How to land a 50 pounder

[rockfisherman]

What do you do with a 50 pounder in the kayak?

(Oh please, Lord, that someday I might actually have to deal with this question....)

Even a 40 lb bass. Say you finally catch a fish of a lifetime - IGFA world record or whatever and you want to keep it. How do you get it in/on the yak and secured? Do you even want it in, or on the boat? Maybe you just lash it on the side of the boat like "The Old Man and the Sea." Maybe you tow it with a rope? Should you administer "last rites" with a priest first? How do you keep a fish of that size and strength from capsizing you?

All thoughts are welcome.

[ruge13]

well, here's what not to do. I put a 30" fish in my boat. wanted one for the grill and threw it in the cokpit (sit inside boat) thinking I could just paddle home and wash out the cockpit afterwards to get out the fish gunk. Well, one thing I should have considered....those dorsal fin spines are F#%#ing sharp. The stupid fish (or stupid me) started flopping around down by my feet, in an ocean kayak theres not much room down there. when I got back to shore my legs were bleeding. That wasn;t fun and this was by no means a 40 lb fish. I think next time I am going to make sure the fish is dead and in the deck rigging before I go paddling in. Or at least try to get it in a hatch with a firend or something befor eI go throwing it in the cockpit..however, if I am close to any kind of record...that puppy can stay in the cockpit and I will jump out and swim the boat back..

[FLYRODER]

You must be kidding? Right? Its easy to store a 50lb striper on a kayak compared to the 150lb+ Thresher Sharks that are caught and landed on a kayak out west. If you want to see it for yourself check out this site and double click PICTURES and see it for yourself.

http://www.kayakfishing.com

[Bob Parsons]

Shaun I'm nearly ****ing in my pants from laughing.

Thank god you were not trying to keep a 30" bluefish your nickname would be stump:D

[G-Man]

Ha..
Stump...That's funny.

Hey Rock,
Funny you should say "land a 50lb bass on kayak"
My interst in kayaks was sparked last fall by a kid at the baitshop near you in Wickford, RI. You know the one near Allie's and Snoopy's diner?

Anyway, The kid at the counter told me caught a 50lb bass the previous weekend on his kayak at the mouth of the Narrow river! Took him for a 300yrd ride down the coast then the fish was just exhausted. That was the spark for me last October. I found a used kayak 2 weeks later.

Don't think I would keep such a huge bass. If I keep a 30inch bass I give one fillet away to a neighbor. I don't care for fish if it's frozen. Imagine the fillet of a 50lber? Maybe stuff it for your den, huh?

Anyway, the very thought of catching such a fish has caused me to loose countless hours of sleep to fishing. My biggest bass was half that size, but there's still hope!

[G-Man]

Hey Flyroder,
You notice those West Coast guys all have Sit-On-Top kayaks.
So much more surface space for equipment and lashing down your big fish. They all wear wetsuits too, you notice?

I have shared before, I'm such a believer in a SOT for Ocean kayak fishing. I realize it a personal choice. Too many stories of Sit-Ins flipping with guys not dressed for it. I don't understand waders in a kayak either, but that's just me.

[rockfisherman]

Flyroder,

I'm not kidding. >> "Easy to store a 50 lb. striper on a kayak." << ???? You must be kidding.

I've seen that website. All the big fish pictures are ON shore. Yes, Spike has a Sailfish in the water by his yak. I assume he released that one. How DO they bring them in? ...is the question.

G-Man,

Yes, Quaker Lane B & T. That's where I bought my current yak. Good story. For the open ocean, I have to agree SOTs with wetsuits are the thing. SINKs are for protected waters. Do you know what kind of yak the kid at QL B&T had? SINK or SOT? Any details on how he got that fish to shore?

[ruge13]

"SINK's" huh? Nice acronym...I have yet to sink, or even roll in heavey surf, while fishing anyway..playing around surfing, yes. I like the "SINK's" in rough water, but in cold water I too wear a wetsuit. I may be stubborn but I ain't stupit...

