Eating well this year

[lokidog]

Well, yesterday we didn't do so well, only caught 111 for four possible limits.  My Turkish friend did finally catch his first fish out here, he landed two really nice Copper Rocks but, of course, had to let them go.  He was quite disappointed at that.  No pics.

Today, my son just wanted to go out with the two of us.  A beautiful day on the water, almost no wind, but that damnable current was sure strong.  We dropped when the local tide chart said low tide (tide was still flowing out) and we pulled when the local current chart said slack current (it was already coming in strong).  Thanks WDFW for "giving" us such optimal current days to shrimp....   

Anyways, while we soaked the pots, we headed in to a ling spot.  I brought some salmon bellies along and put a half of one on my jig.  First drop down and BAM! fish on.  I knew it was a keeper and had my son ready to hand me the net, I need to get him on some rockfish for practice.     Anyways, landed the fish and blugh, out comes a bunch of goo.  Well, it turns out that it is three hunks of octopus including an arm piece that had suckers over two inches across.  The goo weighed almost three pounds and the fish, without its stomach contents, was a little over twelve pounds and 32 1/2 inches long.

We caught one Quillback rockfish about 18 inches long and tossed it.  I asked my son if he was ready to reel in the next fish and he said no because it looked like I forgot to bring a can of coke to bribe/reward him with.  It turns out that I had one in the cooler, just in case this ocasion arose.     Pretty soon, BAM! another big ling on, it fought better than the first one and my son was a bit leary of taking the rod, though he did.  Well, he slowly pumped and reeled o perfection and we soon landed the 23 inch ling that was hooked... in the middle of its side.    I thought we had another really nice one for him.

Then, we went out to pull our pots and talked a nice older gentleman, whom we had spoken to earlier, into having his grandaughter use their puller to pull our pots (haven't got mine back from Ace yet).  He and his granddaughter had just pulled their second pot for their limits so I had high expectations for us.  We pulled three limits and tossed back a limit of the smaller ones.  We ended up a few ounces shy of eight pounds for 160 tails.   

Enjoy the photos, the large suction cup is 2 1/4 inch by 2 inches.  I wonder how big an octopus has to be to grow those.   

[Mfowl]

Are you gonna eat that octopus? I watched a Nat Geo show about the life cycle of octopus and in it they showed a scene where a bunch of fish (including ling cod) ganged up on an octupus and tore it to shreds. The lings would grab ahold of a tentacle and do a crocodile death roll until they tore a piece loose. That looks like it came from a big octopus for sure.

[lokidog]

Nope, not going to eat it, but I will save it for bait.  The third piece, that I already used, looked like the webbing between the legs.  That octupus was definitely hurting after this encounter, if it was still alive.

[wafisherman]

Good times.  Living the life.  Miss the days on the sound.

[lokidog]

Last day for lings in the Sound.  Just a couple of shorts but managed to bag a nice Cabezon, 23 1/2 inches and 9 pounds.  He had four kelp crabs in his belly.  The front on shot reminds me of the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the fish anyways.   

[Mfowl]

Do you keep your fish in a live well? Seems like in your pics your fish haven't lost their natural color. Whenever I bonk a long and toss'em in the cooler they lose their color quite fast.

[lokidog]

Mfowl, I do try to keep them alive, especially if I don't have a cooler with ice.  The lings I usually put on a stringer and keep in the water while fishing.  I did forget a nice ten pounder once though and ripped him off when I went to move.     The cabezon today I tossed in a rubbermaid tote 1/3 full of water, they are tough son of a guns.

[Mfowl]

Cool, nice Cabezon by the way! You seem like your having a good season so far. Just about time for the chrome to start rolling in up your way.

[hrd2fnd]

  but I see some resemblance with your mug  I've enjoyed you sharing your families season so far and looking forward to experiencing it myself vicariously through your posts. 

[lokidog]

but I see some resemblance with your mug  I've enjoyed you sharing your families season so far and looking forward to experiencing it myself vicariously through your posts. 

We need to dust off the old Dreamsicle in your yard and hit something near you or you can come on out here sometime this summer.  Spot shrimp is open in 7W all summer.

[lokidog]

Should I be worried?   

[MatthewHunter98]

mmmmmmmm thats a mighty fine looking meal there. nice haul on the shrimp and ling