77lb Yellowtail speared solo off a kayak

[AdventureManDan]

On a cold stormy morning I decided to paddle out in a Viking ocean kayak. I was hoping to get some footage of the schools of Yellowtail. But I ended up with much more.

I paddled out solo early one morning. A local storm was brewing on the horizon. I figured I had two hours max before I had to head back to shore. The water was a hazy 15ft vis. I was in the water for an hour and a half, with not a single sign of a Yellowtail. But plenty of Kahawai and Koheru passing through. I knew it would only be a matter of time before a Kingie school came past.

Then out of the haze, all at once I was in the vortex of Yellowtail! More than I could count. I hit my camera and dive down. Pushing myself into the camera frame as I dove deeper into the vortex, I see a slightly larger Yellowtail than the rest. I incorrectly estimate it to be around 40lb. I take the shot, the breakaway system on my Riffe Euro 120cm goes off without a hitch. As I head for the surface I hold the float line, and feel a tug, and then a bigger tug, and then I was being dragged under, FAST! I loosen my hold on line and hit the surface. Instead of using a float, my spear is attached to the bow of the kayak(bigger than any other float!). So I jump up into the kayak with the line in hand and then the work begins! The kayak actually starts moving! Faster and faster! My only though was that some big shark had my little 40lb Yellowtail. I grab line and start pulling. I would get up 30ft of line, and then it would get ripped through my hands! After ten minutes I finally get my fish to the surface, I lean it's massive head into the kayak and bring the whole body into the little boat. Immediately I wrap and lock my legs around the long body, and get a hand into it's strong gills. After a couple more minutes of working to get the fish under control on top of the kayak without flipping. And getting my hands crushed by it's powerful gills. Ouch! I put the knife into it's huge head and end the fight. After an extra hour long heavy paddle back to shore, it weighs in at 77lb and 5ft long end to end! My new personal best fish and solo on a kayak! The best sashimi I have every had.

More videos and pictures to be posted on my Adventureman Dan page.

[rysgates]

Holy crap dude… congrats that thing is insane! Was this yesterday?

[Apneaddict]

Great fish and great use of a dive-float!

Stay safe out there with solo monster hunting!


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[Reef_Chief]

Geez that things a beast

[AdventureManDan]

Thanks guys, no it was a couple of weeks ago. It's just hard posting while on the road.

[Zenon]

Unreal.
I'd have a heart attack seeing one that big around here. What is the Cali record?

[HEX]

Insane and congrats. I wish they got that big here in Cali.

[AdventureManDan]

My bad, I shot the fish in New Zealand, I thought I had it in my article.

[Apneaddict]

Originally Posted by adventuremandan

my bad, i shot the fish in new zealand, i thought i had it in my article.

omg!! How far did it tow you!?!

That has to be a record!!!

[Lompoc Local]

Nice shot placement. That's a slug

[AdventureManDan]

It towed me and the Kayak a couple hundred feet. But it is definitely not a record. Thanks though.

[Trimbandit]

Dude rad fish!

[COinOC]

Awesome stuff man. Waiting patiently for the video clip.......

[mainphrame]

Hell yeah Dan! Beautiful fish man!

[Freedvrjim]

Epic! A true Sleigh ride...
Congrats!