[Wes]

I figured that SINK's statement would get you going Shaun. SINK's are for people who care to learn and practise the skills. They are far more comfortable early or late in the season, sitting in a damp wetsuit in 38 degrees grows old quickly. I have one of each and definitely prefer the SOT for fishing in general, but the SINK is a blast to paddle. I'm less likely to keep fish if I use it and definitely pack lighter. I discovered that I can stuff my 7-7.5 ft one piece rods, rigged, right in the hatch of the SOT, and I can pull one out and switch tactics while afloat. And for surf landings, what could be better than having all yr gear stowed under deck?

As to that 50 lber question, please, just put me on the fish. I'll figure something out. :D

[ruge13]

yeah I Thought that was funny

[rockfisherman]

Glad you enjoyed it. Wish I originated the term, but I didn't. Funny to read the debates between the two. If you've actually done it, there is little argument about the place of SINKs and SOTs between experienced yakkers. Each has their place.

[FLYRODER]

Rockfisherman writes:

All the big fish pictures are ON shore. Yes, Spike has a Sailfish in the water by his yak. I assume he released that one. How DO they bring them in? ...is the question.

OK Rockfisherman. Would you like to see a 115lb Thresher Shark ON a kayak "ON THE WATER"? If so heres the link:


http://www.socalkayakfishing.com/photo/tomshark.html


And to answer your other questions. Yes Spike did release the Sailfish. And how DO they bring them in? They club it over the head till its dead then depending on how big it is they will either store it in the forward hatch or strap it down ontop of the kayak. The most important thing is make sure its dead.

But I to would have to agree with some of the other posters. If I were to catch a 50+lb striper I would measure her get a picture of her then release her. I wouldn't keep a big egg laying striper that big.

[FLYRODER]

G-MAN your right. The west coast kayakers almost all have SOT's. And yes they do dress right. And if anyone on this site thinks the water is warm on the west coast has got to be crazy. Maybe the water is warm from LA on south but once you go north especially from San Fran on up that water is pretty damm cold. But no matter what type of kayak you paddle or prefer a Sit On Top or a Sit Inside if the water is cold you have to dress right no matter what kayak your on or in.

[G-Man]

Well said.
After all, the perfect kayak is the one you own. :)

Looking forward to Chatham on Saturday.
Wish you were there.
Take Care Guys

[rockfisherman]

Flyroder,

Yes, I've seen the picture of the induhvidual with the 115 pound shark in his kayak.

IMHO, I don't think he's dipping both paddles in the water...

bringing a SHARK that big onto a kayak.

So you have to kill the fish first. Makes sense. Hmmm. Has anyone out there ever tried to kill a fish with a 12 gauge flare gun?

[ruge13]

no but whe I was little we used to throw suckers and carp up in the air with M80's in them....that was funny, we grew out of it though.

[bluewatr]

Rock,

I am a little late to tkis thread but "The Old Man In The Sea" was one of my fav books as a child. I read it when I was 9 or 10. I loved the part when he caught the bone and ate it right there.

As far as a 50 lber from a yak, I too hope to find out. It would be dangerous and getting towed to dangerous waters would be something to worry about. It would have to be done very carefully and calmly. Yes it does not compare to a thresher but so what! I would probably release the fish. If I were to keep it I would make sure it was dead before boating it. My SOT has a perfect spot behind the seat to put such a fish.

-mike

[rockfisherman]

Mike,

Better late than never, I always say. :)

A charter boat captain died on his boat this week while attempting to land a mako in his boat. This was a very experienced shark fisherman by all accounts.

This was on a non-fly fishing forum for the Delmarva peninsula. His name was Captain Billy Verbanas.

[kcsmes]

Mike - is that a Cobra F&D by any chance. I was thinking of putting my 50 lber in the same spot!
Rockfisherman - when I was a kid I occassionally was a fill-in mate on a fishing boat that regularly went for sharks. It was the captain's practice to do a little target shooting on any shark caught with a variety of handguns he kept on-board. That might be the answer for getting the the 50 lber on the yak also! Got a spot for your .38 on the yak

[rockfisherman]

kcsmes,

LOL...

