Fish of a lifetime...

[THE DARKHORSE]

Originally Posted by JOHN K

Josh,

That is one bad A$$ fish. But I can't believe there was no mention of a boat side brawl with that monster. I know you know where to find 'em and how to catch 'em, but bringing that fish in the boat without any bruises is crazy. . . are you the fish whisperer?

Alabama

Warning: Sorry about the nipple shot below, but my waders were full of water .

More than any other fish, I wish I had the moments from color to final thrashing on video. I know all fish look bigger doing those last few circles below the kayak, but this fish looked ridiculous at color. Imagine sinking a gaff into a cow sized Tuna, but no deckhand behind you following up with a second gaff. Everything was going smoothly, perfect gaff shot in the stomach bought me a few precious seconds to slide not one, but two game-clips through her gills. With the fish secured I put away the gaff and went for the Halibut bat...then all hell broke loose.

From experience I have my game-clips tethered on a short leash when fishing for Halibut. I used to have a 4' rope, but now I use no more than 1' for safety purposes. After having my sonar face knocked off deck like someone kicked a field goal, they really float! Another time a monster jumped across my deck and broke off my bait-tank outflow tube. I'll certainly never forget the pre-game clip days, wrestling a monster on deck and having my gaff go through the neoprene waders into my leg...dangerous fish when they're that size. Some stay calm, but others will sink your battle-ship!

This particular fish came close to sinking my battle-ship, real close. It took everything in me to keep that kayak right side up. I had a firm grasp on the game-clip rope and by the time she quit thrashing my waders were full of water in the chest area. I had a brand new custom wrapped Super Seeker jig-stick with four other rods and reels, none of them leashed. That beautiful new Super Seeker was probably what gave me the energy and focus to weather the storm. When she finally quit, I hit a couple home runs with that bat and let out a scream of joy!

A friend heard my screams of joy and came over to take some photos. I knew she was over forty, but I told Paul she looked short. Paul replied, "are you kidding me"? "She's long". Paul just got back from out of town and sent me one photo, I thought I'd share.


A little blurry, but it's not easy taking pictures with violently thrashing, battle-ship sinking, pissed off giant Halibut.

[the dude]

Holy crap that thing is huge! ...uh the halibut that is...

[Matt]

PERVERT!!!! Any excuse to show a nipple you sick, sick man!! I will forgive the faux pas as that thing is a beast!! Thank god you don't wear white t shirts

[bellcon]

Wow
Worked better than I had hoped...

You know those post...
Something like, Flame-Flame-Flame-...Just kidding / Congrats...
I just took it a weeeee-bit further

That Halibut blew me away...(still does)
So I wanted a post to blow away the haters...
Kind of cut em off at the pass
Some of you fiqured it out, most didn't...

But Josh does get more love than hate
And since I don't want to be the victim of a Darkhorse vigilante
(some scary defenders you have here Josh)
And to set the record straight
It was a joke, a ruse, a satire, a spoof, a SNL skit, a lampoon, something to show the jealous guy what an idiot he looks like at times

(I nailed the idiot part...,some say I am an natural)

Eric got it half right:
Don, (Bellcon) ain't no Hater, Josh actually co-authored it just to get a rise, well done.

I ain't no hater...(life is to short)
but Josh did not! colaborate on my master piece
In fact I even got him for a second or two

So as much as I wanted to just let it ride...
I thought I better set the record straight (bummer)
All you crazy fishermen can now put down the pitchforks and torches
Me and Josh cool... really we are... tell em Josh

So there you go, loosen the grip those panties have on some of you
we now return you to the post about an Epic Fish:




"Thank God you don't have to die to catch the fish of a lifetime"
a great qoute from a friend of mine.

[Dan]

bloody hell, that's the dogs bollocks! Time for a nosh and a few britney's

[shortstack]

I like the on the water shot better. You guys need to read the whole post. Some people are just born Idiots! Awsome catch Josh! Congrats!

[yakrider]

unbelievable!!!

[frugalfisher]

Gotta love those steaks!! Damn good work Josh. Congratulations!!!!!


James

[T Bone]

Well Bellcon you got me good,thats for sure.Open mouth insert foot.I apologize for calling you a hater.I didnt know you were joshin'(pun intended).I was just sticking up for someone I have never met but hear nothing but good things about...

[FISHIONADO]

Originally Posted by T Bone

Well Bellcon you got me good,thats for sure.Open mouth insert foot.I apologize for calling you a hater.I didnt know you were joshin'(pun intended).I was just sticking up for someone I have never met but hear nothing but good things about...

Some people will believe anything they read....

Barachit Baralah,Elohim-In the beginning,God-Genesis 1:1

Just kidding, peace to all the believers!

Again, holy hali-toad Josh!

[habanero]

Originally Posted by THE DARKHORSE

A friend heard my screams of joy and came over to take some photos. I knew she was over forty, but I told Paul she looked short. Paul replied, "are you kidding me"? "She's long". Paul just got back from out of town and sent me one photo, I thought I'd share.


