Thanksgiving Fumble

Saltwater Kayak Fishing
1

I went out on thangsgiving morning in my yak, hunting reds. I will admit that i was a bit sloppy and spooked a bunch. Paddled to another spot looking for specks and hooked into a nice one on a red head with a new penny Gulp Shrimp. I landed it and had it laying across my lap tring to get it into a bucket. In retrospet this sucker was in exess of 20 inches (best guess)and wasnt going to fit.
once I got the hook out and out of landing net that fish thrashed once and I watched it swim away. once I got done crying I continued to fish and finished the day with six nice keepers.
Does anyone have a system for handling thier fish on a yak? I am new to this and quickly learned a hard lesson.

J

M.T. Johnson

2

Throw your leg over the side and drop them in your foot well… now they can still flop out but most of the time they sit still enough for a photo and to get the hook out :wink:

“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os

3
quote:
Originally posted by Strongj

… once I got done crying I continued to fish and finished the day with six nice keepers.
Does anyone have a system for handling thier fish on a yak? I am new to this and quickly learned a hard lesson.

Not sure about the question. You ended the day with 6 keeper reds in ONE kayak.

If you want to keep a fish, don’t let it out of the net. Just keep it in the net till it can’t swim. Your fish will not swim away if it is still in the net. Correct?

18’ CC w/ 115 Yami

4

Ifly
That was six specs
I was skunked on the reds
J

M.T. Johnson

5
quote:
Originally posted by Strongj

I got the hook out and out of the landing net.…

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Yep! There is your problem. :wink: Any other questions?

6
quote:
Originally posted by Strongj

Ifly
That was six specs
I was skunked on the reds
J

Sometimes I fish to enjoy the day and sometimes I fish just to get some dinner. Once the fish is OUT of the net it is just as likely to NOT become dinner.

Six specks seems like a pretty good dinner. Yes? No?

18’ CC w/ 115 Yami

7

No doubt the day ended very good, but its that whole thing about the one that got away.
Cant wait to get out again. I am considering a mesh bag for my keepers.

quote:
Originally posted by iFly
quote:
Originally posted by Strongj

Ifly
That was six specs
I was skunked on the reds
J

Sometimes I fish to enjoy the day and sometimes I fish just to get some dinner. Once the fish is OUT of the net it is just as likely to NOT become dinner.

Six specks seems like a pretty good dinner. Yes? No?

18’ CC w/ 115 Yami

M.T. Johnson

8

If I want to keep a fish I use this.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0012971013780a&navCount=1&podId=0012971&parentId=cat90003&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20166-cat90003&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat90003&hasJS=true

I replaced the stretch cord with a line tied to my wrist. I don’t grab a fish by the lip that might drown me. :smiley:

9

I was considering somethng similar that might just be the ticket

quote:
Originally posted by BiggerthanYours

If I want to keep a fish I use this.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0012971013780a&navCount=1&podId=0012971&parentId=cat90003&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20166-cat90003&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat90003&hasJS=true

I replaced the stretch cord with a line tied to my wrist. I don’t grab a fish by the lip that might drown me. :smiley:

M.T. Johnson

10

I bought one of those from Charleston Angler. One of my best purchases. Excellent for removing hooks from toothy fish too. I use mine all the time.

21’ Sea-Pro CC
Yamaha 150
“Aquaholic”
2008 Dodge Ram Mega-Cab 4x4 6.7 Cummins

“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway

11

Bring along a Boga grip, hook onto it when in the net and then remove from net. Thats what I do…

SeaPro 180CC