HMB 10/2 First Ling From Kayak

My partner Phil and I meet Kayak James at 0700 at HMBK for the launch. Paddled out to the bait barge in harbor and made bait in short order using Sabki setups. The Herring were thick and fun to catch. With a bucket full of bait we headed to the green buoy where we drifted towards shore. Using jigs Kayak James came into some blues that we fished for our first drift. I sent a smaller blue to the bottom where it was immediately hit and hit hard. ( Ugly Stic Tiger, Penn 501 w/ 30 lb braid)
I set the hook and we began to(Tandem Hobie Outfitter)  ride what ever it was that was at the end of the line.After less than a minute snap....dang the line goes slack and when I bring it up all that is left is my frayed braided where the jig/blue use to be. A Little voice spoke up and the question of, "Did you tie the knot correctly could be heard echoing in my mind". or was that KJ.
Back to the drift where we keep bringing up the blues and occasional RC. I'm thinking to myself what a wonderful sport Kayak fishing is when not twenty feet from us up comes this gorgeous whale but I checked no poke-a-dot tail as the song goes... Down by the Bay . I know why I do this sport it brings out the kid in me.
 We finally hook into a few good size keeper blues that we put to the stringer. KJ was just knocking them dead with this big smile on his face that said it all. I'll leave that there so he can fill in with his account of the day.
On our third or fourth drift I hook a Mackrel which I put on my drifting rig. Down it goes when it gets slammed like the one I lost. My Tiger is bent and the fight is on. Having double checked my rig prior to sending it down I am confident that my hook is good to go.Also with the knowledge that not much is going to get away from my Charter Tuna rod and reel, I set my drag so the fish can fight but no can win. After a few minutes of utter bliss color shows and behold my first Kayak Ling Cod. 26" of fighting meaty fish. about this time I think of my Father who pasted away 1991 and how much he would have loved this. Especially the eating part he came to the U.S. in 1926 from the P.I. Smile all around and KJ looks like a doting Parent happy for his kid, although I am sure I have a few years on him.
We set drifting again.
My partner Phil is jigging a one ounce Kastmaster w/ a single hook and buck tail. I had my doubts but I found it really doesn't matter what I think and Phil stayed true to his mission of catching with his set up lure. Wouldn'tyou know, wham,bang, bam  thank you Mme Phil gets a great hit and his eight footer bends like a thin limb in a heavy wind.
He hooks and starts his reel when zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and more zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, the look on his face was great. Like did I get the Whale with the  poke-a-dot tail  . Phil stayed as calm as he could and  worked the fish to perfection. Several times he brought it up but no color allot of zzzzzzzzzz when it got close still no color. I could tell that the fish was getting tired at about his fourth or fifth sounding when Phil (FlippinPhil) brought in more line than before. I told him that he could expect at least one more big effort from the fish when he/she sees our Yak and to be ready for a good sounding when that happens. No sooner said then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz their it goes trying for that hiding spot with all its effort sounding lower and lower then with no more play FlippenPhil (also pinoy for those in the know) slowly works his fish to the top. Color finally and it is a nice Ling about 8" to 10" larger than mine a definite no doubt keeper, you know the type  :smut001.
Flippin gets it to the yak . I net it for him and smiles all around.
About this time my Hobie becomes a bit unbalanced and we head in. (Their is a problem with the Hobie Tandem Outfitter that any of you owners out there who want some info about should contact me , leakage you should know about from the front peddles). Another story.
On a high note I left some stuff out that I let KJ to fill in and about his catch and man can this guy catch! Thanks again to KayakJames for the great day a must to do soon.
Did I mention what a great day it was.

                                                                                       Thanks Frankfishing

Way to go Frank ! Let me know next time. I did my first bean hollow trip , with my first beach launch ! Pretty cool 

Great report, Frank!     WTG on getting your first ling on the yak!

One of the greatest things about this board is the ability to feel the passion and exuberence of our fellow fisherpeople as they tell their tales of triumph.  Keep it up, everybody!   

Nice report and congrats on your first kayak Ling. I haven't goten around to fishign HMB but it sound liek a great palce to make bait easily and fish. Gotta try it soon.

Geez, sounds like great fun. Good deal on the nice fights and lings . I'm gettin' so freakn' addicted to KF'n just the story makes me wanna head out the door!

Z

Geez, sounds like great fun. Good deal on the nice fights and lings . I'm gettin' so freakn' addicted to KF'n just the story makes me wanna head out the door!

Z

EZZealnader EZZIE! But the bite is fun not to mention the tow. 

Nice report and congrats on your first kayak Ling. I haven't goten around to fishign HMB but it sound liek a great palce to make bait easily and fish. Gotta try it soon.

SMarmot,
 I am tempted to take a 6 wet into the harbor and just fish the hearing. Any suggestions on flies? You have to try this spot and James put us right on the fish. Frank

Way to go Frank ! Let me know next time. I did my first bean hollow trip , with my first beach launch ! Pretty cool 

Submucker,
Soon we'll hookup and do this. We thought about you and your ling(s) you caught. James filled me in. Bean looks fun. I am getting a lesson/guide from Scallen this weekend which will make me better prepared to takle the surf.

 

Graet report, you should be a writer!

Congrats Frank! Welcome to the madness  ........kayak fishing is addictive 

Awesome report bro!
And good job on the lings too!

PK

Frank it was a pleasure fishing with you and Phill I also enjoyed myself very much.  Did you realize we were out there all day I didnt notice untill I got home and got the look from the spousal unit .... but she was cool when I told her I already cleaned the catch.
    As for the fishing report you said it all and I cant give up all my secrets like I told you the good spots can only be gotten to if you've been there before and once you learn how to see good structure on the graph and stay in the zone your Jedi powers will far surpass mine so untill next time