Tomales Devilfish Dead!(Shimmy is Happy)

 After The last horrible outing I needed to redeem myself . I shrugged off work, setting up my new store, and catching up on Honey-do's. I decided to hit Tomales Saturday because of the good ocean forecast the PB's would be outside after salmon. I got to Nick's Cove around 9:00am. The air was still and it was foggy(good sign).

 
 
I paddled across to foggy Hog Island and made bait fairly easy. I caught 4 Jackies but they were on the large side.    I only hooked myself one time with the sabiki while catching bait.

 
 
I baited up and paddled to the area where Sean and I hooked up multiple times Wednsday. I drifted and trolled around waiting for the tide to come in more.
 I forgot to include this. There is definately Sturgeon in Tomales, A 5-6ft. fish jumped completely out of the water about 40ft. from me. That woke me up good!

 

 I was drifting with my reel in freespool and I felt a pickup. She kited along for a few seconds then started running. I waited a little because the bait was so big then locked up the reel. My rod loaded up and the spool started spinning as the fish took line. Then the line went limp  .  I read that you can put it in freespool in case the fish comes back, and it did! I worked the fish up and saw it was the right kind. I brought both my net and a gaff with a larger hook this time so I was ready. I decided to play it safe with the net and slid the Hali right in. Now comes the funny part. The fish is in the bag and I don't see my bonker(it was right behind me). So I heard cutting the gills and bleeding the fish is a good way to kill them, and thats what I did. I waited a while as it bled then got my open game clip positioned. The clip slid in then the Hali comes back from never land and goes Apeshit. I'm holding the gameclip with both hands as the net slides into the water. I think no big because it has a foam wrapped handle. It bobbed under my Yak, and then it sank!   Now I find my bonker and take out some pent up aggression, then put the fish away. When I unhooked the Hali only the trap hook was in his mouth.

 
 I made two more drifts but decided to not be greedy and call it a day. The Hen Halibut was 32" and 13#. I remembered to weigh my fish this time. One of the kayak outfitters at the launch took a pic for me. He said he hadn't seen many fish come in.

 

 

 Not a monster, but my first Kayak Butt. I'm glad to get the Halibut Skunk off my back!

Nice comeback Shimmy!! It usually takes me forever to get back at a bad skunk but clearly your karma is chock full. Way to slam 'em braddah!

Z

Nice revenge Shimmy! AOTY is heating up!

The Mendo Crew is getting ready to put it down!!!  Sweet fish brother!!

Sweet fish Mark, sorry I couldn't join you, family stuff.

Nice fish, great story.  Congrats.

Nice fish Mark

Way to get er done!   

John

 Thanks guy's! Halibut fishing has proved to be a humbling experience. Since I had only caught one before on a party boat I had no one on one experience. But catching and landing one on a kayak is a lot different. They are ugly, mean,have sharp teeth, and tough to kill. But they are really easy to clean, have lots of meat, and taste good. They are definitely on my favorites list for all those same reasons. They don't put up much of a fight in the water but when they get to the Yak watch out.

Way to go Mark!! I like the tip on freespooling after a miss. Don't know why I've never thought of that in the past. I've missed plenty of grabs that might have turned into hookups. It's the little things that make all the difference...

Congratulations Shimmy!  Well done!  I hope I can make time for one more crack at them soon.  They've eluded me this year as well, with the exception of one shaker.  Glad you finally got yours.

EK

Great post and the AOTY is even exciting for those of us just watching!

 

John

Congrats Shimmy ..

 Those Devils are just that,  mean Fishy

The Mendo Crew is getting ready to put it down!!!

 Relax....

 510 is about to come out from Sedation .......... Danglin

Great post and the AOTY is even exciting for those of us just watching!

 

John

No doubt, I got $20 on Shimmy.
Any takers??

Z

I got $20 on Shimmy.

Me too.  He has some really nice fish in his line up.