Ling Cod on the Yak 8-13

[YakN'Surf]

3 full days of kayak fishing the pismo area. We spent a lot of time looking for butts with no success. From what I hear it might still be a little early for them in the shallow water.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/Misc098.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/Misc109.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/Misc139.jpg


Good amounts of rockfish

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/Misc102.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/Misc071.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/Misc155.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/Misc154.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/Misc151.jpg


Our final day was all around AMAZING!

This enormous whale decided to surface right next to me. That got the adrenaline pumpin. We chased it around the harbor for a while. It was only in 30 feet of water.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/P8110244.jpg http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/whale.jpg

16 inch Cabbie

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/P8130265.jpg

Rockfish
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/P8120256.jpg


This was by far one of my coolest fishing experiences. Im slowly retrieving my swimbait over a sand flat for halibut. The lure is now 5 feet from my yak, on the surface, and out of nowhere a ling cod darts out from a rockpile underneath me. It engulfs my bait while leaping about a foot into the air, crashes back into the water and heads straight back down with all his might. I was stunned....DID THIS REALLY JUST HAPPEN! I set the hook and quickly got him back up. I was in only 7 feet of water. The hard part was getting the damn thing on board. He wasnt so happy about the situation and i wasnt about to grab his lip. So after countless attempts i manage to grab him by the gill and get him on board. If I had known they practically have razor blades in their gill rakers I may have reconsidered that option. In attempt to calm the beast I shoved my knife into his head. That resulted in a bent knife as he thrashed around.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/P8120254.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/P8130257.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/P8130258.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/P8130260.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/P8130267.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/P8120252.jpg

My first ling, 26 inches. I couldnt be happier.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/P8130268.jpg

Ended up with two beautiful fillets of blue meat.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j244/LiftedDdge/P8140269.jpg

[tacklejunkie]

That's a crazy lookin' fish! Very nice.
Cool report and pics. Keep it up!

[calico killer kevin]

26? Isn't the limit 28"? Well, whatever, beautiful fish. May need to hit up that area soon.

[doyoufishmuch]

nice fish. way to go

[YakN'Surf]

26? Isn't the limit 28"? Well, whatever, beautiful fish. May need to hit up that area soon.

As far as I know its 24 inches. But a lot of people have said they thought its 28. Is that an old size limit or something?

[murrieta angler]

Nice ling.... I caught one on a cattle boat, 26", and they threw it back in the water..hmmmmm

[Monkeyfishn]

Lings are 24" Cuda and WSB are 28" Come on guys know your Regs.

[Monkeyfishn]

By the way great fish, shallow water breaching Ling cod anything can happen, love it!

[cappo]

nice job man, looks like alot of fun

[Wingnut]

Congrats on the nice yak sessions & catch. Excellent report and some really nice pics. :Cool:

[Megsdad]

IMO - The Whale sighting alone makes this an awesome and memorable trip.

I think one of the reasons why fishing in general is so much fun is ya never know what you're gonna catch. I mean sure, we have a good Idea what is likely to hit, but this is just a perfect example of what is possible (not probable). Remember Wignut with his Salmon or the guy that caught the 40lb striper from the beach, well this ranks right up there with one of the coolist things I have read on this forum. Bravo! Bravo!

great pics, great read, thanks,

Joe

[bergie berg]

looks like you had a great time out there. Great job on the pics.

[Liteweight]

That's a pretty nice catch (rockfish and Ling).

Been thinkin' about getting into 'yakin'. Looks like too much fun and it's a great way to beat the heat!!!

LW

[CudaChaser]

Man - that looks like a fun outing. I love that shallow water rock fishing. Way to go on the ling. Thanks for the picts and great report.

CudaChaser

[tpfishnfool]

Great Report and pics.
How do you like the x factor ? been wanting to get a yak and looking at that model and maybe the wilderness line.

[TroutOnly]

VERY COOL REPORT AND PICS ,LOOKED LIKE ALOT OF FUN,,,,,,,,,,,t/o

[steelhead]

Nice Report, where did you guys launch from? Were you able to drive close to the launch or had to drag the yak? I've been wanting to bring my yak up there for an outing, Morro Bay area looks very fishy as well. Good work

[BradS7535]

Sweet post man...looks like a lot of fun. Wait a second. It WAS a lot of fun cause I was there!

We launched out of Avila Beach, they have a launch ramp there that you can drive down and put your kayaks on the beach and you only need to drag them 20-30 yards to the water. We also fished Shell Beach, one of the calmer coves that you need to carry your kayaks down 100+ stairs to the beach, but it is an easy launch since there are no waves.

[REEL EZ]

Great post and pictures. I might have to launch the tin can out there with you guys one of these days. I think this might motivate your dad to head out there with you. Good job and congrats on a nice shallow water ling.
What model camera were you using? RE.

[BrokenLine]

Hey, don't pick on the old man! :Angry: I'll rent you a kayak and the three of can go out together. It's REEL EZ. You're not afraid to get a little wet are ya?:ROFL:

Good job on the pictures Dan.

[Loye]

Sweet report from my old stomping grounds.

[ldsaylor]

Nice Report and great pics! Thats some good fun on the kayak.. I may need to drag mine up that direction some time.

[deanhall32]

Now that's what I call a great report!! Pictures are clear as a bell. Did you guys notice the pelicans on the rock in the background of one of your in the water yak pictures?? Wow...

[Fish4Birdies]

Hey Danny- Very Nice report! Good talking to you yesterday at sc...will be waiting for your sierra report :Big Grin:
bryan