2nd Annual Fishfest

[bearpaw]

That's what I think I should start calling my annual ocean fishing trip with buckhorn2 and his son.

Finally I found my fishing license and was headed for the coast. I haven't been salmon fishing since last year and the excitement was building with every mile I drove. Somehow I missed my turn in Aberdeen, I stopped at a quick stop and a nice lady sent me the wrong way, after driving toward the Peninsula a ways a quick phone call put me back on the right course. LOL

At last I made it, everyone was waiting so we headed right out on the water. It took us a while to find the fish but once we found them we sacked up 2 kings and 6 silver's for the 4 of us and headed for the dock.

More coming soon, I need to do some more glassing for bear.

[h2ofowlr]

Nice.  Looks like fun.

[bearpaw]

I will have to do more photos later with my computer so I can resize.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

 

[XAFSSGT]

 

Looks like a great day of fishing.

[bowhunterforever]

Nice fish

[bearpaw]

That first day we ended up landing 22 salmon to get our 8 keepers, a lot of action once we found the fish! I landed 4 or 5 little guys that were only 12 -15 inches, I had never caught small salmon like that before, everyone else was reeling in big ones so they had quite a good time ribbing me about my tiny salmon. I did manage to catch a nice 16ish pound king and a good silver for my limit. Photo of my king, Daniel's king, another nice fish, and a great day with smooth water!

[Gringo31]

 

[bearpaw]

2nd Day - Tuna Fishing
This was a bit of learning experience, I had never fished for tuna, I had never caught a tuna, neither had Daniel, Del and Jack changed all of that!

First we had to find fish, we got lucky and in an hour or two started finding fish at around 41 miles out. Daniel landed the first fish, his first tuna, I think it was the biggest and later scaled at 26 pounds. Pretty soon after losing a couple fish I landed my first tuna. Next we had to figure out a bit of a system, it seemed like we would hook a couple fish and then we would lose where the fish went. As the morning wore on we fine tuned the system and by the time we were full of fish we had a pretty good system and really nailing the fish.

I am still in awe at the sheer power of these finned torpedos, these fish are fighting machines! You do not just reel them in, they take line numerous times and then a couple more times, these tuna are an absolute blast. It was a free for all, at times we were all fighting fish, at times fish got off, at times we all landed fish, I don't know how many tuna anyone landed or lost, we just fished until the tuna barrel was getting full and then we'd pack them on ice and then fish some more, we fished until both ice bins were full of fish, what an absolute blast, we finished the day at about 46ish miles out and headed in with 26 dandy tuna packed in ice.

[Whitpirate]

That looks like a fun couple of days.   

Buckhorn2 do you run a guide service?  (PM me for info if you do....)

[gaddy]

Looks like a fun trip. how long is a 46 mile trip ?

[sirmissalot]

Right on Dale sounds like a good time. I believe we fished tuna the day you salmon fished, the weather was awesome you got lucky, we haven't had a lot of that this summer.

[cohoho]

Yep Del knows the waters down there like no one else that is for sure!  Great job!

[TheHunt]

Great job Del and team...   

[lokidog]

Sweet trip to the coast!   

[bearpaw]

Day 3 - Cleaning Tuna
The only bad thing about catching a lot of tuna, you have to clean a lot of tuna! 

We slept in a bit later and then met to take photos and to clean and fillet tuna. We were done well before lunch and decided to go salmon fishing. We found the salmon right away and it was looking pretty good with several fish in the boat quickly but then they either quit biting or the fish moved, at any rate we got 4 keepers and it slowed down so we called it a day, but not bad at all for the fish cleaning day.

Day 4 - Getting That Last Salmon
We decided to stay one more night and get out early. In the morning it was a bit windy and the ocean wasn't as calm, the rougher water took it's toll on Daniel, he wasn't doing well. We found the fish pretty fast and landing fish seemed to help him a little. He caught the biggest king of the trip, it must have been somewhere between 25 and 30, I caught another nice king and we got some silvers. We needed one more fish but couldn't find that last fish, we picked up and moved numerous times but couldn't find that last fish. Daniel  was still feeling bad so we decided to call it a day and headed in with 7 nice fish.

I talked to Del the next day and a big storm had moved in, we had definitely timed our trip perfectly. Thanks again to Del for the invite, Daniel and I had an outrageous time, it was the highlight of my summer. 

[Blacklab]

TMF! (To Much Fun)..........

[wildmanoutdoors]

Awesome trip! Awesome report!

[C-Money]

Looks like a wonderful time. Congrats on your success. I was out Friday before the storm, and it was rough in the morning for sure. Quite a few sick folks on the Swifty. Our boat only had 8 keepers all day, looks like you folks did awesome.

[Hunterman]

Looks like I missed y'all by about 2 weeks Dale. Becky and I are going back down there this Friday for the week end, but just going for bottom fish.

Glad y'all had a good time. Maybe we'll see each other next year if the timing is right.

