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Posted by KJ on 11:21:40 06/16/03
Well I went down to Dana Point Saturday afternoon hoping to catch my first Halibut from the Yak. While I was rigging up I got the dismal report from a fellow kayaker as he was pulling his yak in. Said he fished everywhere (point, doheny, harbor) for one short sandbass and no other bites. so down the harbor I went to the bait barge. It was still open at 3:30. So I picked up a generous amount of Chovy's for $5 and headed down to doheny. Tide was low and the outside reef / kelp was easily visable. As soon as I got inside that, I drop my halibut rig (one ounce egg, swivel, 18" leader and circle hook with a live chovy) and boom got nailed right away for a small 18 - 20" Halibut. Mission Accomplished. I re-baited and dropped again and started my drift in and down the beach. As soon as I got in close, the action heated up again with a mixed bag of WSB, Halibut, yellowfin croaker and a 6 foot plus leopard shark (another yak first for me). The leopard shark made for a nice sleigh ride into the the surf zone during the set. Fortunately, I was able to manuver into some of the cresting waves with out getting dumped. Once I got him close and tired, I tightened the drag and took him back outside so that I could release him without being blind sided by a wave. I can't imagine how those guys bring threshers aboard. I thought about bringing him aboard for practice in case I ever hooked a thresher. This shark wasn't going to let that happen. I got soaked buy his tail every time I reached for it. I think if I ever do hook a thresher, I will release it unless I can get a private boater to help me land it.
Final tally for a great 2 hours of fishing.
5 Halibut to 21.5 inches. (2 on a 3" brown swim bait)
3 white seabass to 24 inches
1 yellofin croaker 15 inches
1 6 foot plus leopard shark.
All fish were released.
As a result of this trip, I realized that there were a couple of items I need for the kayak.
1. A good lip gripper for catch and release.
2. A cheap camera or maybe a water proof disposable.
3. Better drain cover for the bait tank. Chovy scale keep cloggin it. Right now i have a PVC end cap with holes drilled into it.
4. Not a new need, but a good seat cushion.
Any recommendations for any of these would be helpful.
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