Escondido man sets kayak fishing record

By: ERNIE COWAN - For the North County Times | Wednesday, December 7, 2005 11:10 PM PST ∞

What began as a routine dawn fishing trip for Arnie Rovell earlier this month ended with his kayak overflowing with two huge yellowtail, including one that sets a new kayak fishing record.

The Escondido attorney has made his mark as a kayak fisherman, including his catch of a 43-pound yellowtail in January, but this doubleheader had him paddling to shore exhausted and loaded with more than 92 pounds of fish.

He began his trip before dawn off La Jolla with a brief stop near Scripps Pier to catch some greenback mackerel for bait and then out to the kelp beds off of Blacks Beach.

"Just before sun-up I dropped a greenie down and I didn't have to wait long before my bait got hit hard," Rovell said. "I let it run for a few seconds, set the hook, and I was on for a ride."

The fish made a couple sideways runs and then it was all up and down. It took him nearly a half hour before he got a "big and chunky YT" on deck.

"I was thinking it might go 30 to 35 pounds, and was pretty ecstatic at this point," Rovell said.

For most kayak fishermen, this would have been a fantastic end to a great day of fishing.

Rovell said he gave some of his bait away to other kayakers, but kept two and decided to head back to "the spot." Already loaded with his first fish, he was maneuvering when he took a massive hit.

"This fish hammered my bait and spun me around taking line at an amazing pace," he said. "I finally started getting some line back when the fish decided to head for one of the many lobster buoys out there. Luckily, it didn't want to sit and circle around the buoy rope, so I was able to clear the rope and continue the sleigh ride."Ý

Even with the drag on his Shimano TLD 15 buttoned down, he was unable to slow the monster fish. He said his arms and back were tired from his first fight, so he had to take a few breaks from the tug-of-war, but in about 20 minutes he did bring his yellow up to a point where he could see him.

"I got her to color and was amazed at the size of the fish circling underneath me," he said. "With the one fish on my lap it made the gaff a little difficult, but both the fish and I were tired by this point so there wasn't much of a fuss."

He was now ready to paddle in, and excited at his success. He headed for a bait shop and on a certified scale found his first fish weighed in at 39 pounds, 14 ounces.

"The second one floored me," Rovell said.

What he had estimated to weigh at 40-plus pounds came in at a whopping 52.8.

He had broken a new kayak yellowtail record set just a month before at 50.65.

Rovell was on business in Boston when I caught up to him this week, but eager to get back on the water to continue his streak of good luck.

Wohlford trout


Trout season at Escondido's Lake Wohlford begins Dec. 17 with the lake being stocked for the first time with fish from the Mount Lassen Hatchery. After the opener the lake will operate daily, except Christmas Day. Nightcrawlers, Power Bait, Power Worms and Kastmaster lures are traditionally the hot choices at the lake.

Sierra report


For the angler who just can't bring himself to hang up the trout rod for the season, the waters of the Owens River east of Bishop remain open all year.

Winter fishing these Sierra waters can be challenging, but also quite rewarding. Weather is always a factor, but crowds are never a problem.

Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Guide Service says flows in the Owens River have been reduced, and combined with the low fishing pressure, that has resulted in some excellent fishing.

In his weekly e-mail report, Loe rates the Owens River Gorge as "very good," with no snow or ice on the trails at this point. He said fly fishermen are catching smaller wild brown, with a few scattered 17-inch fish coming out of the larger pools.

Quail meeting


The San Diego Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets at 6:30 tonight at the California Department of Fish and Game Regional Office, 4949 Viewridge Ave., San Diego. Guests are welcome. There will discussion of upcoming habitat restoration and improvement projects. For more information, visit the club Web site at www.sdqu.org.

Ernie Cowan is the outdoor writer for the North County Times.If you have an outdoor story of interest, call (760) 518-8050, or e-mail to ernie@packtrain.com.