I've been eyeballing Kayaks and Float Tubes just for Bishop and Mammoth and still can't decide

Looks like you will have a nice sun burn

Was there anything you didn't like about the tube ?

Dave was poring over information on halibut after the trip and brought it to my attention that California Halibut are not "true" halibut. I had to double check, and it appears true.

These fish are distinguished by their massive size (often exceeding 400 pounds), a distinct diamond-shaped body (rather than round), and forked or concave tails. They are almost exclusively "right-eyed," meaning that as they mature, their eyes migrate to the right side of their head.

Which leaves only the Atlantic Halibut and Pacific Halibut, in their own genus of Hippoglossus.

Every now and then it bugged me that people would say they target flounder in SoCal and now I see that I was foolish to feel at odds with their naming of things. Foolish!

Does a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Does a butt by any other name smell as stinky?

It's back!!!!!!!!! Ordered 2000m of 30# rainbow 8 strand for $55. I got a Tekota 800PGA that apparently fits 1200 yards of 50, so I'm gonna see how much 30 it will fit for mind numbingly deep deep-drops.

I've been getting bugged by everyone at work to try float tubing. I've told them that I'm afraid of sea lions, sea lions killed my family, and I don't like sea lions. Really, I was probably putting it off because if I like it then that means I need to buy more sh!t. Finally I said yes.

It was supposed to be myself along with 4 other guys, but that plan seemed to disintegrate in the atmosphere, just as Artemis II did not! Just me and Dave. I borrowed Dave's inflatable pontoon and flippers, and he was on his Hobie yak.

I arrived around 0700. Having grabbed the pontoon off Dave the day before, I inflated it and prepped. Realized I forgot sunscreen...



Dave showed up around 0745 and we launched into Newport by 0800 or so.

I started with a fluke on a swing head. Dave said something about some kind of JDM soft plastic. He was on 'em quick and went 3 for 4 in the first hour. I was still trying to figure out how to turn at that point.

It took at least 2 hours before I got my first bite. Felt nice and it stole my fluke(!). Put a fresh one on and on the next mooring I nailed my first fish in what feels like 10 trips.



We were at the apex of our trip and finally the bite turned on a bit for me. I ended up getting 3 spotties and this ~16" halibut in 30 minutes or so.



Dave wanted in so I gave him the same lure. 5 minutes later, he gets hooks up. "Oh it's just weeds...[zzZZZZZzzz]!!!"

Ended up being his first legal halibut at about 26". He was about to gill it and keep it for dinner when...it made good on its name. It floundered, as it never floundered before, out of the yak, and slipped away...burgers it is.



Finished a little after 1100 I believe...what started as yet another cursed trip turned into something much more memorable!

I am, of course, researching float tubes now.

I agree with Jeremy... With that said, I hope 1997 and 2015 merge so it's from World Record Albies to wahoo! Lol

My predictions have been wrong every year for the past 5 years so I give up. Maybe I should stop predicting black marlin.

I don't remember a Spring this warm, full stop. Which makes me think this could be a ridiculously warm year.

Or it flips, we have a cold May, temps settle back to normal, and we forget all this ever happened. I feel like something like that happened last year or so. Warm spring, then water temps dropped below 60 at the end of June.

A yellow from the jetty would be nice though! Even just some consistent bonito would be great.

What's everyone's take on what this year's El Nino will bring?

I'm hoping similar conditions as the 2015-2016 El Nino. I remember lots more bat rays and sharks along the shoreline. Also hooking up with a yellow tail on the Newport Beach jetty. (I'll bring a gaff next time).

- Keith

Quote from: jrodda on April 08, 2026, 09:09:23 PMBoat looks great, so does the mustache!

Didn't know there was a boat show in Anaheim this weekend...that could be fun!

Got word that so far it's a Flop/Dud, nobody showed up today   Maybe too close to the other recent shows and gas prices, my buddy told me not to waste time going cause there was nothing to see but an empty Convention Center

For some reason the Mustache has turned grey really fast, must be the 8 surgeries and knocking on 60 

Quote from: Latimeria on April 09, 2026, 05:21:42 PMBoat (and you) look great Timmy!  I've seen that yellow boat before and thought it was Sea Tow.  hahaha

He's had it for about 2 years now, fishes SD Bay and La Jolla with me, it was a Police Boat from Nevada, he took all the lights and sirens off and customized it to his liking 

Boat (and you) look great Timmy!  I've seen that yellow boat before and thought it was Sea Tow.  hahaha