Hunterman(Tony)

[bearpaw]

Looks like I missed y'all by about 2 weeks Dale. Becky and I are going back down there this Friday for the week end, but just going for bottom fish.

Glad y'all had a good time. Maybe we'll see each other next year if the timing is right.

Hunterman(Tony)

Hopefully it lines up next year, it would be fun to fish with you again. Good luck when you go this year, hope the weather cooperates and you fill the coolers. 

[Hunterman]

Looks like I missed y'all by about 2 weeks Dale. Becky and I are going back down there this Friday for the week end, but just going for bottom fish.

Glad y'all had a good time. Maybe we'll see each other next year if the timing is right.

Hunterman(Tony)

Hopefully it lines up next year, it would be fun to fish with you again. Good luck when you go this year, hope the weather cooperates and you fill the coolers. 

This will be our 2nd fishing trip down there this year. This trip will be a combo trip, the last overnight trip of the summer, plus a wedding anniversary trip for Becky and I.

Hunterman(Tony)

[bearpaw]

Looks like a wonderful time. Congrats on your success. I was out Friday before the storm, and it was rough in the morning for sure. Quite a few sick folks on the Swifty. Our boat only had 8 keepers all day, looks like you folks did awesome.

We really got lucky with the weather, Del said it's been really tough weather this summer.

Looks like I missed y'all by about 2 weeks Dale. Becky and I are going back down there this Friday for the week end, but just going for bottom fish.

Glad y'all had a good time. Maybe we'll see each other next year if the timing is right.

Hunterman(Tony)

Hopefully it lines up next year, it would be fun to fish with you again. Good luck when you go this year, hope the weather cooperates and you fill the coolers. 

This will be our 2nd fishing trip down there this year. This trip will be a combo trip, the last overnight trip of the summer, plus a wedding anniversary trip for Becky and I.

Hunterman(Tony)

Well congrats, hope you both have a great trip! 

[Woodchuck]

Looks like a great trip. 

[gasman]

Glad to hear you guys had another awesome fishing trip, Dell knows his fish and is one hell of a guy 


I am so jealous that you got out on some great weather, I have not been that lucky this year with the weather when I go to westport this year 

Congrats again gusts 

[Smokepole]

Great photos!  Can't believe all the fish you caught!   

[quadrafire]

Well I just did a deal with Del and I could tell he was a stand up guy. He even offered for me to come over and fish. Looks like I may have to consider that 
Congrats on all the fish. I did a tuna trip last year this time. It is INTENSE I had no idea!!!!!!good eats though. If you have plans for canning and need some equipment give me a jingle. It is Soooo good canned

[buckhorn2]

We tried to time Dales trip with the weather and the fishing this summer fishing was easy but not the weather not very many good weather patterns and I knew Dale wanted to try tuna. We hit the weather pretty good wxcept for that last day and it wa just not very nice but Daniel sure hung in there and he had two of the nicest kings you could ever want. He had a good trick Dale would see a fish bite and rush to the pole and then Daniel would grab the pole Dale just left and Dale would reel in a little one and Daniel would have a nice king on on Dales pole. Sure was fun with great friends I don't guide just like to fish I have had Gassman and Hunterman who caught a 42 pounder on my boat and Jerry who fished cathalamet and Westport with me and my good friend John from Ellensburg we tried to put a trip together but weather blew us out. Just like to say if you don't know Dale he is just a great guy to be with we talked deer and elk fought wolves was just such a great time and his guide Daniel who is going to be a great guide did;nt even mentioned I missed three turkeys or fell out of my chair in the blind just when the birds came by . Hope you have an awesome season Bearpaw got to get to bed fish on both sides of the harbor have to dream which way to go.

[bearpaw]

We tried to time Dales trip with the weather and the fishing this summer fishing was easy but not the weather not very many good weather patterns and I knew Dale wanted to try tuna. We hit the weather pretty good wxcept for that last day and it wa just not very nice but Daniel sure hung in there and he had two of the nicest kings you could ever want. He had a good trick Dale would see a fish bite and rush to the pole and then Daniel would grab the pole Dale just left and Dale would reel in a little one and Daniel would have a nice king on on Dales pole. Sure was fun with great friends I don't guide just like to fish I have had Gassman and Hunterman who caught a 42 pounder on my boat and Jerry who fished cathalamet and Westport with me and my good friend John from Ellensburg we tried to put a trip together but weather blew us out. Just like to say if you don't know Dale he is just a great guy to be with we talked deer and elk fought wolves was just such a great time and his guide Daniel who is going to be a great guide did;nt even mentioned I missed three turkeys or fell out of my chair in the blind just when the birds came by . Hope you have an awesome season Bearpaw got to get to bed fish on both sides of the harbor have to dream which way to go.

I had to laugh again when I read your post, it definitely seemed to work out that way. LOL! We sure had a great time Del, thanks so much. We just had salmon and tuna for dinner last night. 

Season is off to a great start here, there are lots of bear running around and we're seeing plenty of bucks too, you should try to come over if you get a chance.

Hope the fishing continues to treat you well, somehow I know you will make it happen!