Twice In a Lifetime

[kurtman]

AKA Kurtfish. Now, that the 2011 Season is officially behind us I thought a bit of recollection was in order. 2009 ended with our gallant effort at the LAX MLPA meeting where my son delivered his speech on fishing with his Dad and picking up plastic from our kayak in front of 400 fisher folks. Lucas was smooth and cool even after his Day almost got hit in the face by the tall bald tree hugger that took and errant swing at a fisherman that suggested he take his seat. After such a remarkable couple of years of inshore fishing with countless personal best fish landed the arguments of over fishing and depleted stocks really carry no weight for our bountiful local conditions.



2010 began with a long stretch of calm weather and flat seas. I put together a string of 3 Thursday afternoon trips with White Seabass of 49, 52, and 63 pounds. An epic month of fishing that culminated in a once in lifetime solo fish that I will never forget. The photo is of course a signature Darkhorse poise as Josh was heading out with a client as I was heading in that day. I do have to credit Josh for some great training and patient teaching of his kelp window techniques.fficeffice" />>> Please see http://www.hswri.org/News_and_Events.php for details on the Bill Poole Memorial Angling Tournament set for July 28th & 29th with all proceeds benefiting Hubbs White Seasbass Replenishment program. Great BBQ and silent auction for all ages and tours of the Hubbs Yellowtail tanks with fish that make my trophy look average size.
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>2010 continued on the mild side with calm seas and light afternoon wilds that lead to great afternoon sessions on surface feeding Yellowtail. Twice I was lucky enough to be in right place at the right time and got nailed seconds after a long cast to school on the surface. The second time after chasing a school for over an hour until I got within striking distance. The surface iron is the supreme way to hook a Yellowtail but with the long rod and tight drag the fight is just not the same as a baitfish Yellow.>>
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2011 started with a flurry and continued with the squid spawn of the Century fueling continued bites in up and down the coast as well as La Jolla and even Crystal Pier. I did not fish nearly as much in 2011 as 45 or so times I did in 2010 but I did manage a few WSB including one with my son in my lap. This is a memory either one of us will ever forget.>>



2011 continued into November and even December with calm seas and squid still showing in the canyon. I marked my calendar for the full lunar eclipse and decided to launch at 4am with the moon shining so bright I did not need my headlight to load my PA. Jeremiah happened to show-up as I was finishing loading-up. I believe Jeremiah beat me through the surf as he comes packed and ready to hit the surf. We tried to share my Hydro Glow light but nothing but tiny shrimp came to the green light. >>
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Jeremiah headed toward the kelp in search of nesting squid and I stayed out in deeper water where I had found the squirts a few weeks before. I only managed to land a dozen squid and as the moon was getting covered I sent down my dropper loop and a pinned iron rig that proved deadly in October. No hits on the iron and candy combo while the Calis and rockfish nipped at my dropper loop and stole my candy bars. After the sun completely covered the moon and the wind picked up as the sun heated the land the air trailed down the slope to the sea I decided to head toward the kelp line to see if the WSB may have gone in tight for the day. The smaller bass continued to pick at my squid until I was out of bait and ready to call it a day. I grabbed my stand-up paddle and stowed my revo drive. >>
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As I headed toward the launch I saw Jeremiah fighting a nice fish as I SUPped up to him he told me he still saw the fish on his screen below his boat. I told him I was out of bait and as his fish took him circles he reached back and grabbed a few squirts out of his tank and tossed them in my yak. I thanked him and wished him luck with his fish and headed toward the direction he had been towed from. I dropped down one of my new deck mates and soon hooked my own fish of a lifetime. The fight that ensued was intense but more from an obstacle standpoint than length of sizzling runs or the power of the headshakes. As I maneuvered through the lobster buoys I was very thankful I decided to install my revo drive after stowing my SUP paddle. Without the ability to peddle and steer while fighting my bottom dwelling monster I would likely not have landed this beast. As I pulled it into my yak I knew it was big but I did realize the length until I stood-up for this classic photo by Kirk Albrektson who just happened to be out on his Parker with two sons and a great 35mm digital camera. As soon as I secured my fish clips I cut all the gills of this beast as my wife had been suggesting that a Holiday party would be nice to host before Christmas. When I e-mailed Ed Zielralski about my catch I wrote that the fish weighed 55 pounds which I thought was obviously a rounded up estimate as I did mentioned the fact that I bleed the fish prior to weighing it on the beach with my Salter Brecknell. The beach weight showed 52.1 and I guess a fisherman on the beach noted the scale reading as Ed got some flake about the 55 pounds he posted on the SD Union Facebook page prior to his article that noted the 52.1 in print that Friday. I still contest that the 55 pounds is a more accurate weight than the beach weight. After cutting the gills and securing the fish I sent down my last squid and hooked a 80 pound BSB that took 30 minutes to land and revive. A dozen of these “endangered species” were landed that morning.>>



I ended 2011 with some rockfish and Sheepshead landed at Kevin Nikada’s kelp spot that also yielded a 100 pound Black Seabass for Kevin. Sea Samurai Kayak Tours is a great way to enjoy the local and learn some new techniques.

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