12/15 Yakin' the OC

Limits · Dec-16-2007, 08:12 PM

Met up with my hooping buddy, Ray (crabkracker) to do a little sheep herding. Got to the designated meeting spot to find an absolutely beautiful SoCal morning.

Conditions were fantastic. Bite was slow to start, but picked up to a nice and steady pace as the morning wore on. Ray had the hot hand scoring some nice sheephead late in the AM. I had to cut out early while Ray was still getting bit.

Ended up with some nice sandies, a handful of tough sheephead that were 10 inches to right around legal, a couple of calicos, a THICK garibaldi

and of course some perch. I also lost what was probably a JP female sheephead at color only a few feet below my yak.

Oh..and I broke in a virgin custom wrapped stick that I've had for months. Its officially a keeper!

Great day to be out. Ran into Chau (Madfish) as I was packing up. Ray hooked me up with a nicer sheephead to take home for grub. Thanks for being a great guide and host Ray.

here's a few pics...

Conditions on the way out.

My vantage point. Its been a while since I've looked at my yak from this perspective. It felt GOOOOOOD...

Skunk breaker on the new Rogue rod. I get to keep it! Woo hoo!!!

Ray (crabkracker) just chillin'.

Ray with his first sheephead of the day, a dense, darker colored male. The fish that is... :lol: :lol: :lol:

One of a handful of sheephead I landed.

... and more...

...and more..

And what I initially thought was a big sheephead turned out to be this garibaldi. Took him home and made some sashimi. Man that was awesome!

Juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust kidding!!! Relax.

Chau heading out for the early afternoon run.

All fish except for one 17 inch sheephead were released. Photos were taken on my new waterproof Olympus Stylus 790.

Mo · Dec-16-2007, 08:23 PM

Nice pics! How do like the Olympus Stylus 790? I have been using the 300 on the water for a few years, taken some good pics. Thinkn about getting a new one and handing the 300 down to my son.
What kind fish is that in the 11th pic?

Bank Robber · Dec-16-2007, 08:27 PM

I agree nice pics.

gearho · Dec-16-2007, 08:36 PM

Nice day I'm looking forward to a little of that.

fisherbaby · Dec-16-2007, 10:33 PM

DAMN that garabaldi is BRIGHT RED, usually it is orangish. thats some beautiful fish you got there

tsurikichi · Dec-17-2007, 10:14 AM

Hi Limits,

Thanks for the great pics on those fishys. Well done on the catching and report. Gotta get out on my yak and fool around a little.

tsurikichi

johnnylite · Dec-17-2007, 10:58 AM

Where were you fishing? Great post and pics.

barndoor · Dec-17-2007, 11:48 AM

Good thing you caught something on that new stick....I know your rule when it comes to fishing with new gear!

Thanx for the report

michael · Dec-17-2007, 12:42 PM

Great report and killer pics!

When did Ray get a yak?
Tell Ray I said what's up and ask him when are we gonna hit the pier again?

Limits · Dec-17-2007, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMoe

Nice pics! How do like the Olympus Stylus 790? I have been using the 300 on the water for a few years, taken some good pics. Thinkn about getting a new one and handing the 300 down to my son.
What kind fish is that in the 11th pic?

I like it. I had an Optio W10 that was a no brainer to use. It took great pictures with minimal tinkering. The Stylus 790 is a different animal. Lots of bells and whistles to adjust the lighting, shutter speed, etc. I like it a lot.

The fish is a darker, juvey sheephead. I know you're probably expecting pinkish coloring, but when they hide out along the kelp line, they get that darker coloration.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fisherbaby

DAMN that garabaldi is BRIGHT RED, usually it is orangish. thats some beautiful fish you got there

Yeah, he was easy to spot even when he was 15 feet below me. All that coloration had me thinking it was a huge female. Oh well. Still a pretty neat fish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnylite69

Where were you fishing? Great post and pics.

Outside newport harbor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by barndoor

Good thing you caught something on that new stick....I know your rule when it comes to fishing with new gear!

Thanx for the report

Whats up James? Where have you been hiding?

Yep, you know the rule I have about custom wrapped sticks on their virgin outing.

I have yet to donate a rod to the ocean and hope to keep that streak alive!

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael

Great report and killer pics!

When did Ray get a yak?
Tell Ray I said what's up and ask him when are we gonna hit the pier again?

He picked one up about 3-4 months ago. I got him hooked on yak hooping.

In fact, we've had one outing where we actually scored our limits from the yaks.

You might have to pick up a yak Mike. I don't think you'll be seeing Ray hooping from a pier ever again.

smokincan · Dec-18-2007, 12:17 AM

Was that a freak albino blue perch?