Valentina hooks her first Halibut!!!!!!

Had the day off work and got the green light from the wife to take her out fishing from the yak once she was done with pre-school!!

 

She has been on the kayak before, and been fishing off a rental skiff once, but this was her first time kayak fishing!!! 

Got off to a rocky start at the mile reef area (she dropped her pole and it went bye-bye), but then moved over to Adam's area and switched from a split tail scampi to a metal sardine-looking jig.

She was between my knees and we were both holding the pole and bouncing it on the bottom when WHAM, major Bendo and ripping drag!!

She screams....I scream too!! 

Am sure it is a Ling trying to get back to its hole so we pull back hard together and turn it!! Start reeling it in together, and I am shaking I am so excited and she keeps yelling "Papi, its heavy!! Papi, its heavy!!"
 

Some serious headshakes, but we get it up to the side of the yak and it is a NICE flattie!!
 

Keep the head under the surface and reach for the gaff...then stop and have a vision of a flopping halibut and loose gaff and my daughter between my legs and reach for the net instead!!

Net him and get him up on the deck (right in front of her little feet!!) and then all hell breaks loose and he spits the hook and manages to flop himself out of the net and is now laying there on the Sonar Shield, and I pin him with the net and try and hold him down (remember I have my daughter between my legs and am doing all this around/over her), but he is still going ballistic and he flops back into the water and is gone!!
 

We are both in shock still, and I restrain myself and say "Oh shoot, he got away!!" and she say's "Papi he was too big and scary, let's not catch any more big fish today"
 

Well, we didn't get any more big fish, but we caught and released two starfish, a 13 inch cabbie, 8 dinky rockies, and kept three decent pan frying size ones!!

Great time with my daughter out on the water...just wish I hadn't lost her first halibut!!!!!!
 

Here are some pics of our afternoon!
 
Sincerely,

Jim



 

wow man, looks like a blast.  that "no more big fish" quote is priceless

Outstanding report Jim!  I eagerly anticipate these days, although I have a couple more years.

I restrain myself and say "Oh shoot, he got away!!" and she say's "Papi he was too big and scary, let's not catch any more big fish today"
 

That had to take the sting off.

Love that report. You will always remember that day. Thanks. jim

Incredible time OTW with Valentina, a lifelong memory for both of you! Fabtastic report and pics, thanks for sharing that.

Are those fried plantains? They look too intact to be Tostones, either way - yumm.

That's what life is about right there. I wish I took my daughter out more... now she loves to eat the fish, but would never get those 18 year old pretty hands in fish. We still have good laughs over the ones that got away and the glory days. All about the good memories we create for our kids. Great job!

What a great day!!! I'm sure both of you will tell that story over and over.

Good job Jim! Valentina is a natural! Sincerly...me

Awesome report Jim!! Your lil girl is a natural fishergal Having the privilege to meet her, I can picture her expressions!! Woulda been cool to have landed the hali, but screw the hali!! No hali is worth the awesome memories that both can remember and share together forever!!

Thanks for sharing a touching report Jim!

Love it, nice work dude! Not a bad day out there.

That's the cutest thing I have ever read!  Welcome to the Madness Valentina!!   

Very cool! The smile says it all

That is about the coolest report I've ever read.  WTG, Jim on establishing yourself in SC, becoming an expert at the area yakfishing, establishing a plan that included getting your daughter (among many other family members and friends from the Big Easy and beyond) on the water safely, executing it, having great succes, and, this is sooooo the capper, having the sense to make split-second nice fish decisions that always considered her feelings and safety.  That's enough to make me shed a happy tear for sure. 

You're awesome, and I don't mind saying it often.   

I love reading your reports with your daughter.  I can't wait until my daughter is a little more coordinated and can go out with me too.  Congrats on the halibut!  Thanks for the report and pics.

Michael

Thanks for all the kind words fellas...really appreciate it, and yes it was a super special experience...

Jhfish, they are plantain chips from Trader Joes!!    Yummy!!!!

I need to get a bigger net...like a big Salmon catching net...I could've netted him and let him chill in there and then beat him stoopid and put him on the clip!!

Oh well, next time!!

I've been in the doghouse at home recently and I think the animated, excited report that Valentina told my wife last night is gonna earn me some much needed WAF points!!
 

Thanks again to all of you for being such an inspiration and for understanding how cool it was for me to spend the afternoon with my daughter fishing out there on the kayak.
 
Sincerely,

Jim