monster washington lingcod

[pjb3]

Where was that from, the ocean or the sound?

[MLBowhunting]

Good lord. 

[Button Nubbs]

Where was that from, the ocean or the sound?

Out of lapush

[Button Nubbs]

.

[h2ofowlr]

You want to put her back.  She is the one that makes more for you to catch. 

[RadSav]

You want to put her back.  She is the one that makes more for you to catch. 

We would request our clients release the reef breeders since fecundity (the number of eggs per mature female) increases with both size and age.  Most would look at us like we were crazy!  After watching them swim in the live tank and getting a lot of pictures I'd say 80% or so would decide to release.  Helped a little that we offered a free trip for two for anyone releasing a ling over 40#.

The smaller lings have firmer meat, better grain, and hold moisture better so the big ones aren't as good to eat. Though when you are talking ling, good and bad is always a relative thing, it's all good!   Can never give anyone too much grief for keeping one.  But it's never a bad idea to let the big reef builders swim free after lots of pictures!

Nice fish Button Nubbs!  I sure miss that fishery.  Second only to albacore for fun IMO

[Skyvalhunter]

Wheres the picture?

[HUNT-HARD]

Probably got all but hurt about people saying he should have released it.  Because after all the bashing he has done to people who kept a wild Steelhead once a year like they are allowed to by the law. 

[Button Nubbs]

I took it down because I saw the direction the thread was going and I didn't want to turn it into a pissing match, but guess what... I haven't really been on here in a few months and realized one of the reasons why again. To be honest I had no idea the big ones were the spawners, and now I do feel a little bad for killing it. I haven't done much salt or ANY deep offshore fishing so I don't have much e pierence. I'm all for conservation and in the future I will let the big females go. I have absolutely no problem with that. Pictures are as good as anything for me. One thing I will say, that ling population does not seem to be struggling, it was literally drop, bounce once or twice, ling on. The same can't be said for wild steelhead as the population is struggling state wide, but that's a debate for another time and place...

[Bullkllr]

I took it down because I saw the direction the thread was going and I didn't want to turn it into a pissing match, but guess what... I haven't really been on here in a few months and realized one of the reasons why again. To be honest I had no idea the big ones were the spawners, and now I do feel a little bad for killing it. I haven't done much salt or ANY deep offshore fishing so I don't have much e pierence. I'm all for conservation and in the future I will let the big females go. I have absolutely no problem with that. Pictures are as good as anything for me. One thing I will say, that ling population does not seem to be struggling, it was literally drop, bounce once or twice, ling on. The same can't be said for wild steelhead as the population is struggling state wide, but that's a debate for another time and place...

You are a conscientious sportsman.

[lokidog]

Don't worry about it BN, if people really cared about fish populations, they would take a serious look at the cattle boats... just one example is allowing others to catch your fish.

That was a nice fish. 

[RadSav]

Sad to see you take down the picture.  Bashing wasn't my intent.  Just trying to pass along some food for thought.  Glad to hear the population there is thriving.  The cattle boats didn't ruin that fishery down in Depoe Bay and Newport nearly as bad as the commercial dory fishing.  We always had great numbers until they shut down the commercial salmon fishing.  With livelihoods on the line most of the dory  fleet north of us came down and started commercial fishing the bottom fish.  Didn't take long before that was wiped out!

Fortunately, with the big reef breeders and the lingcods rate of growth they are coming back reasonably well.  Wish the same could be said for the Yelloweye.  With the average Y.Eye they were taking exceeding 25 years old it may be another 50 years before it restores to the levels we enjoyed before the commercial slaughter.

Some of the charter guys would sit on those Y.Eye reefs all day when limits were 25 per client.  But, the other skippers would usually light them up for it and try to limit the effect.  Most realized the damage it was doing and would move to ling rich or black rock rich areas after just a few Y.Eye for the photos.  Most anglers understood.  And once educated felt pleased with a mixed bag.

That was a beautiful fish.  Sorry you felt the need to take the photos down.  Again, that was not the intent.

[huntnphool]

Got a 47" out in Edmonds the other day, big fish for these parts.

[Button Nubbs]

Sad to see you take down the picture.  Bashing wasn't my intent.  Just trying to pass along some food for thought.  Glad to hear the population there is thriving.  The cattle boats didn't ruin that fishery down in Depoe Bay and Newport nearly as bad as the commercial dory fishing.  We always had great numbers until the shut down the commercial salmon fishing.  With livelihoods on the line most of the dory  fleet north of us came down and started commercial fishing the bottom fish.  Didn't take long before that was wiped out!

Fortunately, with the big reef breeders and the lingcods rate of growth they are coming back reasonably well.  Wish the same could be said for the Yelloweye.  With the average Y.Eye they were taking exceeding 25 years old it may be another 50 years before it restores to the levels we enjoyed before the commercial slaughter.

Some of the charter guys would sit on those Y.Eye reefs all day when limits were 25 per client.  But, the other skippers would usually light them up for it and try to limit the effect.  Most realized the damage it was doing and would move to ling rich or black rock rich areas after just a few Y.Eye for the photos.  Most anglers understood.  And once educated felt pleased with a mixed bag.

That was a beautiful fish.  Sorry you felt the need to take the photos down.  Again, that was not the intent.

No worries rad. I didn't take your post as bashing. We've chatted before and I feel we share a mutual respect for the slimy things. I just knew someone would go there. That's why I took it down.

[h20hunter]

Well, it was and is a nice fish. I'd be bonking it and thinking of the fish and chips to come.