FIRST YAK YELLOW
 

Paddled out to the kelp beds @ 3:30pm 7/12. Made six spanish macks and started trolling north towards a floating hotel. As I got closer I started to see what I thought to be good signs of fish. I started throwing the iron and paddling all around the area, spent 30 minutes and had no luck. I decided to head back towards the kelp and just as my bait was heading out of what I thought was a hot spot my high line starts screaming. My drag was set pretty loose and I let the fish run a little farther than I would have liked. I was using a light set up that I normally use for bass (diawa 20 w/ 20# test) I only had about half a spool of line and this fish took almost every bit of it. I could actually see the metal underneath the last bit of line. Finally the fish eased up and I was able to get a good amount of line back and the slay ride began. I had tightened up the drag enough now that the fish had to work for what it took but it still had know problem in what now was turning into an up and down battle. Visibility was pretty darn good and I saw color :yt: about 20ft under my yak. At that same time it must have saw me cause off she went. A short time later I had her at the side of my yak but like a true bone head I forgot my gaff!!!:confused: Survival instinct kicked in at that time and I reached into the gills and hoisted the fish out of the water, secured it and screamed like a little girl. What a fight and what a beautiful fish. I did not get an official weight but the fish was 44 inches long. I can't believe it ate that turd mack because when I opened her up she had 7 pieces of candy in her belly. FINALLY!!! SUPER STOKED!!!:sifone:<O:p></O:p>
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Paul<O:p></O:p>
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Nice yellow! Congrats on the 1st from the yak.:cheers1:

Very, very nice!!!! It didn't make a run for the kelp?.:eek:

nice catch!

Don't you just love how the kids want to see what you caught when you get home?

'grats on the beauty - sounds like an awesome time.

I'd love to get a big pelagic fish on the yak one of these days...

Really nice YT!

BEEEEEEUUUUtiful!!!!:luxhello::luxhello::luxhello:

Awsome!!! Well done!

You're stoked!
 

Now the question is : If you had brought the gaff, would you have gotten bit? Oh yeah, I forgot about using the light line bass rod. Tempting Murphy's law worked again. ;)

Cheers!:cheers1:

Nice job man!!!!:luxhello:

Great job on your first YT. And a toad at that, but the pic of your kiddo smiling at the fishy is worth a million.

YEAH! Good job on the tail.. :luxhello:

That's how I feel when I pack the cooler in the truck....

Thanks guys! I am still buzzed from the catch. Lucky for me the fish did not run for the kelp or I'm sure the out come would have been Diff, I have lost a big one in the forest before (heart breaker). Not sure what would have been had the gaff been handy though it sure made it more fun without it. Dark Horse, I read the article in the sport-fishing magazine, that plus all the tips from everyone on BWE I took a chance that paid off. Had I stayed closer to the kelp I would not have been using the liter gear! BTW almost forgot my daughter is 2yrs old and is my biggest fan!!! She is already asking to get on the water with her old dad... Her exitement makes it that much more fun!!!
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Paul<o:p></o:p>

Great job Paul. I have to get out there with you soon. It seems you are getting good and catching big fish!

Great :yt: Paul :luxhello: !!!!!
Take your daughter fishing while she's still stoked. They grow up way too fast! My two girls won't fish with old dad anymore, but they'll still
eat the catch! Super story we always seem to forget the thing we need
that trip.

Nice :yt:, congrats on your first! I had to go all the way down to Baja to get my first YT off a yak and it wasn't a toad like yours!

Nice job on your first :yt:

Great 1st YT!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats. I have several from the yak. None like that toad your holding. :eek: The light line and no gaff makes it that much better.