Finally got my first Musky - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

FishinFool247 · #1 06-30-2015, 11:10 AM

Well after a few months and several trips targeting musky, I finally got my first one. The fish of 10,000 casts turned into a lot more than 10,000 casts for me..lol I have had a bunch of muskies follow my lure back to the boat without striking my lure and one tail swipe my bait at the bank, but this is the first one that decided to sink it's teeth into my lure. Most of my trips up until yesterday have been out with Chrisper4696 on his John boat. We had a bunch of action while musky fishing together lately, and last trip Chris managed to put the first musky in the boat, which was a beautiful tiger musky.

Yesterday I made the best bad decision ever by deciding to go out for musky solo on my Kayak. Well my kayak isn't built for fishing or musky fishing in any way. I have a sit in 9ft kayak that has zero room for anything including a net suitable for a musky. Well after a few hours of fishing I decided to move to deeper water and fish a weed edge, and a couple casts later I get nailed. The fish brought my lure and line to a dead stop soon as I hooked up, and that's when I realized it was a big fish. the fish didn't go crazy and take off on a run until I started trying to bring him in towards me. I couldn't believe the power of this fish I was amazed how hard it was for me to even budge him or turn him in the right direction. Before I casted, I noticed there was someone swimming all the way across the lake wearing one of those head condoms. By the time I landed the fish the swimmer had already made their way to where I was fishing and even stopped to watch me with my struggle for a little while before heading back. The swimmer made it all the way back across the lake before I landed my fish. Not having a net or another helping hand made it very difficult to land the fish, not to mention the shear power of the fish had my boat going whatever direction he decided to go.

Once I finally got a hold of him he was exhausted to the point where I was actually able to grab his tail without him trashing out of my grasp. I tried taking a few pics which didn't come out to good due to how big the fish was and I was still shaking from the adrenaline rush of my first musky fight. I started to try reviving the fish after I got a pic, and the fish went belly up on me. I tried reviving him for a few minutes and realized that there was no hope and this beautiful musky wasn't going to make it. I had no intention on killing the fish or keeping it, that's the last thing that I wanted to do.

After I realized the fish wasn't going to live, I had to get him back to shore which wasn't and easy task either. I held the beast by the gill plate with one hand and paddled all the way back to the boat launch with my other hand. By the time I got back to the launch I thought my arm and wrist were going to fall off. I had another fisherman that was launching his boat take a few pics of me with my fish and by then I was soaked with water, fish slime, blood, and sweat.

This was the greatest catch of my life and I was thrilled, yet I was very disappointed at the same time because I killed this trophy. I definitely learned from my mistake, and I don't plan on going muskie fishing solo on my kayak without a net ever again. I think I'm going to end up mounting this one so I can remember this epic battle every time I look up at him on my wall.

I couldn't be happier to have this 41 inch extremely girthy Tiger as my first Musky, and I hope to catch many more without compromising any more lives.

Andrushkin33 · #2 06-30-2015, 11:49 AM

Congratulations on your first.

Sad to hear that it passed away but those things do happen.

Andre

jimcnj · #3 06-30-2015, 01:21 PM

Congrats!
Must have been fun.

Don't be so hard on yourself. All fish die-eventually.
Lesson learned.

jimmythegreek · #4 06-30-2015, 01:29 PM

congrats on your first muskie! These fish are very fragile in the warmer months, and many die-hards wont even fish for them in the summer months due to delayed mortality. The reason we fish with such heavy gear is to make the fight as short as possible and let the fish have enough energy to revive themselves. I dont think Ive ever seen a kayak based muskie fisherman, I dont think you could have the tools necessary in a kayak. 3 things you must have while musky fishing are wire cutters to cut hooks, good long nose pliers and jaw spreaders, and the proper net. Theres no way you can leave a muskie in the water and dehook them, if the fish is that calm its gonna die. Dont be too hard on yourself for the loss, just please learn the valuable lesson and let others learn from your mistake as well. Thats a beauty by the way, an old fish too

Jersey Charlie · #5 06-30-2015, 01:40 PM

So what pound test line do you recommend and what type of lure? I have always wanted to fish the Big D above Dingman's for Musky. I once saw a duckling disappear on the river, figured it was a Musky that got it.

justin1982 · #6 06-30-2015, 01:46 PM

Awesome fish, congrats... Don't beat yourself up, it happens

catfishonthelake · #7 06-30-2015, 02:03 PM

This is a great example of how NOT to fish for muskies. With all the posts that have been on this site about having the proper tools for targeting these fish, it is mind-boggling that you would go and specifically target them without even having a NET???? I don't suggest fishing for muskies from a kayak, but to not even bring a net is irresponsible and poor sportsmanship, and above that dangerous. I'm sure people are gonna jump on me for this but the whole "don't beat yourself up" thing is a bunch of crap. This site should be promoting conservation and good fishing practices. There is no doubt in my mind that this fish would've survived had you been prepared. I thoroughly regret giving you advice on how to catch muskies and will not make the same mistake again.

Skunk City · #8 06-30-2015, 03:36 PM

Like pretty much everyone above has covered, these fish are no joke. Targeting them in a 9ft kayak with limited space for equipment and no net is just asking for trouble. Always plan for WORST CASE SCENARIO (huge pissed off fish, deeply hooked, etc.). Unless I am targeting Bass, my net is ALWAYS in my kayak and that has helped me land, photograph and release many 35"-40" fish from my kayak without hurting me or the fish.

Hopefully you pick up a large net, a more capable kayak, and a camera mount to take pics yourself if you choose to continue targeting this awesome species.

stevejordan · #9 06-30-2015, 04:42 PM

sweet first musky! is it going on the wall?

buzzbaiter · #10 06-30-2015, 05:21 PM

Personally I wouldn't have mentioned "it died" part. Up til then it was a good story

I make it a rule not to upload pics of fish that died. First of all seeing it would make me feel like sh*t and secondly I think its bad luck. We have all been there - I've had a 18" wild brown, 21" bass and numerous large pickerel pass away on me before I stopped using barbed lures and multi treble lures. It really does make a difference. Just pinching barbs down can increases survival by half I'm willing to bet. Most pike I get on single hook buzzbaits and spinners baits. So far - knock wood - no casualities I'm aware of and thats over 300 fish last few years.