My first legal - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

packeryakker · 06-19-2012, 07:40 PM

Went out today optimistic about the prospect of landing, filleting and eating my first legal halibut. I am still new to this whole process but today was the day. Showed up at Belmont Pier at around 5ish to make some bait only a couple other guys there, they seemed to be pulling in plenty of small baits and macks. I proceeded to catch one trout sized mack in the hour I fished there. So I took my giant mack and packed up and headed up to Cherry Beach picking up frozen chovies at 7-11 on the way. Weather was great, low wind, overcast and quiet. I started unloading and quickly realized something was not right, my mirage drive was AT HOME, rookie mistake so stupid. Figured I was here what the hell I will paddle,

after all the water was great. Got loaded and paddled out towards the island getting drug around by that giant mack, after an hour or so that mack was toast so I switched out for a frozen anchovie. Within a few minutes I heard the sound I have come to anticipate, the one the haunts me when I am just about asleep, the sound that until today has resulted in my second guessing how I have handled each and every pick up. Click...click... click....faster then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, waited, forced myself to slow down. Swung and felt

weight. After two missed attempts at the gaff the third try struck pay dirt and the butt was in my boat. As you can see from the pics it is just barely legal. Mouth closed measured 22.5, in the pic mouth open 23. At any rate I am happy to say that the stink is off my new boat and has been replaced with blood.

!

Tale of the tape

Tail of the tape

My first Halibut Filet very little waste, belly meat looked a little funny

For anyone who would like to endure the 6 min video here is the link, kids got me a gopro for fathers day and I used it for the first time today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhWCG...&feature=g-upl

dorado50 · 06-19-2012, 09:11 PM

Like how you measured it after the kill

. Would you have erased the vid if it came up short?

.

jorluivil · 06-19-2012, 09:15 PM

That's awesome!

There was a tournament in that area last Saturday, no one could catch a legal even if their life depended on it. Go get his fat ugly cousin now!!

min-va · 06-19-2012, 11:42 PM

Good job with the first legal!!

06-20-2012, 12:00 AM

Well sir, that is one hell of a nice filet job you did! Well done

Divad · 06-20-2012, 06:38 AM

Nice start! Why to go!

Rotten Chum · 06-20-2012, 06:54 AM

Awesome Job... To close for comfort

Deamon · 06-20-2012, 07:28 AM

Well manicured green grass...a very nice filet job... You're not originally from around Victorville, are you?

mtnbykr2 · 06-20-2012, 07:31 AM

awesome fillet job, congrats on your first of hopefully many more,

StinkyMatt · 06-20-2012, 08:56 AM

Congratulations on your Hali!

Leave it to dorado50 to be the first reply and piss on another guy's parade.

packeryakker · 06-20-2012, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorluivil

That's awesome!

There was a tournament in that area last Saturday, no one could catch a legal even if their life depended on it. Go get his fat ugly cousin now!!

Yeah I was in that tourny and only got a few shorts...

packeryakker · 06-20-2012, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deamon

Well manicured green grass...a very nice filet job... You're not originally from around Victorville, are you?

Moved here for work from Wisconsin in 93 was only gonna stay for a couple years....

packeryakker · 06-20-2012, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorado50

Like how you measured it after the kill

. Would you have erased the vid if it came up short?

.

I was a little nervous after the gaff

, it has been suggested I invest in a mesh net which I will do today.

mtnbykr2 · 06-20-2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packeryakker

I was a little nervous after the gaff

, it has been suggested I invest in a mesh net which I will do today.

haven't seen or heard of enforcement but it is required to carry a net if you target butts...

Gigafish · 06-20-2012, 10:47 AM

Cool pic, you'll get a chuckle out of it a few years from now. Congrats on your 1 st.

GregAndrew · 06-20-2012, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnbykr2

haven't seen or heard of enforcement but it is required to carry a net if you target butts...

Actually, it is required for fishing in the ocean for anything because bycatch happens.