A little blurry, but it's not easy taking pictures with violently thrashing, battle-ship sinking, pissed off giant Halibut.

Why did it take you so long to post the second photo? You should be apologizing for the bad composite work and not this "Paul" fellow for the blurry camera work. By out of town, do you mean Alaska or is that fish enlarged like your ego and superimposed over a staged pose? Why are you wearing a nice button down shirt while fishing? It is obvious to my trained eye that this is some kind of Hollywood green screen trick. The dark edge along your sleeve show you should have not saved the original staged photo with pre-multiplied Alfa so it would blend better with the old La Jolla background photo. If you put so much time into doctoring a photo, you should at least hire a professional!

[MalibuJohnny]

Originally Posted by habanero

Why did it take you so long to post the second photo? You should be apologizing for the bad composite work and not this "Paul" fellow for the blurry camera work. By out of town, do you mean Alaska or is that fish enlarged like your ego and superimposed over a staged pose? Why are you wearing a nice button down shirt while fishing? It is obvious to my trained eye that this is some kind of Hollywood green screen trick. The dark edge along your sleeve show you should have not saved the original staged photo with pre-multiplied Alfa so it would blend better with the old La Jolla background photo. If you put so much time into doctoring a photo, you should at least hire a professional!

If you copy the photo and paste it onto a word document you can see the changes.


First, you paste the photo onto the document.

Second, right click the photo and select edit picture. There you will find the brightness and contrast. Slide the bar to that says brightness to about 5 or 6 then set the contrast bar to about 31-33. Then you will se the edge of the right shoulder, fish tail and hand... there you can see the shadow of the overlay of Josh onto the kayak. the more you move the brightness and contrast buttons the more defined the” paste" will become. I have already done it, but I cannot paste it into the area.


Pictures of interest…Photoshop?




The morning looked promising with a nice current (still dark?)



Mid-day I made that move to a spot where I caught a Flounder last week (still dark?)



A couple of hours passed without so much as a raked bait (still dark?)


My only hope is that my story will inspire (nope)


Make sure to pack a lunch (yellow tail sammies?)


I can appreciate the lack of monkey see monkey do mentality and being an only child I can relate (what if both monkey’s are only children?)


Maybe one man's trash is another man's treasure. (Calico bass trash?)


Most guys think I'm nuts when I release twenty pound Halibut or Flounder as I call them (full of *#&$ maybe)

With sore arms from the monster Yellowtail the last few weeks and plenty of White Seabass in the freezer (and the rest throughout the sushi restaurants in La Jolla)

I set out in pursuit of a new trophy. I've caught a few Halibut over forty in my time and released a number of Flounder this year, but I wanted a monster---a fish of a lifetime. (Oh here is where the story starts!)


Unfortunately, three Thresher Sharks and a big Black Seabass were on the other end of the line. (This would give any other mortal a boner)


Everything you could possibly want was in place, but I just had that feeling in my gut, a feeling that apparently wasn't going away. I made that annoying treck right back from where I came---the sandy desert. (Maybe guilt for telling another tall tale?)


But I was reminded on my first bait to always, always, always, follow your gut. (Huh?)

Please just admit this one has been doctored!

[Pescavore1]

OMG. Don’s negative post was made in jest but it looks like MalibuJohnny took it seriously. Don, you just couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you? He fell for your story hook, line and sinker.


Oh wait, MalibuJohnny is just kidding too, right? I’m not falling for your bait, MJ. I took that photo on the beach in the dark so I know the fish is for real.

[Matt]

Malibu Johnny


I assure you it's a legit fish.....

I have nothing against ya man, but why not use the ignore button if you don't want to read about Josh or other people you dislike???

In these times of the impending MLPA doom, why try and divide people?
I just don't get what your trying to acheive and I certainly don't have to either, it's your opinion and you are certainly entitled to it and have every right to express your opinion...but why don't you use the PM and talk to him directly? Like my mom always used to say "if you don't have anything nice to say it why say it?" Do everyone a favor in the respect that if you have negative things to say to someone take it to the PM feature and handle it that way.

This is a public forum and you certainly have your right to post however you would like although I think in the general opinion of the board if you have something negative and personal to say to someone you shouldn't do it openly on the forum.

Just my 2 and 1/2 cents on the matter. I have nothing against you Malibu Johnny as you have never said anything mean to me or about me that I am aware of and please don't mistake this a hateful post towards you just merely a suggestion to stop the division of a somewhat fragmented community as it is now anyway. I have no idea if you and Josh have had words before or have some personal battle going on, nor do I want to know it is not my business. I am just personally tired of all the negative things on fishing boards regardless of who put them there. Smile and go fish everybody!!!


OR


Post some fish pics of the ones you have caught and smile and realize that it's just fishing!

