Ocean Therapy

Hadn't been in the water in over a month and I could feel it.

Felt fat, weak, lazy and grumpy. 

Was STOKED when a window of weather and time FINALLY opened up yesterday and I headed down and launched my kayak out into flat blue seas.

Paddled a few miles to a spot I know and have saved on my fancy navionics app on my iphone and dropped my marker weight right on top of the target crack.

First drop down I follow the marker float line to the crack and shine my light back into the darkness. Nothing at first, and then look a little to the right in an alcove where I have seen nice Lings and cabs before and see a smallish 26-27 inch Ling.

Then the smaller Ling moves and I see a much nicer looking Ling with a big old head turned sideways. 

Line up my shot and blast her right in the face. 

Shaft goes all the way through and doesn't come out with the first few tugs so go up and catch my breath.

Follow line back down and retrieve the nice 31 inch Ling and head back to the surface.

Stoked! First dive of the year, first shot with a new Pathos Laser Open Pro 75 gun that I am trying out, and first Ling of the year!!

 

This crack is pretty long and I have found Lings in the far left side as well so after stringing the fish up on my yak I drop back down and look in the left corner...nothing there so scan my light towards the center and see a BIG Ling head looking right at me...

Wiggle my way in as far as I can and line up a pretty long shot and my shaft goes right into her eyeball (was aiming for between the eyes but I'll take the eyeball  )

Once again I can't get the fish out on my first try, but as soon as I hit the surface I see it came out by itself so just pull up the floatline and secure the fat slob of a Ling.

Taped out to 37 inches, my third biggest and biggest I have shot since a 38 incher that fuzz pointed out to me in 2013.

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/133

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/685

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/1394

Spent another couple hours diving and enjoying the great conditions hoping for a big cab or a sheep but couldn't find either so popped a few chunky schooling blues (new gun did great tracking them underwater and stoning them dead) and paddled back in with the sun setting and enjoyed watching the swell building and starting to boom at Ghost Trees.

Today my muscles are sore and I am dehyrdated and tired and feel AWESOME!!

 

Here is a little vid and a few pics!



 

Sincerely,

Jim

Glad you got some therapy Jim!  And very glad you video it all too share with all of us.  I cant wait to reel in some big lings this year now!!!

NICE!!!  A couple of beauties.  Makes me want to hibernate until spring when the season opens for those of us afraid to go in the water.

Dang that's a fatty! Nice work on trip #1 of 2015.

Watched your movie!. Craved I will get a ling like that some day! Now I can go back to work. 

Sweet Jim! 

 

You're the man Jim!!

You're the man Jim!!

Thanks Matt!!

Hope you are doing well!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Nice therapy session!  Thanks for the report and pictures Jim.

Dammit, when you get over the crack in the rocks in the beginning, I lean my head trying to see down inside there, so frustrating!

Great hunting, Jim, thanks for sharing the therapy with us.

John

What? Nice dude.

Same "crack" you showed me?

Some food porn from last night.

Nuggets for the girls and roe scramble for me.

Yummy!!!

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

cute pic with the kiddies….


  Therapy…  surprising to me, I've been doing extra reading with all my school work as I'm just finding the brain fascinating … I was referred to a book called

  " Blue Mind "   written and researched by a neurologist ,,, is basically proves scientifically…

  That being near, in or around water is truly beneficial for our health, mind, body and soul….

  Happy Sessions….

  Therapy…  surprising to me, I've been doing extra reading with all my school work as I'm just finding the brain fascinating … I was referred to a book called

  " Blue Mind "   written and researched by a neurologist ,,, is basically proves scientifically…

  That being near, in or around water is truly beneficial for our health, mind, body and soul….

Don't have to read it to believe it.  You live it on the water and with HOW.  You can write your own book now.