

Time for a sea dog with a skunk in its mouth smilie thingy...:doh:

On the way in, there was a small group of birds crashing... and 2 guys raced for it, threw the boat into neutral and started throwing irons. What they didnt notice was that they put the boat on a direct collision course with me which was still moving pretty good. But nobody was looking in front of them once they saw the birds... luckily I was able to get out of the way in time.

But the guys watching the sea lion show were cool! :luxhello:

No but after I had leg surgery and they closed down the launch, he would haul the kayak to my car for me. full service fishing! :D

:cheers1: youre on a serious hot streak....nice report and pics!

Nice report, thanks

This is what i call 5 star customer service!!

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/P5180118.jpg

Nice fish

thanks for the cool jellyfish desktop background :D, enjoyed the write up and nice catch!

Seems like everytime someone tries to help me out by going deep for one like that, gaff gets wrapped and *pop*. He obviously pulled it off and that's a great pic!

great pics and report.. glad u didnt go in the water..

Good stuff!