Started slowly trolling that pair and immediately the cigar minnow got nailed but went immediately slack.  Figured I forgot to check the drag but it was feather light.  Pulled it in and the rig was kinked up pretty good - must've been a decent king but it missed the hook and the stinger.  Set out one more cigar minnow and kept paddling.  Tough paddling against that wind which had shifted a little southwest by 9. 

Let the wind drift me back East to the east and a little to inside the pier length.   While I tried to get organized with my bait rod and put a new rig on my other rod  when my Penn with the hard tail started singing.  The fish made a solid run while I reached back and cleared the other line with cigar minnow I just put out.  Gained a little ground on him and he made another smoking run.  Had to tighten the drag a little since I was afraid of getting spooled at this point.  Had the drag fairly tight and got up and down on him three or four times.  He pulled real hard - so much I was thinking maybe it's a jack,  but each time he'd make another run dragging me out further into the gulf.  Finally wore him down and could see that it was a king  - and decent size.  After a couple of more runs had him sufficiently tuckered out, got him boatside stuck the handgaff in him and proceeded to navigate him into the kayak trying to keep my feet out of his mouth.  He did manage to snag my left foot as I was maneuvering for space and getting his head situated but at least he wasn't thrashing.   

Packed it up and headed to shore.   Surf had picked up considerably so as I got close I turned and started backing the yak back on to the beach when one wave caught me and raised my front end -  even as I was leaning forward and paddling into it.  Tumped me over but I had lashed everything down and was glad I remembered to wrap a line around the king's tail for just such an occurrence.  Dragged the king, the yak and my pride back onto the beach and after recovering and icing him down I packed up the yak and headed home.  Thought he was the largest I'd caught in the yak so I got the scale out and sure enough- 26# - biggest catch to date fishing from my yak.  Some bull reds may have come close but doubt they were much over 20#.

Got a couple of pictures with my son who didn't want to get out of bed this morning  (bud he did help me get all cleaned up by noon).  Just getting ready to make some fish dip now. 

"I aint as good as I once was...but I was good once...as I ever was".... Toby Keith

o nvm i see. that is a great fish, i ould like to try that, you catch stuff like that all the time on your kayak?

www.FishTheKite.com

My biggest king was around 15# last year. This year I've only gotten the small ones to the yak. 

I can only imagine fighting one that size while paddling. 

Great catch!

Bryan

Thats impressive

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><

Saltwater runs through these veins

I'm a Sagittarius...If you don't want to hear the truth then don't ask my opinion!
Then again I'm a "Vacuous Asshat"  

Political Correctness:
A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority, and rapidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. 

“Tell me who your friends are and I will tell who you are.”

 Century 25' Mirada 350/260HP "ISLAND LADY" >>>> Calera, Alabama    My Pictures

>))))))*>      >)))))))))))*>       >))))))))))*>         >))))*>       >))))*>        >))))))))*>     >)))*>                

~12' Hobie Outback Yak - Eagle 245DS FF ~ Wicked Pam Flint... Blackwater  Pirates - www.blackwaterliving.com       ~PRFA Member~