Title says it all.  Thresher shark messed with the wrong sea lion.  Not sure where in Monterey this happened, but I sure would like to know so I can avoid these mean ass sea lions 

https://imgur.com/a/kSJCs

Not sure if this is the right location to post this but here it goes.

Well, after many many many years of good use, my OK Prowler 13 has a few LOTS of holes.  I'll give a little back story.  This kayak is a pre-2005 (I think 2003)model and I received it as a gift in 2006.  I used it to fish the inter-coastal waterway in Georgia, as well as fishing some towers and reefs offshore.  Back then, I was only 18 and maybe, actually most definitely, didn't make the best choices, in life, as well as for the health of the kayak.  I'd frequently beach the kayak on oyster beds and fish off of them as the tide came in, this definitely did a number on the bottom.  I also did a poor job installing the FF and relied on marine GOOP and silicon to waterproof the thru-hull transducer mount.  At the time, I knew that if I ever had a problem that left me stranded, all I would have to do is make one or two phone calls and I'd have a boat picking me up within an hour.  One more thing, I didn't have a kayak cart, just drug it down the ramp usually....

Fast forward.  I was fishing/sightseeing in Santa Cruz last week when I realized that my yak was feeling a little unstable and sluggish.  Open hatch, see the water and think oh shit!  Glad I had a bilge pump handy or it woulda been a very stressful paddle back to the harbor.  I bailed all the water and headed back in.  Upon inspection at the boat ramp I found what seemed like a pinhole in the through hull transducer mount.  All I could think at the time was, there's no way all that water got in through that hole.  Yesterday, I had time in the afternoon and did a thorough inspection of the hull and found a hole on the bottom tail of the kayak.

Through hull transducer mount, drilled out in preparation of repair


Cockpit fish-finder mount

Hole aft tail


I poked around with a benzomatic torch and realized that the whole aft tail section is so thin that I'm worried about the overall integrity of that section of the kayak.  I'm confident that I'll be able to repair all the holes.  Guess the one question I've got is, what do y'all think about this?  Is it wise to try and salvage the kayak?  I've been browsing CL for a newer yak and I did email this gentleman (http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/boa/5212931094.html).  I dunno, what do y'all wise men here at NCKA think? 

P.S. Sorry to be so long winded. 

It's been taking me a little longer than I've wanted to compile the necessary gear to get out on the water safely and properly.  Now that I've gotten most of whats needed to be safe OTW, I'm beginning to collect the actual fishing gear, rods and reels first off, then all the other stuff, net, tackle, bait bag, etc.  Just got these 3 rods and 2 reels of a nice gentleman by the name of Adam who fishes from a boat (boo, haha jk, if only I had the $$$).  We discussed fishing around the Santa Cruz area and among other things he told me to be ready to see some sharks  .  Anyways, here's the new (to me) rods and reels.  I'm interested to hear what y'all think about them and whether or not I spent my money wisely. 


^^Wright and McGill 8' 6" 2-piece Granger Steele with an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur Royal S


^^Lamiglass 7'6" Muskie 10-40lb with an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C4-6600, the Abu was purchased new as a gift to me from my parents. 


^^Shakespeare Ugly Stick Tiger 7' 20-50lb Sigma with a Penn Senator 3/0, and my critter removal technician, master of doors and the toilet, Ms.Meowgi. 

I'd like to add that these reels are almost spotless, minus a bit of surface rust on the Penn.  The rods all look to be in good condition as well, with no unwrapping of the eyes and solid tips.  Am I gonna be able to make some good catches on these setups?