Author Topic: End of the ling season here in the Sound.... (Read 6141 times)

lokidog · « **on:** June 15, 2015, 07:40:34 PM »

I haven't posted much since opening weekend with Carpsniper, but it has been a decent season even though I have not had much time to get out. I'll try to find photos from the season. Last week, a friend and I caught an 8 1/2 and 12 pounder, he hooked both, his first lings ever. The best part was I was getting paid hourly while I fished since I have been ferrying a research group around to some of the very small islands to do weed surveys. While they survey, I get to fish.

Weathergirl has been pestering me to get her out for at least one time before the end of the season, so I took an extended lunch break from work today. The tides were looking good for returning to where my friend and I limited last week, so off we went. First drift, I caught a short ling. Second drift, bam, 28 incher with a full belly that left him at 11 pounds. Weathergirl caught a couple of shorts and two rockfish.

Another fisherman moved in on the downstream edge of our drift but was not crowding us. After a bit, we watched him hook up and fight a fish. It looked like he had a big fish, or a wet noodle for a rod, so we allowed our drift to head his way. He slashed at his fish a couple of times and finally got it in the net, holy crap it was huge! A pic will be posted later. Realizing that he would probably have to release an oversize ling, we moved in to see if he wanted us to help him get a photo, he did. He measured it and said it was 38 inches. It looked to me to be about 30 pounds.

that thing was a hog.

We fished a bit more but the current slacked and the bite quit so we moved on. The breezepicked up which made any other fishing more difficult. We were going to hit a spot I got a keeper about three weeks ago but saw another fisherman nearby so we decided to head back the way we came. Knowing that spot was a good one, we decided to try another drift or two, but now the wind was opposite the bit of current so it was tougher fishing. Weathergirl hooked bottom but got loose. I hooked bottom, but no, it was fighting back. I thought for sure the fish dove into the rocks but it was coming up a bit as I pumped the rod. My wonderful wife quickly reeled in her line and got ready to net my fish. As it came into view, I just about crapped my pants, and then thought "Oh crap, I'm going to have to let him go...." As he hit the surface, he started splashing and fighting, he didn't seem to fit the net very welland luckily, as he flipped the lure out of his mouth he also dove into the net!

weathergirl tried t4o lift the net but I had to help.

I didn't think I would need a maximum line on the deck of the boat, so we pulled the tape out and marked it. He touched the line but did not go over, WOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! It turned out he weighed a bit over twenty pounds, and had a large empty belly. My biggest WA ling and second largest to date. Enjoy the current photos.

kisfish · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2015, 08:07:59 PM »

Good eating there ed.

SeaRun1 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2015, 08:13:50 PM »

That is a nice Ling. Just under the slot maximum! Well done.

SR1

Cap.Silver · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2015, 08:35:12 PM »

Congrats Ed, you did it again . I wish my wife would be more willing to get out , but can't have everything , right? Now comes the salmon season , hope to be out there more often .

cohoho · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2015, 10:06:21 PM »

Nice ling!

lokidog · « **Reply #5 on:** June 15, 2015, 10:31:29 PM »

The smaller one today fed nine people tonight. Come on out Capn. the pinks will be jumping in the boat this summer.

h2ofowlr · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2015, 10:35:11 PM »

A dandy ling.

Skillet · « **Reply #7 on:** June 15, 2015, 10:46:12 PM »

Nice work Ed! Looks like you have that PS ling deal nailed

gasman · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2015, 07:01:38 AM »

That's awesome

I never made it out once for lings

bearhunter99 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2015, 07:05:36 AM »

Great looking ling there Loki. Congrats!

quadrafire · « **Reply #10 on:** June 16, 2015, 07:50:07 AM »

Nice story Loki. Beast of a Ling

Gobble Doc · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2015, 08:59:51 AM »

Right on! Glad to see you scored a nice one.

Whitpirate · « **Reply #12 on:** June 16, 2015, 09:03:59 AM »

Nice fish Loki....

Someday I'll find a way to become a fisherman.

I mostly drown bait and flog the water. But I've got a boat now and less excuses as my 10 and 4 year old are hammering me to fish. Here's to hoping a few pinks give the old man a shot.

scudmaster · « **Reply #13 on:** June 16, 2015, 11:44:48 PM »

Nicely done

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

lokidog · « **Reply #14 on:** June 17, 2015, 12:35:51 PM »

Thanks, here are a pic of the guy with the 38 incher and the other "small" one we got at 11 pounds.

h20hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** June 17, 2015, 12:41:29 PM »

No spearing for you?

lokidog · « **Reply #16 on:** June 17, 2015, 12:43:24 PM »

And last week's while on taxi duty, 8 1/2 and 11 pounds. The smaller one was probably the prettiest colored ling I have ever seen with a deep copper colaration and a green undertone.

lokidog · « **Reply #17 on:** June 17, 2015, 12:46:57 PM »

Quote from: h20hunter on June 17, 2015, 12:41:29 PM

No spearing for you?

Nope, I only had time to dive once when I was done hooking up a couple of mooring buoys. I figured I'd burn the last half of my tank since I was already geared up. I dropped off the boat but by the time I got down to 35 feet, it was so dark I couldn't see the bottom which I knew was only ten feet or so below me, so I popped back up.

I had a heck of a time cocking that gun, I can't imagine trying to do it underwater.

I had to put most of my weight behind it to push it in. It also didn't seem to want to lock the shaft in, is there a trick to that?

h20hunter · « **Reply #18 on:** June 17, 2015, 12:49:44 PM »

Its all about the angles of the push. It takes a little oompf. Or...it could be done and past its time as a hunting tool. I'd call us even, you can buy me a pint at our next get together.

lokidog · « **Reply #19 on:** June 17, 2015, 12:55:43 PM »

Quote from: h20hunter on June 17, 2015, 12:49:44 PM

Its all about the angles of the push. It takes a little oompf. Or...it could be done and past its time as a hunting tool. I'd call us even, you can buy me a pint at our next get together.

I'm still hoping to check a couple of spots for flounder or greenling and cabezon, so we'll see. I was thinking some steel wool and a little lube might smooth it out a bit.

h20hunter · « **Reply #20 on:** June 17, 2015, 01:04:41 PM »

For sure. When loading you have to keep it straight when pushing. If you bow the shaft out just a touch it will bind and you can push all you want. I'm a little taller and longer armed than you but I think you are right....smooth out the shaft and do some test shooting.

SpringerFan · « **Reply #21 on:** June 18, 2015, 09:43:46 AM »

Got out a few times with some success. Even a few Cabezon.

lokidog · « **Reply #22 on:** June 18, 2015, 07:21:40 PM »

Nice Springerfan, no cabs for me so far this year. I did get a 12 and 15 inch staghorn sculpin that tasted pretty good. I actually prefer the cabs over lings.

NW Woodchuck · « **Reply #23 on:** June 18, 2015, 10:04:20 PM »

Nice work, way to go out in style.

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Author Topic: End of the ling season here in the Sound.... (Read 6141 times)

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