Learning Curves

[tim.gruber10]

Kayak fishing a new area for unfamiliar species can be a significant challenge. I started kayak fishing in Boston and was fortunate enough to be able to fish 3-5 days a week. I sometimes went weeks without catching a fish, but it was very satisfying to learn the water for myself. This is a perfect example of a shallow learning curve. The fish won most of the time, but occasionally I'd trick a few.

When I moved to San Diego, I knew I needed to steepen that learning curve. All new unfamiliar water and not to mention, lots of it! New species to target and completely different gear than what I was used to. I was fortunate enough to find Big Water's Edge prior to the move which helped a ton (so thanks BWE!). Reading the posts allowed me to quickly realize how challenging it can be to find and catch these Southern California trophy fish. This realization sparked my decision to research a local kayak fishing guide for hire. My research proved short lived though as the vote was seemingly unanimous. And I'm here to tell you why.

My first trip with, The Darkhorse, was back in July 2012 (the first weekend I lived here!). That one day turned out to be a great move on my part, as the knowledge gained instantly produced dividends. Angler after angler went in empty handed that day. The wind blew most guys off the water and things weren't looking so good (to me anyway). Josh on the other hand? Was supremely confident and knew he would find the fish. First lesson beyond gear and surf launching: don't get discouraged from empty handed anglers, a little tidbit of advice that's proven to be worth its weight in gold.

The way the day played out just blew my mind. Josh put more bend in my learning curve than a pissed off yellowtail on a Calstar 90J. And I had the time of my life in the process!

What's kind of cool about this photo, beyond the fact that it's my first ever Yellowtail on the end of that line? This brand new rod and reel was stolen from my kayak (at the La Jolla shores launch) the very next trip! Leaving me with what turned out to be the first and last photos of my setup.

On that day with Josh I caught my share of yellowtail and a huge Black Seabass. I kept two fish then Josh asked if I wanted to start releasing them. Watching my first big Yellowtail kick off with a huge splash was something I didn't expect. They just dart off like nothing happened; it's a really cool feeling. I was instantly hooked, what a rush!


After that I guess you could say the training wheels came off and I was fishing on my own. In the following weeks I was able to release over a dozen Yellowtail. I'm not here to brag about fish from two years ago though. The entire point of this post is to say that I just feel really blessed to have instantly been pushed to the front of the line. Without reading story after story from Josh's past clients (holding big fish of course) I would have never found the guy. So here's hoping this story of mine will save someone out there from years of discouraging results.

Enter two years of deployment in the Middle East! Comes with the territory. Oh how I wanted to be here relaxing in the sun with all of you. I spent most of my time just dreaming of big Yellowtail. I finally back from deployment in February and was never more ready to go pull on fish. I give my old friend Josh a call. Being winter I was aware that it's a new ball game. The forum is practically dead and my hopes of actually connecting weren't exactly high. Time is something I just don't have though, since my orders are up and I’m being banished back to the East coast. To my surprise Josh says let’s go and I'm instructed: "just bring two rods, this time it will be a completely different game."

My last trip I was on a Hobie Revolution with an inexpensive sonar (basically a depth finder!). Watching that guy sitting high and dry on the Pro Angler with his big screen T.V. (actually painting fish and the like), made me think. This trip? I was packed with all sorts of new weaponry, in the form of a sparkling Hobie Pro Angler 14 with a Lowrance Elite 7 HDI!!! I felt that I'd earned it and just looking at it made me feel like a kid in a candy store again. We met at the launch, and Josh walked me through how to properly cart my pro-angler, and how to launch the behemoth safely. All kinds of tips to really get the most out of the new toy. I'd occasionally had problems with my self-taught launching technique on my old Revo, so I was a little concerned about spending time in the surf. Josh walked me through it and it honestly couldn't have gone any easier. Once we were out, Josh got my fish finder all dialed in (something else that would have took months to figure out) and the hunt was on.

This trip we used the sonar much more than the previous. We would compare notes on school after school of fish looking at both units, which was a game changer for me. Not long into the trip, it was just like I never left, and this guy plops me onto a nice school of Yellowtail. Followed by me quickly doing the unthinkable - a ginormous backlash on the new jig stick! I needed to cast about 30 yards and completely choked. I was heartbroken and concerned that I'd blown the opportunity for the day. Fortunately, due to his never say die attitude, we got located hours later and I was blessed with another chance. Only this time I made a perfect cast.

With my favorite photographer/guide right next to me.

My first ever surface iron Yellowtail fight caught on camera. I couldn't be happier. Just look at the bend in that rod!

Sure as hell beats being the Middle East. If you ever smiled like this you'd have a mouth full of sand.

In short, you're not going to see this guy parading around the launch trying to drum up business. He's like a ghost. In and out - quiet as a mouse. You’re also not going to hear too many of these stories. Even though the guy is putting people on fish daily, hourly, all year long! I was politely asked to keep my fish quiet back on our first trip, which I did out of respect for his business. Then, once again, silence after my most recent success. Which I perfectly understand. However, I also know that without these tails, most guys like myself would never find themselves at the top of the food chain. And if that's where you'd like to be? Just realize that it's easily attainable with the right coach. I tried to keep it in, I really did, but I'm just so thankful for what this guy has taught me. So much in fact that it felt awkwardly selfish to hold back any longer.

The techniques he's taught me in a very short amount of time have proved invaluable. In fact, I've already signed up for Spring White Seabass classes. Fishing is a sport and like any other sport you can always benefit from a great coach. If your goal is to catch big fish from a kayak, especially in La Jolla, there's no better coach than The Darkhorse. Period. Just do yourself a favor - and thank me later.