One Day

Was going to post this in reports but my title was taken. Besides maybe some of the newer folks can get some use from this.

My first yak coho came to me Sunday September 2 on the great blue out of PC.
The plan was to launch Saturday early to beat the crowds. Didn't happen. Being free from the J O B overindulgence Friday night kept me on shore and near the meds Saturday. With due diligence and a little hair of the dog I prepped for a Sunday launch knowing it could be my last chance for ocean salmon this year.

Launch time. Late due to family calling but on the beach with great conditions and a thousand other folks.
All set. No freaking bait! Screw it I'm getting on the water. It's been a month for crying out loud! Guess I don't need the net if I'm bottom fishing. Back in the truck the net goes.
After beating the looky lues away it was an easy ankle slapper launch. Gotta love the cape.
With doubt, I rigged a chrome Apex with herring gel behind a Kone Zone. What the hell. Who knows.
Nutten. Depth finder wigs out. I'm in 80' of water and it says 290' to 310' with a black screen. After near huli twice messing with the system I decide the GPS works so I'll try some waypoints. Trolling rig is fouled.

Laboring for Rocks and Lings for an hour plus I notice two yaks a mile and a half or so out from me. Probably NWKA if that far out. Shoot, lets go see. The bottom fish aren't talking to me and I'm the only idiot in close. Cell phone rings and it's work. I ain't answering. Back in the dry box and toss it under the FF. Viola. FF is working again. 

Turns out to be Nate and his friend James. Definitely the high point of my weekend thus far. I'm graciously offered some herring but I figure I don't want to get to close as I may cause the need for the Coast Guard. Thanks for the offer! Looks like good water here. Might as well untangle and try. Trolling with weight and a paddle is kind of a bitch. Feels good though.

Fish on! Wait. No. Yes! No. Crap it's coming at me! Not much of a fight but thrilling none the less. Lets see what else I can screw up today. Hmm. Nets on the beach. She wouldn't let me come close to the tail so finally I cursed, prayed and lifted by the leader and we duked it out on deck. Oh. No shampoo stick. Why would I assume it was in the yak? Silly me. As I swing with my sheathed knife that I've had for 20 or so years, the knife bullets into 140' of water as the soft leather sheath pats the pissed off noggin of my first kayak Coho. As I pull the beautiful yumminess  from the water a second time I find a 4oz lead head to be my Coho calmer. Rather tricky to not injure oneself with this method.


Notice my alternate bonker. Sorry about the blood. My senses weren't all there.

Picked up one rockfish and bunch of bump and run after a while.
Over the radio Nates wisdom convinced me to keep trolling. Landed one more Salmon with my new found techniques and ended my glorious day on the water with:


And some sore shoulders.

Damn I love this stuff.

It doesn't get much better, does it? Excellent job! Really glad to hear you got out and got some fish. I hate it when work gets in the way of fishing.

Great story, Vern! Glad you got out there and landed silvers. And good improvisation with the jighead bonker.

Guess we should've traveled up to PC instead of DB - next time.

Very entertaining story!  Way to improvise.

WOOOOHOOOO! Nice fishy!

Sorry to hear about the knife but mother ocean sometimes demands a sacrifice. 

BTW: You've got salmon bonkers on the ends of your arms.  One good punch usually does it.  Don't try this on rockfish or lingcod though.....

-Spot- 

Guess I don't need the net if I'm bottom fishing.
Fish on! Wait. No. Yes! No. Crap it's coming at me! Not much of a fight but thrilling none the less.
Lifted by the leader and we duked it out on deck.
No shampoo stick.

I don't know how, but you just described my Saturday out there at PC. I caught mine on a jig trailing behind me as I was moving spots. I didn't win the on-deck battle and felt a bit like Pinocchio with the tuna. I also sliced my finger open on the third try. Luckily Jim-Dawg was out there with his net - thank you Jim.
Regarding the permanant head massage - I'll have to keep the tips you and Spot provided for next time. Jim whacked it once or twice for me, but it was still flopping so I stuck it in the heart.

I unfortunately didn't get any pics because I'd just finished off the battery in my camera trying to figure out the stupid video settings. Figured video of the backside of the rock was going to suffice as the fishing sucked; put away camera.. fish on. ( I watched the video - the rock isn't very animated)

Great day nonetheless - loved your post

Thanks folks!

Skidplate: Sorry to hear I'm not alone. Out of respect, let no other yak anglers between us for a while.
To bad about the wound. Fishing injuries heal fastest if you soak it in cider. Preferably a 35# hen.

Thanks for the tip Spot. I plan not to use it but I'm betting I'll need it.
Out the door to school this morning one of my boys lifts my bonker off the fence and says unknowingly, "Do you ever use this".   

Damn I love this stuff.

Kayak fishing gets even more addicting from here. Nice 1st yak coho my friend. Oh and don't be sorry about the blood. Its a good thing! That's also one hell of a beautiful Coho, all bright and shiny.
Nice job!