Davenport - Monday - 07.03.06 (PICS)

Launched with Allen Bushnell and his fellow Ocean Kayak affiliate = Adam. The launch was easy but once we cleared the cove, it was BLOWING and VERY CHOPPY It was definitely "DCC" (Deadliest Catch Conditions) According to Allen, it was at least 3 to 4 foot swells but coming in numbers FAST  Since Allen came prepared with a drift chute...I had to load up my Iron to 9 ounces just to keep my offering ticking the bottom at around 40  to 50 feet. I caught several greenlings and some blues until I had a BIG pump. I'm thinking BIG LING....so I pulled until it was half way up the yak....the "Big Ling" then made a run AWAY from the yak....my thumb burned as my 20# top shot mono ended and was now on my 20# power pro braided line  I knew then that it was not a ling (Lings usually fight up and down the water column). I held on while I straddled the yak from being capsized by the ongoing swells. Sure enough, I saw that it was a big Halibut  ...biggest one I've got on the yak...I reeled him in SLOWLY...making sure her head stayed below the waterline. I then realized that I was not prepared to land her....thinking that I was only going to catch smallish rockfish, I only brought my orange plastic lip gripper, a bat and my game clip. And as I looked even closer at the fish, the hook on my iron jig was barely on the corner of the mouth. I almost knew that I was going to loose her if she did another head shake. I stayed calm and reeled her in slowly without lifting my rod. As soon as she was within reach, I clamped down her massive jaw with the lip gripper and held on for dear life.....and sure enough, once her head was above water, she went wild and nearly tore off my arm.....I kissed the deck just so I could stay topside on my yak. After 2 more thrashings next to the yak, I got hold of my game clip and gently slid the point through the gills and right out the mouth and secured it (my game clip is ALWAYS secured to my bow line) and I let her go with the lip gripper still attached to the jaw. She went wild again and again - jerking my kayak repeatedly  The Iron jig finally flew off but I knew she wasn't going anywhere  I grabed my bat and waited for her to calm down....minutes passed and I got hold of the game clip and pulled her head on the deck as fast as I could and began the beating  I then turned her upside down (white side up) and paddled towards Allen for a victory at sea photo  (Allen has "on the water shots")

I thanked Allen repeatedly as he has been my good luck charm when it comes to Halibut fishing 

I fished for a little bit more - as I promised a co-worker for some rockfish for him to smoke. Got a couple of greenlings and a nice blue and I headed back to the safety of the shoreline.

The Halibut measured 37 inches long and 22 pounds on the scale (witnessed by Allen Bushnell)


WHAT A DAY 

Allen = thanks for letting me tag along = always a pleasure fishing with you!

Way to stay cool under fire there Mooch!

Joel,

Nice Fish!!!  You seem to do really well with iron and butt's.  I'm amazed.

Stuart

Mooch-

Nice fish!!! Real nice fish... Did you scream like a girl? Maybe I should be asking Allen that question. And didn't I teach you anything... a hyper-excited guy like you should always keep your thumb off of the spool. Let your drag do the work for you. As I remember correctly... that is why you lost many salmon in the past. Isn't it??? Oh Oh Oh Oh... My hands... they're shaking so much... Suckerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Nice picture on the beach too... the conditions looked pretty nice out there. That's just awesome though.

Freddie

here are some more pics....

Mooch whats with the  scream like a girl crap  do you really scream like a girl  nice fish bro

Mooch whats with the  scream like a girl crap  do you really scream like a girl  nice fish bro

...sometimes 

Helluva butt.  Good job landing that thing with a cheap plastic fish lip gripper.  Unbelievable!

the ruler on my paddle was not long enough....good thing I had a back-up  

Yeah, man that is NICE!!!

Sweet fish!  Great report.   

Just dont let that brute get under your apron! 

Ack!!!  You beat me!  Even with a net they are not easy to land.  Congrats on the better inch Joel.............

Nice fish, and great report Mooch. Congrats 


Craigh

Freakin sweet!

However, those conditions are why I do not do well up here in the NorCal.....

 

MolBasser