30 + lb steelhead

[7mmfan]

While I don't blame anyone for keeping a fish like that, I have some issues with the story. I've spent the last 6 years as a charter boat captain in S.E. Alaska and have seen hundreds of tounge and gill hookd fish. In my experience if you have a tounge or gill hooked fish that fights for 45 minutes, when that fish comes in, there isn't an ounce of blood left in them. In the last picture with all the blood congealed in its gills makes it look to me like that fish didn't start bleeding till it was landed. I don't know, just my  Hell of a fish Peter, good job, i'm jealous, and I hope you know a good taxedermist!

[Intruder]

I think all natives should be released as well.  I do believe that big fish are special and rare and do produce other big fish.  This is just a guess by me but that fish probably spent three years at sea because its genetic make-up told it to.  Most steelhead spend one or two years at sea.  I don't think anyone know the science of why.  Who knows it might totally be environmental factors, but why take the chance.

There's a decent amount of evidence supporting your "guesses".  If the fish was healthy I wish he would have released it.  But, I'm not gonna skewer the guy for doing something within the law.  The law shouldn't have given the opportunity.  It floors me how whacked out this state is regarding fish/game management.  The idea that it is legal to kill a wild steelhead is just astounding to me  

[HawkenBob]

All Im gonna say is it shouldent even be legal. The HOH has NOT made escapement for years. Thats a fact!
Anybody who fishes it religously knows this. Catch and release mort rates are way better than flat out kill fisheries. Do you know on weekends like presidents day there could be 50 plus boats on the Hoh when everything is low. On years were water is low everyone fishes it. Imagine if all the boats kept there one fish per person.

Fish out of water bleed really bad. Like humans, fish blood clots too. But only in there real enviornment. If you dont keep em in water, there absolutely no chance of survival.

Using a bobber and jig, pardon me, an indicator and weighted fly  on your fly rod is a great way to catch em too.

When fishing is dead in this state Ill see ya'll at the dragstrip. Just too expensive to do both...

[Screaminreelz]

Here is the article, there is also one is the Olympian.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2008827081_outn08.html

[finnman]

All said and done......He got it!!!! 

The sea lions and Natives and commercials didn't!

End of story!

Everyone so concerned about this guy keeping that fish had better not be hunters of deer or elk or any other game, if you are, then your a hypocrite! Plain and simple! You cannot go crying about someones decision to legally harvest a fish when you at the same time harvest game.
If you don't hunt then no worry.......

[MuleySniper]

Good point Finn!! Kind of  like 200 inch bucks in this state. They are not behind every tree either... Maybe guys should pass on em during rifle season so they can go breed a bunch of does... Same idea.
MS

[Turkeyman]

Big statement for not knowing the guy or not being there. I bet 90% of the people on here would have kept that fish of a life time. GET OVER IT!!!

[fisheral87]

I think everyone agrees that he was well within his legal rights to take the fish. My frustration is that the legal right exists and the nets exist and that there is no open season for sea lion.

[littlebuf]

i would have kept it, hell if i ever catch a fish like that im keeping it. put a 350 pound halibut in the boat last year. should i have let that one swim? he sure did eat good 

[fisheral87]

350lb? Is that all? You got me beat by 25lbs.

[littlebuf]

ill post a pic when i get my lap top running again. the thing was a hog. 7' 4" and 350#