9th inning Butt - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Saba Slayer · 05-31-2025, 07:55 AM

It was a great battle of persistence. I had her hooked three times.
The first time she bit and hunkered down and managed to break the 12# line.
So i went back over the area after a re-rig with a fresh sardine and she bit again but spit the hook right at the kayak before I could gaff her, she was just out of reach but I could see how big she was.
So...one more fresh one and she bit again, this time I let her eat for a while. She laid out on the surface for a perfect gaff in the belly and she froze up.
18 lbs and 35 inches
Super fun as it was one of my last baits. I’d been rockfishing and releasing Reds and little Starrys after getting my limit of Reds on my first drop. LOL Stupid new reg
Only a couple of raked baits all morning so I was hoping for a 9th inning home run.

JohnMckroidJr · 05-31-2025, 05:52 PM

Nice to see a good quality fish taken off the kayak -- Congratulations!

Sully1 · 06-01-2025, 04:31 AM

Way to go Jim! Epic story. Love how you didn't give up after some heartbreaking moments. Great life lesson there. Good Hali Bite going on now, deep, shallow, bay and ocean. A friend was out, and they caught a bass, only to have a 50in Hali come up and swallow the thing hole, zip off and break their line, with no second chance like you had. All the short Halibut you could want to catch and release in SD Bay now, a few keepers in the mix, willingly taking the Everingham anchovies. Cheers!

MITCHELL · 06-01-2025, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saba Slayer

It was a great battle of persistence. I had her hooked three times.
The first time she bit and hunkered down and managed to break the 12# line.
So i went back over the area after a re-rig with a fresh sardine and she bit again but spit the hook right at the kayak before I could gaff her, she was just out of reach but I could see how big she was.
So...one more fresh one and she bit again, this time I let her eat for a while. She laid out on the surface for a

perfect gaff in the belly and she froze up.
18 lbs and 35 inches
Super fun as it was one of my last baits. I?d been rockfishing and releasing Reds and little Starrys after getting my limit of Reds on my first drop. LOL Stupid new reg
Only a couple of raked baits all morning so I was hoping for a 9th inning home run.

The good old days
Congratulations

King Saba · 06-04-2025, 08:21 AM

Amazing. 3 strikes? Great job on securing one quality doormat.

05-31-2025, 07:55 AM	#1
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,878	9th inning Butt It was a great battle of persistence. I had her hooked three times. The first time she bit and hunkered down and managed to break the 12# line. So i went back over the area after a re-rig with a fresh sardine and she bit again but spit the hook right at the kayak before I could gaff her, she was just out of reach but I could see how big she was. So...one more fresh one and she bit again, this time I let her eat for a while. She laid out on the surface for a perfect gaff in the belly and she froze up. 18 lbs and 35 inches Super fun as it was one of my last baits. I’d been rockfishing and releasing Reds and little Starrys after getting my limit of Reds on my first drop. LOL Stupid new reg Only a couple of raked baits all morning so I was hoping for a 9th inning home run. Attached Images __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer Last edited by Saba Slayer; 05-31-2025 at 09:08 AM.

06-01-2025, 04:31 AM	#3
Sully1 Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: The Beach Posts: 295	Way to go Jim! Epic story. Love how you didn't give up after some heartbreaking moments. Great life lesson there. Good Hali Bite going on now, deep, shallow, bay and ocean. A friend was out, and they caught a bass, only to have a 50in Hali come up and swallow the thing hole, zip off and break their line, with no second chance like you had. All the short Halibut you could want to catch and release in SD Bay now, a few keepers in the mix, willingly taking the Everingham anchovies. Cheers! __________________

06-04-2025, 08:21 AM	#5
King Saba Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: SGV Posts: 849	Amazing. 3 strikes? Great job on securing one quality doormat. __________________ Baitfish catcher extraordinaire

05-31-2025, 05:52 PM	#2
JohnMckroidJr Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 1,977	Nice to see a good quality fish taken off the kayak -- Congratulations!