well, a jig caught the bait!

[bombora]

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We'd had a run of dud trips, donuts and crap water and wind and nasty short interval swell.
But persistance pays off and we had a good day a few days ago. Eight really solid yellowtail from a tiny reef peak about 30 feet deep. This is Vic, a gun fisho and surfer (one of the madmen who tow surf giant waves), with the best for the day. Great pic as usual by Al McGlashan. We were on his 21 foot trailerboat.
Brutal fights to stop em finding the bottom. First time I've actually seen someone almost dragged over the side by a fish. He'd come along for the day and was new to heavy tackle shallow water yellowtails, and Vic grabbed one leg and I got the other as he was dragged overboard. He was underwater from the chest!
And he kept holding onto the rod!!!!
They didn't want jigs, but the 12 inch mackeral we used for bait (the only bait they'd take) came from a little 1/16th white jig!!!
No bait, no yellowtail, so I'm claiming at least a partial jig victory!!!!!

 

[bombora]

Oops forgot to add the bit of yellow spaghetti in the fish's back is a scientific tag. Our state governments have done a pretty cool thing for decades: conduct a tagging program using recreational fishos.
The tags and applicators are free and something like 750,000 fish of scores of species have been tagged over the last couple of decades.
We kept three and tagged five on this day. Pic is just before the fish was speared into the water.
Back to donuts last couple of sessions walking a local lagoon:-/

 

[Fatman]

Congrats!!! Sounds like a GREAT time!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[LedHed]

Congrats on a great day of YTs. Don't think a lot of people realize how hard the YTs pull! Don't think ours get as big as the ones as you guys get.

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

Days like that help us forget about the donuts and goose eggs. I've never fished salt water but hope to one day.

 

[Hawnjigs]

That is a massive looking yellowtail! Wish HI had em - we've only got close relative amberjacks which aren't nearly as good eating in the wild, altho farmed ones around 2# have similar superb high fat.

You guys are real sports releasing 5, or is there a keep limit? What kind of gear is necessary to hold and land em?

Your mate is a trooper hanging onto the rod while dragged over the side!

Any of you South Atlantic and Gulf coasters fish cobia? Pics look similar to YTs & AJs.

 

[ScottV]

Wow, what a fish! Congrats on a great day.

 

[Jig Man]

Congrats on a great trip.... And I wont mention the jig, but it was WHITE!!!

 

[StumpHunter]

Enjoyed the report and pic. Would have like to seen the guy holding onto the rod haft-way under the water LOL... Sounds like a good time.

 

[bombora]

Keith we generally fish 80 or 100 pound braid over specialist short (long rod leverage can be a nightmare on these fellas) jig rods.
The drags on the reels (funnily enough I prefer the new generation super tough Japanese spin reels as it's hard holding a conventional upright sometimes!) which can generate 30-40 pounds of drag. Flouro 80-100 pound keaders and a smll circle hook for hinge of jaw hookups.
Also sometimes they are up on top chasing bait, then it's time for poppers. Now that's fun. Looks like someone dropped a 44 gallon drum in the water when they smash a surface lure.
In shallow water the bigger fellas are just about unstoppable on any other tackle.
Jut found out one of the tagged fish has been recaught. So much for fish being traumatised by hooking and catching.
And in New Zealand they get them to 100 pounds!!!!!!!