First legal - Cabrillo 5/6

[min-va]

So this is a report for my first legal halibut.

Invited by tagyak (Tim), i headed out to Cabrillo on 5/6 for the first time.
Arrived in the parking lot at 6AM, saw about 6-7 other anglers working on the yak and were about ready to hit the water, but didn't get a chance to know any one of them, at least i know who is George...saw couple of his halibut videos , 10 mins later, Tim arrived.

At about 630, we were on the water.... without a water pump bait tank, Tim told me not to buy bait and waste $10, the bait will die soon in my air pump bait tank i just made a night before .....so he said he can let me have some of his bait...Got my first sardine from Tim, and started to drift for an hour, nothing hit, and get my second bait from Tim, a big mac, and started the drift again for another hour, still nothing, by the time the big mac was dead, Tim already very far, so i decided to pull out my sabiki, and catch my own bait, lucky for me, bait were everywhere, caught a nice size dine, started my 3rd drift......at the same time, played with some big hammers, but still nothing, about 30 mins of the drift, reel starting to zzzzzzzz....zzz..zzzzzz, strike mode on and the fight started, but only about 30 seconds, but halibut surfaced, i thought it must be a short hali or a bass, it didn't fight as hard as i think a legal hali should be, anyway.....net it and measure, 26".....Yes! My first legal!! So i called Tim at the time, he was way far out at the light house, i was inside close to the navy ship.
With a little explorer, do not have much space left after me and the hali on board, i decided to just head back....out of the water by 1030AM.

After all, very nice day on the water, even didn't' have a chance to know everyone, and thanks for the invitation, Tim!

Below some of the info and pics.

Water temp - 60
Depth - 20ft
Bait - Sardine
Rig - dropper loop
Rod and reel - 7' Fin Nor powerlite - Avet SX with 25lb pline

[blitzburgh]

Congrats on poppin' that cherry!

[Yakin]

Like I said lucky
you beat me to it!

[aftahour]

NIce hali that day.. my friend and i wanna thank you for letting us use ur bilge pump.. he was also a life saver!

[KatFish]

Thats sweet!!! I got mine almost 3 weeks ago and now I think about fishing all day and what I might catch. Every time I go out its something new and exciting. Next time bring a holy laundry bag, attatch with a clip and keep them in the water. They still breath and you have room in your yak. When you want to paddle toss them behind you and peddle/paddle back.

[Yakin]

Originally Posted by KatFish

Thats sweet!!! I got mine almost 3 weeks ago and now I think about fishing all day and what I might catch. Every time I go out its something new and exciting. Next time bring a holy laundry bag, attatch with a clip and keep them in the water. They still breath and you have room in your yak. When you want to paddle toss them behind you and peddle/paddle back.

That's a great idea Kate!!
Attach a pool noodle around the top rim of it so it floats?

[mtnbykr2]

That first hali is one of the best...big step in this addiction to getting more
addicted congrats on the weekend dinner

[min-va]

Originally Posted by KatFish

Thats sweet!!! I got mine almost 3 weeks ago and now I think about fishing all day and what I might catch. Every time I go out its something new and exciting. Next time bring a holy laundry bag, attatch with a clip and keep them in the water. They still breath and you have room in your yak. When you want to paddle toss them behind you and peddle/paddle back.

I was thinking just tie the stringer on a kayak and leave the fish in the water and keep fishing, but with few seals around, i didn't want them to steal my first legal hali.

[min-va]

Originally Posted by aftahour

NIce hali that day.. my friend and i wanna thank you for letting us use ur bilge pump.. he was also a life saver!

Btw, i think that wasn't me you were talking about...right?...

[KatFish]

Originally Posted by min-va

I was thinking just tie the stringer on a kayak and leave the fish in the water and keep fishing, but with few seals around, i didn't want them to steal my first legal hali.

Thats why I use the net laundry bag I so they dont eat them cuz they will bastards! So no to the stringer

[tagyak]

hey jason,

i am really happy for you. it is great that you got something for your efforts. i really liked that you did it the "old school" way by catching your own bait.....
hope to see you around again. let me know when you are heading back out, maybe we can hook up again.

tim

[StinkyMatt]

Congrats on your first Hali!

[min-va]

Originally Posted by KatFish

Thats why I use the net laundry bag I so they dont eat them cuz they will bastards! So no to the stringer

That looks cool..but like u said, u leave it back of your kayak or in the water?

I was also thinking just leave it behind my kayak, but long day under the sun.....the fish will going to smell bad..

[min-va]

Originally Posted by tagyak

hey jason,

i am really happy for you. it is great that you got something for your efforts. i really liked that you did it the "old school" way by catching your own bait.....
hope to see you around again. let me know when you are heading back out, maybe we can hook up again.

tim

Thanks man!!!

Since the water is warming up, i try to go out once every weekend if i could...let me know when going out, always willing to join~~

[jorluivil]

Congrats!!!!

most of us just hang our fish over the side, never had a problem with seals.

[CheapPelican]

Originally Posted by min-va

So this is a report for my first legal halibut...

Knew I shoulda went.

[fishingfiend]

Congrats on your first flattie! And nice job putting more fuel into the tank of fishing addiction.

[KatFish]

Originally Posted by min-va

That looks cool..but like u said, u leave it back of your kayak or in the water?

I was also thinking just leave it behind my kayak, but long day under the sun.....the fish will going to smell bad..

In water...unless Im paddling then it slows me down so I put it on the back but once Im where I want to be I toss it back in water. They are normally all alive by the time I get out.

[mtnbykr2]

Laundry bag huh....that is a very good idea, I guess this is a good one for
"innovations"

[min-va]

Originally Posted by mtnbykr2

Laundry bag huh....that is a very good idea, I guess this is a good one for
"innovations"

That is why we need more women in this sport......i will never think of laundry bag....cuz i don't do laundry often...