NorCal Kayak Anglers

Dive Zone => Kayak Diving and Spearfishing => Topic started by: BigJim on December 11, 2017, 09:37:24 AM

Title: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: BigJim on December 11, 2017, 09:37:24 AM
Haven't taken a "big" Ling in awhile despite diving a fair amount...

Got a window of time and the greenlight from wife/daughters so decided to charge down to a shoredive spot in Sur with the hopes of finding the Ling that I KNEW was out there just waiting for me...

The area I planned on hunting was blown out with white water and waves, so hunted an area in 45-55 feet where I have taken nice Reds in the past...

Took a nice bright blue 29 incher, and passed on several others in the same range...

No Reds seen this day and after about 50 drops I headed to a cluster of kelp I had passed on the kick out that had a lot of blues up high...

Started doing drops and it was a bit shallower (40 feet), and I saw some of the blues had what looked to be bite marks on them...  :smt003

Coming up from one drop I saw a nice looking deep dark cave and made note of the kelp stalk right by it...

This area does not have a ton of good holes so was optimistic that such an attractive feature would be holding a nice fish...

Dropped down and started working my way along the crack....when I got to the darkest looking part I shone my light in the back corner and there was what I was looking for...big old nice Ling head.  :smt007

Took aim and shot her right in the eye ball and headed back to the surface letting my reel line out.

I was confident the shot was solid so took my time resting on the surface and just keeping gentle pressure on the reel line....

After awhile I felt a change in the pressure below and could tell she had come out of the cave and pulled her up, got my hands in her gills, and admired her beauty before ripping her gills out, knifing her in the head and stringing her up.  :smt003 :smt004

By now the seas were getting rougher, I had a long swim back, and a steep hike out so decided to call it quits and head in.

The hike out was not so fun, but I made it and rewarded myself with some frosty cold C- back at the car.

Ling taped out to 38 inches, my biggest since 2015, my third 38 incher and I have only taken one bigger ever which was a 40 incher back in 2012.

Here is this latest fish:

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/2883

And my other two 38 inchers from 2013 and 2015:

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/685

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/1632

And my PB 40 incher...I love being able to track my fish over time on DOTY!  :smt002 :smt005

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/133

Wanted to give a shout out to Matt from RedTriangle who sent me the latest version of their awesome 1000 Lumen Dark Waters light the day before this dive. The light did an EXCELLENT job lighting up this fish. The light now also comes with a handy USB charger, and a cool case to keep everything safe and sound.

https://www.redtrianglespearfishing.com/products/subcraft-1000-lumen-dive-light

Here is a little IG vid of the fish, and some pics

https://instagram.com/p/Bci5kvCnxnk/

Thanks for looking!!

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: BigJim on December 11, 2017, 09:40:54 AM
Few pics of cutting her up.

 :smt006
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: mako1 on December 11, 2017, 09:41:34 AM
Cool!
I like the pic with the kayak in the background.
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: Sailfish on December 11, 2017, 09:42:01 AM
Nice "Sea Dragon" Jim  :smt007
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: DG on December 11, 2017, 09:46:59 AM
Monster ling.  Congrats
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: mtitch12 on December 11, 2017, 09:59:08 AM
Monster ling! Great job!
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: HamachiJohn on December 11, 2017, 10:30:16 AM
Thx for the report and photos! Once RF season closes, will be looking for diving reports to get me through until season opens up again...
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: JamesM on December 11, 2017, 10:34:14 AM
Impressive! Always a fan!
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: NowhereMan on December 11, 2017, 10:36:11 AM
Wow!
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: Spring45 on December 11, 2017, 11:52:06 AM
Awesome pre-shot pic!
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: dirkbeachman on December 11, 2017, 12:14:31 PM
This made my day on the long drive down I5 to LA, couldn't help letting out a "F*#%  YEAH" when I saw this on Instagram!  Congrats on a helluva a ling, one you clearly worked for! Have another beer !!
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: BigJim on December 11, 2017, 03:44:24 PM
Thanks guys!!

Heading home here in a bit to get the feasting started.

 :smt003

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: FishingAddict on December 11, 2017, 04:06:56 PM
Dang, thats big one.  Congrats.
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: Tez on December 11, 2017, 04:19:57 PM
YEEAH!  That's how you do it.   :smt071  Keep on slayin' em BigJim

P.S.  Any Idea what she weighed?
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: Rock Hopper on December 11, 2017, 05:43:03 PM
Nice one, Jim!!
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: LoletaEric on December 11, 2017, 07:27:18 PM
Nice one, bro.  :smt001
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: Live2Fish on December 11, 2017, 08:25:39 PM
Dragonslayer!
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: yakyakyak on December 11, 2017, 09:26:49 PM

Congrats, dude!  Jelly for sure  :toothy9:
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: Chadrock on December 12, 2017, 05:45:56 AM
Dude!
That thing’s a brute. Right on Jim!
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: BigJim on December 12, 2017, 08:56:45 AM
Thanks again guys!!

Did round one of feasting on the big ling last night...

Did the collars and head broiled...

Half the belly meat fried...

1/4 of fillets in nuggets for fish tacos, and 1/4 steaked and served with sofrito and rice.

After collar/head/belly meat I was FULL so was on couch drinking beer and watching MNF so didn't get pics of the boneless fillets, but die get some nice ones of the other cuts....so good!!  :smt007 :smt007

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: BigJim on December 12, 2017, 08:59:10 AM
Oh, and someone reported my IG vid for being "offensive or disturbing"... :smt005 :smt044

So I made another one that showed the bleeding and braining...maybe they were offended I had left that part of the process out?

 :smt002

https://instagram.com/p/BcmbA6Bn2tF/

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: MooMoo Outdoors on December 12, 2017, 09:03:51 AM
WOW! Not only you know how to get monster ling, you know how to eat them as well.  :smt007
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: Cabeza de Martillo on December 12, 2017, 06:32:20 PM
Spearo version of Jeffery Dahmer the way you pet, covet and then devour that head  :smt044 :smt044
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: HamachiJohn on December 12, 2017, 06:58:57 PM
Spearo version of Jeffery Dahmer the way you pet, covet and then devour that head  :smt044 :smt044
Lol!

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: Tez on December 12, 2017, 07:29:27 PM
My favorite part is the evil laugh when you grab her  :smt005
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: nudling on December 12, 2017, 07:47:52 PM
That's hella views and you should seppuku the next one to see how many views it gets.
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: BigJim on December 12, 2017, 08:29:19 PM
That's hella views and you should seppuku the next one to see how many views it gets.

Spearchannel posted it this AM....should be over 100k by tomorrow lol

https://instagram.com/p/Bcm_M3VBZ6Y/

 :smt005 :smt044

 :smt006
Title: Re: Got me a SeaDragon
Post by: FishWorks on December 12, 2017, 08:32:29 PM
Damn, nice Hunting and ling Jim. Congrats