I can imagine my local police chief's face when I tell him I want a concealed carry permit so I can shoot stripers from my kayak. I think insanity is a basis for denial of the permit.

The captain had a handgun in one hand and had wrapped the leader twice around his other hand while he prepared to shoot it. The shark surged away, and took the captain overboard and underwater for a minute.

The only reason I mentioned it in this thread is because if that can happen on a full size boat with an experienced crew...a kayak is no place for a shark. Unless you are insane...which is cause for denial of the pistol permit you need for the gun to subdue the shark....
:rolleyes:

[Mark Cahill]

Thread in the Mid-Atlantic Forum (http://www.reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=27670)

[Rockawayjake]

live bunker- rockaway beach surf. Throw a towel over the head of the bass. She will sleep all the way home!

[rockfisherman]

Congratulations...

That is fantastic.

Could you please provide any helpful hints about how it's done? Do's or Don'ts...any info from a real live experience would be great.

TIA...

[WOODSHED]

I just came east from San Diego. Been fishing the coast with my scupper pro SOT there for the last several years. While I've had plenty of good sized fish landed in my boat, I've not put in a 50#. My best is a 42# white sea bass. I've seen others land halibut to 40#, numerous yellowtail in the 20# class and a 90# thresher shark all from their kayaks.

With the exception of the threshers, we use a small hand gaff to land the fish, trying our best for a head shot. In SD, you have to get the fish in quickly or you will lose it to a bull sea lion. Yes, if its not ON your boat, they will come right up and take it from you and they are BIG SEA DOGS (800+lbs). I've lost many good fish to the sea dogs while fighting them in. Once you have the fish alongside and on the gaff, I attach a dive clip, tethered to the yak, by attaching it through the gill and out the mouth. Next, I lift the gill plate and slit the gills on both sides. This causes the fish to expire immediately and bleeds the fish. Incidentally, I'm convinced there is a taste difference if you do not bleed the fish.

landing threshers is another story - DO NOT GAFF THEM! They are landed by a sequence of fighting them to the surface, slapping your paddle on the water to make them run again and again. You do this until they are so exhaused you can paddle alongside and grab their tail (threshers tails are as long as their bodies and stick right up out of the water when exhausted). You put the tail on your lap and hang on. This is called "shark wrangling," and is alot less glamorous than it sounds. Robbed of the tail as leverage and unable to continue moving forward in the water, the sharks drown. I've heard of guys towing them in from the tails to accomplish the same purpose.

Anyway, just thought I'd share my $.02. Thight lines!

[Slappy]

Woodshed, welcome to the frosty east. I too am a transplanted SoCal. LA and SD.

I think your point about threshers may not sink in for the average striper fisherman. There is nothing here that fights like a thresher. Sure there are tuna, but do they fight as hard as a thresher (almost). You just can't believe it until you have hooked one.

That said, any big fish, even a lazy striper is dangerous. Hooks hanging out and still lively fish, especially from a small boat, can be risky challenges.

Woodshed, fish the stripers as you would calicos and you will be amazed at how easy it is!

[GRH]

I have had some jumbos in the yak, and it isn't to bad. Largest last year was 48" and very fat, didn't get a chance to weigh her, but it was 40 something by my estimate. First of all, a large fish tows you around and is pretty well beat by the time you get her up. I normally drag them into the center cockpit and wrap one leg over the fish. Unhook and run a string through the gills and out the mouth and tie it off. Paddle to calmer waters or better land and stick them in the front hatch,(T120). I learned the hard way that you should always remove the hook as I had a large fish, tail by my feet, mouth by my crotch, still hooked as I was heading in and she started the final death thrashing. Luckly the hook caught my suit not me. If I get a 50#, I am heading right in with her.