Last year’s El Nino weather pattern produced unprecedented yellowtail fishing along the southern California coast. Paddle anglers were quick to bust through the surf and chase down breezing mossbacks. Pro guide Kevin Nakada (seasamurai.com) specializes in sight casting and slow trolling for big ‘tails out of San Diego.
Hands Free
When light-lining a live bait for yellowtail, the angler must feel every twitch of the bait. “Hold the rod while you troll,” Nakada suggests, “don’t stick it in the rod holder.” Holding the rod also allows the angler to react as soon as the fish bites. “Many times the fish will steal the bait and spit the hook before the angler re- alizes what happened,” he says. “Holding the rod will improve hook-up ratio.”
Speed Kills
Boat speed is critical when trolling live baits. “Too slow and the bait dives down where the fish won’t see it,” Nakada explains, “too fast and the bait skips on the surface or pulls off of the hook.” He recommends a trolling speed around two miles per hour. “The bait should swim naturally without spinning or putting slack in the line.”
Game, Set, Match
When he’s slow trolling a live bait, Nakada keeps the reel in free- spool with the line-out alarm engaged. After a fish takes the bait, he lets it run, and chew, before putting the reel in gear and com- ing tight on the line. “I don’t employ a hard hookset,” he says, “in- stead I keep pedaling the kayak and let the weight of the fleeing fish pull the hook into the corner of its mouth.”
Gear & Gadgets
Hodgman H3 Stocking Foot Waders
Air temps in southern California can reach triple digits but the water temperature barely rises out of the six- ties, so an angler needs a system that keeps him warm and cool at the same time. Hodgman’s new H3 stocking foot waders combine a breathable material for comfort with neoprene socks that are anatomically cut to fit like a shoe.
When the temperature drops, the H3 accepts Hodgman’s Core INS removable, zoned insulation. Wear a pair of water shoes over the stocking foot to protect the neoprene and extend the life of the waders. hodgman.com.
This article was first published in the Summer/Fall 2015 issue of Kayak Angler. Subscribe to Kayak Angler Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