Cbad Mike · 06-20-2012, 11:15 AM

Legal is legal........ CONGRATULATIONS!

YakMedic · 06-20-2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packeryakker

Moved here for work from Wisconsin in 93 was only gonna stay for a couple years....

Only a couple years huh? It's nice when that long ass drive is a successful trip. Nice job on your first legal.

dorado50 · 06-20-2012, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StinkyMatt

Congratulations on your Hali!

Leave it to dorado50 to be the first reply and piss on another guy's parade.

Whats wrong ...someones got to tell the truth and that be me

lambadmin · 06-20-2012, 02:58 PM

congrats on your first!

06-19-2012, 07:40 PM	#1
packeryakker Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Victorville Posts: 61	My first legal Went out today optimistic about the prospect of landing, filleting and eating my first legal halibut. I am still new to this whole process but today was the day. Showed up at Belmont Pier at around 5ish to make some bait only a couple other guys there, they seemed to be pulling in plenty of small baits and macks. I proceeded to catch one trout sized mack in the hour I fished there. So I took my giant mack and packed up and headed up to Cherry Beach picking up frozen chovies at 7-11 on the way. Weather was great, low wind, overcast and quiet. I started unloading and quickly realized something was not right, my mirage drive was AT HOME, rookie mistake so stupid. Figured I was here what the hell I will paddle, after all the water was great. Got loaded and paddled out towards the island getting drug around by that giant mack, after an hour or so that mack was toast so I switched out for a frozen anchovie. Within a few minutes I heard the sound I have come to anticipate, the one the haunts me when I am just about asleep, the sound that until today has resulted in my second guessing how I have handled each and every pick up. Click...click... click....faster then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, waited, forced myself to slow down. Swung and felt weight. After two missed attempts at the gaff the third try struck pay dirt and the butt was in my boat. As you can see from the pics it is just barely legal. Mouth closed measured 22.5, in the pic mouth open 23. At any rate I am happy to say that the stink is off my new boat and has been replaced with blood. ! Tale of the tape Tail of the tape My first Halibut Filet very little waste, belly meat looked a little funny For anyone who would like to endure the 6 min video here is the link, kids got me a gopro for fathers day and I used it for the first time today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhWCG...&feature=g-upl

06-19-2012, 09:11 PM	#2
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	Like how you measured it after the kill. Would you have erased the vid if it came up short?.

06-19-2012, 09:15 PM	#3
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	That's awesome! There was a tournament in that area last Saturday, no one could catch a legal even if their life depended on it. Go get his fat ugly cousin now!! __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

06-19-2012, 11:42 PM	#4
min-va Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Hacienda Heights Posts: 216	Good job with the first legal!! __________________ www.vapercompany.com

06-20-2012, 07:31 AM	#9
mtnbykr2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: newbury park ca Posts: 2,323	awesome fillet job, congrats on your first of hopefully many more, __________________

06-20-2012, 12:00 AM	#5
Drake Guest Posts: n/a	Well sir, that is one hell of a nice filet job you did! Well done

06-20-2012, 06:38 AM	#6
Divad Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Oceanside Posts: 112	Nice start! Why to go!

06-20-2012, 06:54 AM	#7
Rotten Chum Does it Really Matter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Santee Posts: 25	Awesome Job... To close for comfort

06-20-2012, 07:28 AM	#8
Deamon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,972	Well manicured green grass...a very nice filet job... You're not originally from around Victorville, are you?

06-20-2012, 08:56 AM	#10
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	Congratulations on your Hali! Leave it to dorado50 to be the first reply and piss on another guy's parade.

06-20-2012, 10:47 AM	#15
Gigafish Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 311	Cool pic, you'll get a chuckle out of it a few years from now. Congrats on your 1 st.

06-20-2012, 11:15 AM	#17
Cbad Mike Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Carlsbad Ca. Posts: 1,206	Legal is legal........ CONGRATULATIONS!

06-20-2012, 02:58 PM	#20
lambadmin Spam Sanitation Dept Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,377	congrats on your first! __________________