LJ 8/10 AM

[Whizz Bang]

Launched to ankle slappers at 6am, there were a handful of yaks out off the kelp. Metered a good amount of bait, it seemed to all be hanging low in the column. Caught some Spanish and fly lined one little feller. For a little while all was quiet. Around 7:55 am one of the cattle boats decides to buzz us on its way to fish the extreme inside, it almost looked like it was going to tie off to the buoy it was that close. As it begins to pass, my clicker starts to run. As I dive for it, it begins to scream. I set the hook, and begin to experience what a Yellowtail can do. As the yellow dives, the wake from the cattle boat hits me, not funny. I look up and see that the boat was also sporting a pack of sea lions and I have not one or two, but FOUR headed right at me, and I’m hooked up. I am screwed. They zero in on me and two of them dive. Damn. I am going to lose this fish before I can get color on it. I figure that he has a better chance of dodging ‘em without fighting me so I roll the dice and back way off the drag, line again begins screaming out. One of the lions does a slow roll a few feet below me and sinks from view. Now, it has to be now. I tighten the drag back down and begin to reel as fast as I can. The fish cooperates, and after an eternity, I get color. It is a yellow and it is beautiful. The sea lion behind me splashes the surface and dives. Shit. Somehow I grabbed my gaff while I kept reeling. The lion is closing in as I struggle to get the yellow to line up for the gaff shot. I am going to lose this fish. Right here, with the end in sight I am going to lose it. The yellow lays out and I hit home. I rip the fish out of the water just as the lion passes within gaffing distance. Im probably lucky he didn’t follow the fish into the yak. Instead he just hung out right underneath my yak smelling the blood, and giving me the stink eye. After a few minutes go by, the lions leave. I am getting ready to head in myself as Dave hooks up. I had met Dave at the launch. Come to find out, this is his first on the yak (I on the other hand was landing my second, I’m an old pro). Snapped some great pics as Dave fought and landed his fish. Both fish in about 85 feet of water. Both fish fly lined on Spanish a couple hundred yards off the kelp. Back at the launch by 9:00 am.
Stop reading this right now, tell the boss you aren’t feeling well, and come on out here, it is time!


Dave, PM me your email address, I lost your info.