Had a cracker trip this morning, though only one photo to show for it.
Hit the road at 3am and were in the boat by five.
Picked up some livies, then out to deeper water.
Tried a bit of high-speed jigging, then pulled out a Rapala (me) and a skirted marlin lure (my mate, Ryan).
Ryan reckoned I'd get nothing on my near 30-year-old pink Rapala (started out red, but faded), but was proven wrong.
Picked up two around 1m (~3ft) kings quicksmart!
The Tank performed flawlessly.
Kings were peeling plenty of line, so had to really put the pressure on, but the Tank was smooth as silk.
Got hit by a couple more on livies, but they dropped 'em before the hook bit.
Great day on the water, one fish for me and one for Ryan (he called it a 'consolation prize') and home by 11am!
Debbie's lined up friends and family for a big cook-up tomorrow - can't go freezing fresh kingie!
Thanks to Ryan for being skipper and guide for the day - had us on the spot, despite a broken GPS.
Righto - all the best, Justin
(http://alantani.com/gallery/20/3590_04_08_17_7_20_30_201891678.jpeg)
Very Nice Justin! I love Rapala's. I have some Lures called AC Shiners, That are built like Rapala's, but have a lot nicer action.
Enjoy that cook out Buddy! ;D
Nice going Justin, yes the old gear can still get it done. That's going to be a nice meal...enjoy it my friend.
Sal
Cheers lads!
Hope all's well with you and yours
i have seen some of the most rusted and beat up lures crush some fish! Nice catches!
Sweet...
Rgds
Mark
good to see buddy
smile says it all
Nice.
BTW, a light smoke and then canning them is a good way to store "excess" YT/kingfish.
Great report justin. Looks like fun. Thanks for sharing.
Bob
Way to go Justin
Dandies,Justin. Good call with the Rapala. GB
Very nice fish!
Makes me miss SoCal Yellowtails.
Thanks lads.
Chile - not a patch on that monster hammer of yours, but a bit of fun nonetheless!
Lee, will smoke the next one for sure.
We had family and friends around yesterday, and a little over half one fish fed 10 adults and our two kids.
I marinaded the steaks in tamari soy sauce, macadamia oil, chopped garlic and minced ginger, with salt and pepper rubbed in.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/20/3590_07_08_17_4_51_43_208132424.jpeg)
Also cubed a bit of it, which Debbie crumbed and pan-fried, and served with homemade garlic aioli.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/20/3590_07_08_17_4_51_40_20808479.jpeg)
Still have plenty left, so will be chipping away at it for a few days yet!
Righto - good luck out on the water.
Cheers, Justin
Great photo Justin. You did not wear those shorts in public did you? :D Dominick
QuoteYou did not wear those shorts in public did you? :D
Yeah, but usually with a Hawaiian shirt, open to the navel ;) ;D
Ha ha, he he. Dominick
Great pic and some nice fishing. Those kingfish look kind of like the Florida AJ.
I thought the same thing, Dwight, when I saw them AJs or reef donkeys, as we have called them.
I'd wear those shorts! ;D
Good onya, Justin! I like the recipes, too. I have used pickled sushi ginger with the tiniest bit of ground nutmeg sprinkled on top of some grilled fillets. YUM!
Cheers Steve-O, will try a little nutmeg on the next one - hopefully sooner rather than later ;)
Heading for Matapouri Bay this weekend, so ya never know!
Nice going and I like your fashion sense. Your Kingies are the same as our Yellowtail although yours get bigger. For you East Coasters, Kingies and YT are jacks and closely related to AJ's. I usually just have mine raw with soy sauce and Wasabi. Hamachi!
Just got back from a few days in the Far North.
Found a sketchy cliff climb and rocky outcrop, with a nice wash into deep water.
Ran a livie (kahawai) out and, after about an hour, got hit by my biggest-ever king.
Had it on my custom, double-dog, 12-tooth ratchet 9500SS, with 80lb braid and 200lb leader, on a Backbone Elite 24kg land-based game rod.
By far the strongest fish I've ever had on - nearly had me off the rocks on one hard run.
Got it in to 10-15ft from me and we eyeballed each other a bit - him on his side looking up at me.
He was truly massive - easy 30kg (60+lb) and close to 5ft.
Unfortunately, a while later he busted me off.
