(Vid added)Last dive of the year?

Thought I was done diving for the year but managed to get a window of time and weather on Saturday morning and went out with my Australian buddy Andrew to see if I could find a Copper for DOTY.

Had an area in mind to try, and after a little bit of exploring I found a nice group of boulders with a  ton of kelpies and olives hanging out...and some coppers as well. 

We took a few and my biggest was 12.5 inches...not a big one at all, but still stoked on it! 

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/1977

Also took a 12.5 inch black and yellow for a DOTY upgrade...my 3rd black and yellow of the year. 

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/1978

Now that I had my copper we paddled to another area and found killer structure, tons of schooling blues and a lot of 24/25 inch Lings.

We each took some smaller Lings, I stoned a nice Olive from above and we tag teamed a bright blue 31 inch Ling that got stuck way back in a crack after I shot it. Andrew helped me by putting a second shot in the fish and then we were able to remove my shaft and pull the fish out.

Swell and wind picked up as expected by about noon so we headed back inside and I took 2 monkeys, 2 grassies, a kelpy and a nice 16 inch Black (good size for this area).

Back on shore we had a beer and Andrew cleaned the fish he wanted and I took the rest and gave them to Zilla later on.

Good times for sure, and if I don't get out again before the end of the year I am happy that I got to have such a fun dive for my last dive of 2015, and was able to move into first place in DOTY with only 10 days left to go.

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/leaderboard/list

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Right on, bro! Was great seeing you and Zilla Saturday!

Is that the ligcod I put full of bullets?

Is that the ligcod I put full of bullets?

 

That was one of the smaller ones on the kayak in the first pic...the bigger one Andrew took home whole to show his wife and kid...their first time seeing a blue/green model. 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Almost forgot...I saw another school of bonito out there as well....I took a shot but was a foot short. 

Crazy that they are up here in December?!??

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Right on! Glad you found a window and capitalized on it!!!!

I knew you would make it out again.  Congrats on 1st place.

Thanks guys!

Here's a little vid...nothing too fancy, but can see the difference in the viz from the area where the coppers were to offshore where we took the Lings.



 

Sincerely,

Jim

Congrats on the great accomplishment Jim.

Stoked for you and Andrew! Can't wait to dive with you guys after the new year!  sweet video! Thanks for sharing 

Stoked for you and Andrew! Can't wait to dive with you guys after the new year!  sweet video! Thanks for sharing 

Looking forward to it Annie!!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Very nice Jim!  I like the shot straight through the head! Have a Merry Christmas

Thanks for sharing hoping to get out soon

Killing it man! I need to catch up!

Stoked for you Jim, getting your Copper and movn' back up DOTY.  Very cool to see Zilla in the pic.