2Days in PARADISE! gets me a BIGBUTT! 6/23-24 w/pics

Got me a few shinners from the baitman and launched from the CAY (no launch,carry down/over rip-rap=FREE)
Paddled out/north 2mi. to the PIER AREA grounds to drift about.This was the first time i've yak'd it, so CAUTION and SAFETY were my main concern.
The water gets deep quickly, 30"+ and finding a steady consistant shelf was pretty easy.

Pic#1 ~ looking back towards the Cay/launch

Pic#2 ~ the paddle to the PAY-OFF

I know I was in the right area when I saw a partyboat drifting further out, so I speed up/out and found the deeper water of 30"+

Pinned on one of by just purchased buddies and away we drift.After marking many of fish and bait, the PB'ers started coming out of nowhere?!
Pic#3 ~ this looks like the SPOT!

......more to come, I got work to do, so i can go back tomorrow and get another,LETS GO!  stay tuned for more pics and details.....

con't....
So I get no action at the deeper depth and decide to paddle in towards the pier and drift the 20-15" shelf northward.
As soon as the depth went from 30" to 20" I kept adjusting/paddling to make a ZIG-ZAGGED pattern between the two shelfs.
I began to mark, what I presumed, were BUTTS. Making sure there was no trash on the bait, I reeled it in quick, cleaned it and down it went for another tour of duty....it's LAST!

Out of the corner of my eye, I get a glimpse of my rod-tip getting nervous, so I OPEN the BAIL, GIVE IT some LINE, and remove it from the grip of Scotty(pole holder), PULL OUT a FEW MORE FEET of line, and watched it ALL GET TAKEN UP!!

Now this is where you don't want to lock it down, too early, and be KICKIN yourself in the ASS for the next month or two,cuz you should of waited a "second longer"(like I did!!) or try to set the hook too hard, only to find out that the DRAG, somehow, tightened itself and breaks at his TEETH. 

I just flipped the "fighting drag option" and it was just enough to DRIVE THE WIRE HOOK into its MOUTH with an UP-SWING of AUTHORITY.......FISH ON!!   not knowing what, but could feel the MIGHTY HEAD SHAKES, I knew it was not a stinger.
I never tightend the actual drag, I always keep it loose and control it with finger/hand pressure against the spool, I get a little excited in the heat of the battle and one click too far, could be DEVESTATING!  Bring it up slowly.Keep its head below the surface.Be ready to get the net opened. So many things SWIRLING in my head! I finally get it up and see a BIG GRAY SHADOW!..... NO!!!! NOT A DAM RAY!! ....then I focus better and see the OVALNESS of it....YESS!!!!
I let it go down a bit as I get my net out/unfolded....it shoots under and to the otherside of my yak,I see it on my FF, so I get a shot of it.


Pic#4 ~ BUTT BENDO!
Pic#5 ~ check it on the FF!  look closely!
Pic#6 ~ Then back to my right side where my net is ready, but looking a little undersized for the job.

to be con't...I got to eat, I'll be back to finish...stay tuned.....I'm going tomorrow/tuesday for sure!! LETS GO GET a BUTT!

Getting BIG BUTTS on pride day ! Way to go Fishunter !

I was wondering where you fished this weekend!  I live on Pt. San Pedro Rd. on the way out to the little blue shack.  Sunday morning my wife is looking out the kitchen window and says, "Hey, a kayak just went by with 'Fishunter' on it..."  Can't wait to hear about day 2!

Hey Adam do you have your Halibut tags?

wheres the fish dude I wan't to see it 

Dude!  Get us all lathered up and then pull out!...  Better get some badboy pics on here, or you're going to have a group of pissed off fish-voyuers after your butt!   

con't.......
I got it all ready and had her linned up for an easy netting like I see on T.V....NOT!!...this thing ain't giving up yet!... I got the net going vertically deep and PLANNED TO guide it right in to me and then lift the net...STEEERICK ONE!! it swam/cut a hard-right and never even touched the net?!   "YES", I yell out loud as it takes a dive to the deep.
Attempt 2 and 3 went the same as 1!!   i think my 22"x24" net AINT GONNA CUT IT!!  My fricken arm was quivering from the battleX3 and theres NO SUCH THING AS STRIKE FOUR (i don't play golf), so this was IT.

Got her up to the side AGAIN, but this time, when she cuts right, i'm TURNING IT and LIFTING IT at the same time,  IT WORKED!! and just in time too, my 2/0 catch&release wire hook was bent in THREE ANGLES?! and it wasn't taking a FOUTH mis.

Pic#7 ~ the "once was a HOOK"

Now it's in the net and is GOING BALLISTIC!!  what else could I do, BUTT to let my instinct take over? In the yak it comes and a UFC style LEG-LOCK on her til she tapped-out after a few CASTRATION attepmts.

Pic# 8 ~ into SUBMISSION with a DBL-LEG LOCK!

Get her secured down with a rope and OTW SHOT!

Pic#9 ~ 35.5" @ 16.5 lbs.

I'll put in some more pics and details/pics of the launch from the pier($$$) on my second day....GOT BROKE-OFF and lost it!!

Lets GO!! the wind is staying down for one more day and the tides are still prime!
 

 

post VICTORY shoot

WTG! Cocaman why is it the skinny guys like big butts? 

Way to go Adam!

WORD!

You got me seriously debating calling in sick tomorrow.

got to love that sh&% man you are hooked for life now

Hot damn, Adam! That's one sweet fish...and I love the Butt Conqueror pix, too!

Janice aka "Big J"

SUPER fish...nice Adam!!!!