[dorado50]

Oh great Matt, now I have to stop popping the popcorn and put the beer back in the fridge and go back to working in the yard!!!!!!!!!

[MalibuJohnny]

Originally Posted by Matt

Malibu Johnny


I assure you it's a legit fish.....

I have nothing against ya man, but why not use the ignore button if you don't want to read about Josh or other people you dislike???

In these times of the impending MLPA doom, why try and divide people?
I just don't get what your trying to acheive and I certainly don't have to either, it's your opinion and you are certainly entitled to it and have every right to express your opinion...but why don't you use the PM and talk to him directly? Like my mom always used to say "if you don't have anything nice to say it why say it?" Do everyone a favor in the respect that if you have negative things to say to someone take it to the PM feature and handle it that way.

This is a public forum and you certainly have your right to post however you would like although I think in the general opinion of the board if you have something negative and personal to say to someone you shouldn't do it openly on the forum.

Just my 2 and 1/2 cents on the matter. I have nothing against you Malibu Johnny as you have never said anything mean to me or about me that I am aware of and please don't mistake this a hateful post towards you just merely a suggestion to stop the division of a somewhat fragmented community as it is now anyway. I have no idea if you and Josh have had words before or have some personal battle going on, nor do I want to know it is not my business. I am just personally tired of all the negative things on fishing boards regardless of who put them there. Smile and go fish everybody!!!


OR


Post some fish pics of the ones you have caught and smile and realize that it's just fishing!

Can you prove that photo was not tampered with? (like the others before?) This has nothing to do with the FISH!

Listen...I am not a lurker as most of you think! I dont waste a lot of time waiting for another "ghost" story or how someone can hold his breath for three minutes. I have my share of fish stories and fish pictures...I don't fish for the Threahers, White Seabass, Yellowtail or even want to spend the day dealing with the mass of nuckle heads trying to mount a throphy being lead by someone who post stories that are at most novella's.

The pictures I would post are of no value to most of you anyway. I spend my Kayak time with my kids, and the young family members. We drift the bays and channels hope to get just a fish...a trophy at one pound to these kids. So me posting pictures of kids with barely legal fish, well I don't think it would give any of the Josh minion or underlings the boner they would get otherwise.

As far as the "In these times of the impending MLPA doom, why try and divide people?" matter goes...The posts on this site are the exact reason why people want to close these areas to fishing. PETA and all those other Human-i-acts will see thess magnificant fish hanging from the grinning silly smiles and react. Just like you would if you saw something that seems to have suffered. I have had my fill of "ghosts" and really big fish, after spending 8 years as deckhand on most of the local boats (and some in San Diego) so it wouldn't bother me one bit not to fish LJ...now don't forget, my letters and emails and cash has gone the same places yours has.

One more thing, I have had the pleasure of standing in a group of fellow Kayak Fisherman while listening to Josh tell another amazing fish story...was'nt empressed then and won't be... Sorry Minion and Underlings.

I love to fish and will continue as long as I live...don't need some one or a group of "ghost hunters" to give me a hand and by no means any jealousy.
Just get that correct.

So make sure your stories are true and the pictures not phony...there are a few other out there who feel the same

Once again I will say I will refrane from my comments, as I have respect for the greater percentage who participate in the fourm. I will only say nice things when I can...

I sware! X

[dorado50]

I (we) been insulted again.....as in 'knucklehead"..."underling".. however your rebuttal contradicts itselfThe popcorn is back in the micro....

[Tman]

Wow....my computer goes down for a couple days and look what I miss...

Pass the popcorn Dave....

[dsafety]

Originally Posted by MalibuJohnny

As far as the "In these times of the impending MLPA doom, why try and divide people?" matter goes...The posts on this site are the exact reason why people want to close these areas to fishing. PETA and all those other Human-i-acts will see thess magnificent fish hanging from the grinning silly smiles and react. Just like you would if you saw something that seems to have suffered. I have had my fill of "ghosts" and really big fish, after spending 8 years as deckhand on most of the local boats (and some in San Diego) so it wouldn't bother me one bit not to fish LJ

I just don't get it. Isn't the whole object of going fishing to catch a big fish? If one is lucky enough to catch a big one, it seems reasonable that a "grinning silly smile" might be appropriate.

Speaking strictly for myself, I have definitely NOT yet had my fill of "ghosts and really big fish". In fact, I am still waiting for my first ghost.

This has become a very entertaining, and somewhat disturbing post.

Bob

[MalibuJohnny]

I think what is disturbing is the heard mentality that most of you have fallen into.

If you have read my posting...its all about the photos being tampered with...and lying about it. No personal attack, no jelousy, or envy from me. I stand for the open mike, and am will to speak as well or if not better than faking a photo.

When you post on a public forum, people read your information and can respond, kindly or with the truth of what one believes.

Go get your "ghost" and get "your fill of monsters" but be truthful and honest.

Now go catch something!

John