This ain't the fish, but is a dead ringer for the one I had on.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/20/3590_04_08_17_7_20_29_201871446.jpeg)
Pretty gutted I lost him, but it was a titanic battle like nothing I've experienced - my left shoulder's toast after the strain.
Still managed to bring home two snapper, a nice trevally and a couple of solid, sea-run kahawai, but it seems cold comfort. 'The one that got away...' :(
Righto, hope yer all well.
Cheers, Justin
Wow!
Great story!
Fishing for thise big fish off of the rocks must be exciting. Bet you would want a lonf bamboo pole gaff to land 'em from the cliffs. Sounds like that midded Penn held up nice under the strain? Keep at it, and you will land a monster on day.
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers mate - yeah, the SS was up to the job (though I need a stronger handle arm), but one knot in the leader let me down.
I just hope this wasn't my 'once in a lifetime' moment with a king that size.
good stuff justin
we have got our annual trek up north on the 2nd of march for a week
ill be takin the ANSAC.
Justin, you'll have other chances. Sorry you didn't win this one. It's amazing how big fish always find the weakest link in the tackle. That's why they are so big. Great story and report. Thanks for sharing.
Bob
Great report, Justin --
Of the thousands of fishing trips a lot of us have taken -- there are always a few that we will never forget -- and we continue to enjoy the memory forever -- always with the hope and promise of another trip to stack on top of the previous adventures.
And, another larger fish.
One of the fondest memories for me was being on a solo 9-day backpacking trip into a very remote wilderness area of the Sierras. 3rd week in October, very cold, snow possible in a few days, 16 miles past the last remote place with any hint of civilization.
Early morning on a small 30 acre natural lake -- in a one man rubber raft, steam coming off of the lake, deer in the meadow. Hook, net, and land a 5 pound, 23 inch Rainbow -- on a Quick 110 Microlight with a 5' Fenwick ultralight glass rod, 4 pound test. Tackle was good, but the fish was wild -- and never hooked before. Found out that the best method was to let him pull me around in circles -- with a lightly loose drag. Tire him out with the natural resistance of the raft in the water. 10 - 15 minutes to land it -- jumped clear of the surface numerous times. I can still feel my soaked Levi's and shirt, and taste the flaky pink meat after wrapping in foil -- with lemon and butter, salt and pepper --and cooking under the coals of the campfire.
Caught 4 more similar that day -- and released them all.
Not as impressive as your adventure -- but memorable in many other ways.
Best,
Fred
Quote from: foakes on January 26, 2015, 04:02:24 PM
One of the fondest memories for me was being on a solo 9-day backpacking trip into a very remote wilderness area of the Sierras. 3rd week in October, very cold, snow possible in a few days, 16 miles past the last remote place with any hint of civilization.
Early morning on a small 30 acre natural lake -- in a one man rubber raft, steam coming off of the lake, deer in the meadow. Hook, net, and land a 5 pound, 23 inch Rainbow -- on a Quick 110 Microlight with a 5' Fenwick ultralight glass rod, 4 pound test.
Holy Moly Fred!!!! 23" Wild Rainbow???? We've got to sch. a backpack trip!
I've carried a Mitchel Garcia 308, a 4-piece blank fenwick rod my Dad hanwrapped & glued on the cork handle, and assorted lures, have caught and released ONE 18", have seen MANY larger fish, a few U-Boats if you will, but NEVER a 23" wild trout.
Where were you in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on that trip???
I've sent my youth and many summer weeks with my sons on backcountry trips. Can name 15+ lakes and some streams where I've seen this Leviathans!!!! Always the most wild and remote part of the Sierra mountains.
Wayne
Sorry you didn't land that one Justin, it will keep it interesting for next time ;). if fishing was always easy, we wouldn't be interested as we are.
Fred, that's a great story. Don't attempt a 9 day trip by yourself again ;)
Thanks for sharing guys.
Sal
That's why its fishing and not catching Justin. Sorry he got away. I bet that was a blast on the 9500. ;)
Great Story Fred! ;D
Cheers lads - will just have to keep trying.
Fred, what an adventure - thanks for sharing!
Great work Justin .at least you saw him.
make sure you drop in next time you are up north!!
Justin you lost the fish but not the memory ;)
I forget stuff these days, but still remember the good times out on the water. No one can take that away. Many more to come still too !!!
Thanks Jon, will do - might be sooner rather than later ;)
Cheers Zim, God willing many more for all of us ;D